Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to our witnesses for being here and for sharing how this legislation affects your communities and what you believe needs to happen.
I'd like to speak a bit about the Building Canada Act changes in Bill C-39 as well as to follow up on my colleague's questions, in particular on the “regions of national interest” designation.
The regions of national interest designation would still require a preliminary Impact Assessment Act review, essentially, community by community. If, let's say, it's the Ring of Fire—in the case of Chief Benedict in Ontario—it's well known that there are lots of first nations there. There's lots of interest in that region. There would be community by community initial assessments, but essentially what would happen is that once this becomes designated as a region of national interest, the minister can materially change what was originally consulted on, which essentially changes the final parameters before cabinet decides to schedule it, and then designate it on schedule 1, allowing those exemptions to take effect.
Is this a concern for you, Chief Benedict? Maybe we'll start with you.