There are clearly some steps in the right direction with Bill C-69, and lots of room for improvement, hearing some of those voices here.
It's important that the legislation look specifically not just at section 35 rights, but UNDRIP, and create all sorts of avenues for participation by indigenous peoples. Regional Chief Teegee stressed in his comments there has to be sufficient funding to make that happen. That has to be a major pillar allowing for indigenous involvement in these processes.
We're focused on advisory committees and the like, and the formation of groups that can effectively engage with resources in the regulation of these projects, whether it's through advisory committees advising on the approval process. Our committee is more the post-approval process where the effort is to make sure that the regulation is as rigorous as possible so the project is as safe as possible. We're talking about having flexibility to form these committees and let the indigenous side speak for itself through the formation of large groupings where there is the desire to do that on the part of the individual nation.
This legislation has to provide that kind of flexibility, and it has to provide funding.