Public Safety committee  Thank you. I agree. In fact, we've demanded it. Last Thursday, on what is considered the National Day of Action, I, on behalf of Kahnawake, and with the support of six other first nations communities surrounding us, including the ones targeted within the report, demanded a meeting, not only with the Minister of Public Safety, Mr.

Public Safety committee  We are diverse people. We are spread across this country on land that you call Canada, and we are very distinct. With respect to the rules that have been accepted, if not imposed, in modern-day treaties, especially when it comes to taxation, we would not fit the mould. We would be open to discussing, as Monsieur Ménard said, how we could mutually come to a conclusion on what would be acceptable to us.

Public Safety committee  Thank you again, Mr. Ménard. I just have a comment on your first statement. I couldn't agree with you more on putting policy aside and starting over, in your own words, to where we need to a conclusion on this. We do take it very seriously, and, again, we acknowledge your words.

Public Safety committee  Yes.

Public Safety committee  Thank you for your kind words, Monsieur Ménard. I remember meeting you several times before, with former Grand Chief Joe Norton. To answer your question, I believe the relationships that have been built and the agreements that have been signed trilaterally between us—as Quebec and through Canada—have worked well for the benefit of everyone involved.

Public Safety committee  You are correct, that is part of the issue. But the consultation doesn't necessarily need to come from the enforcement agencies or the enforcement people within the governments. It needs to come from the government itself. It needs true political will from the leadership, regardless of who's in power on behalf of the crown of Canada, as it's called.

Public Safety committee  I don't disagree with any of the comments you made, and I thank you for acknowledging some of the problems that have been identified by Chief Jacobs, as well as others here today, on lack of consultation and so on. Again, because we're talking tax, and that is the issue.... Health, yes.

Public Safety committee  I'll take one portion of it, and anyone else who wants to can come in afterwards. You talk about Canadian laws. I think that statement is an example of the fundamental misconception about who we are. We'll never be Canadian citizens, regardless of what documents we carry, what we signed, and how the Canadian government or the provincial government, for that matter, describes us.

Public Safety committee  Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the standing committee. I acknowledge our elders, as well as my colleagues, who are here today to address you. For legal questions, I'd like to introduce Christine Zachary-Deom, my head legal representative. On behalf of the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake, located near Montreal on the south shore of the St.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  You mentioned something interesting. I don't consider this consultation. I would expect my brothers and sisters to agree with me. Once we've gone to second reading and recognized this as the aboriginal standing committee specific to this issue, it's a little late, in terms of consultation.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I also concur. I think Chief Montour said it very well. To give an example, you talked about timing and timeliness and how quickly this may resolve some things. I know the status quo is extremely frustrating for many communities right now. We submitted one about 10 years ago, and the response from the then negotiator was, “We should have an answer for you by January, or at the latest, February”.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I agree as well, not to restate everything that's been said. My community, decades ago, said not another inch. So we're not looking for amendments to this. It needs to be withdrawn.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Just to follow through on the comments of my fellow chief, Chief Phillips, there have to be enough resources in Canada and in Quebec to be able to deal with these issues head on. It took the federal government more than a decade to understand first and then realize the wrongs it did through a large specific claim, which they say it is—a longstanding grievance is what we say it is—for 300 years.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. How is it fundamentally different when we put in a specific claim now that the scope and amount is determined, if not predetermined, by a body in Indian claims versus what would happen through a tribunal, as it's prescribed within the law—the bill we're talking about, once we've passed it into law?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I concur with everything that's been said, but also stop using the Assembly of First Nations as the sole authority, as the only source of information. As we've stated here today, and other people who are not with us here today have stated nationally, they don't speak on our behalf.