Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My thanks to our witnesses for being here today.
Mr. Dinsdale, you've been careful to qualify your comments and to state that some of the issues affecting first nations and aboriginal peoples maybe aren't in the purview of this committee. Well, we're spending a hell of a lot of taxpayers' money on meeting to discuss Canada 150. If we're going to do that, it would be good if we could come out of this with some significant recommendations on a legacy that would make a difference, especially in the lives of first nations people.
If we're going to wait till 2013 to guarantee potable water for first nations communities, we'll have waited too long. I think there's an urgency. The concern I have with celebrations is that they can sometimes blunt the urgency of our social issues, especially as they pertain to first nations and aboriginal communities.
The minister has promised that in whatever way this celebration is going to come together, first nations will be consulted. I'd like you to advise us, first, on the best way in which first nations could be consulted, and second, on the governance makeup of the Canada 150.