Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Absolutely not, as the government requires us to discriminate, because we don't have enough resources to be able to provide for our people.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  A large part of it is, but it's not the only part. What I'm most frustrated with from the perceptive of Norway House right now, and especially after my information meeting of last week, is that people don't even know these fundamental basic rights. I'm starting from ground zero

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No, it wasn't consultation that I did; it was a very last-minute information session I had with one technician from the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. It wasn't even from Indian and Northern Affairs, it wasn't even from the Canadian Human Rights Commission. But what I got from that

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, no problem. I can't. My short answer is I can't. Because, in terms of looking at the law with respect to the Charter, it makes sense to me, but to be able to get into that type of discussion was what, to my mind, either the Canadian Human Rights Commission or somebody shoul

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm glad you asked that question. Thank you. Actually, absolutely not, and the reason is that it's individual in focus from the Canadian Human Rights Act. What I was doing as a representative of my people, as an elected councillor, was pushing for my duty to participate with th

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. I guess I should preface this by saying that since I was appointed chief, I've had a number of public meetings. Most of my decisions are made in formal meetings that are tape-recorded, like this proceeding now, and played on our local airwaves. I've also had about fou

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Can you rephrase the question? That was a big one for me.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Right, I agree. And it's not just this government. As I said before, the last time I was here before you, the FNGA, from the previous regime, was being pushed forward, and I think a lot of communities, including Norway House, weren't very comfortable with the approach the federal

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Oh, definitely, yes. That's where I was going with that. I totally agree. I don't have the resources of the Canadian Bar Association, and I just did this yesterday and the day before, so I regret that I haven't fully analyzed it from that perspective. Definitely, you can hive o

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. I'm not a parliamentarian, but there are particular tactics you could probably employ. That would be pushing this bill through as quickly as possible and then voting against it. If you are in a minority position, then arguably you would be able to have the support of

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll try not to speak really fast, then. As chief of Norway House, I have a position that is quite clear, and it's spelled out in writing. I would say you have to throw out the bill because, as a chief, I can't be supporting this process that does not consult and engage me or m

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Okay. I won't go faster, but I'll cut out a lot. My people have expressed fear with regard to Bill C-44. As I said, the small working group I had and I discussed this--for on-reserve only, never mind my off-reserve members--and some members of the band expressed fear that they m

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  While Bill C-44, perhaps admirably, increases protection of equality of rights for aboriginal people under the Canadian Human Rights Act, it does not address the question of balance between individual equality rights and protection of other individual human rights. This a central

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Good. Thank you. Then I'll talk much more slowly, because I wasn't even following myself.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. I regret that I don't have a presentation for you. I pulled this together at the last minute, and hopefully I will be able to highlight some of my speaking notes here and provide you a copy later. Tansi, distinguished members of the committee. My name is Marcel Balf