Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The process for claims over $150 million is a cabinet process.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The mediation unit has been created for some time. The process was to establish a roster of independent mediators, so it's simply the whole mechanical process of doing that, developing the criteria and posting the call for submissions. That's now being finalized. It takes some t

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, that is correct.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There were several key communications with the first nations with regard to the new process or the action plan. Of course, there was a mass communications announcement that was made with the action plan, and when the legislation came into force we also sent letters to each and ev

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, that's correct.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, that's correct.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, that's correct.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  When the minister accepts the claim for negotiations, a letter is sent to the first nation, which explains what is the basis on which we agreed to negotiate. Following this, the first nation has to confirm its agreement with a band council resolution to the department stating tha

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No, not necessarily. There were letters that basically informed the first nations about the coming into force of the act and also indicated to them that, in accordance with the act, their claim had been filed with the minister as of October 16. So because we had all these claim

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, we had general mail-outs that were made to a variety of groups. Also, the department has an entire section of the website that is devoted to the specific claims process, where we post and communicate a lot of the information that is available. There's also a reporting cent

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, that's correct.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. Sometimes the first nation may wish to do their own research, and sometimes we do it jointly. It's all worked out. Each and every table is different, for a variety of different reasons.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Not necessarily. Once the offer is tabled, the first nation has to respond as to whether it will be accepting the offer or putting it to their members for a ratification vote. There's still work to be done once that is done. We have to be looking at developing the settlement ag