Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First, I want to thank the witnesses for being here.
To sum up what you said—and correct me if I am wrong—you are not calling for a major overhaul of the act. I understand that you are recommending a few amendments, including some to section 36.2 to place more of an emphasis on the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. There are, however, difficulties in terms of applicability.
I understand that you presented two major issues. The first being the consideration given to aboriginal traditional knowledge in government decisions and COSEWIC's recommendations. The second issue is also of interest to me.
I listened to what you said in response to Mr. McGuinty's question as to whether you asked that the communities not be subject to SARA's authority. But I did not understand what you meant. Nations and first nations want equal representation in terms of nation-to-nation and government-to-government relationships. That seems to be what you are asking for today.
For instance, when I see that the National Aboriginal Council on Species at Risk has to appear separately before the committee in the course of meetings on COSEWIC, that it is not taking part in the discussions, and that those discussions are taking place behind closed doors between the provinces and the federal government, I think it speaks volumes about the place and consideration given to first nations in the decision-making process.
Is that not what you are asking us for today, for consideration to be given to first nations and for their full and total participation in the discussions, in other words, a nation-to-nation relationship?