Thank you, Madam Chair, for the opportunity to present. Thank you to the committee members.
My name is Jen Lam, as Kate mentioned, and I will be making remarks on behalf of the Inuvialuit Game Council.
As Kate mentioned, the IFA sets out a robust and inclusive impact assessment process, which has proven to be effective since it was enacted in 1984. The IFA's environmental impact screening committee and environmental impact review board processes support the purposes and objectives outlined in the proposed act.
Canada's interests have been and will continue to be fully represented through membership and appointment of chairs at these boards, as well as through the authority of the relevant government body to approve or reject a proposal. The Inuvialuit Game Council feels that the existing IFA processes have established a comprehensive and robust environmental impact assessment framework that represents both Canada's and Inuvialuit's interests. The IFA processes also have the confidence of the Inuvialuit that they will appropriately consider and incorporate their views into the assessment.
Under CEAA 2012, unnecessary complication and duplication of processes were put into place. Inuvialuit Game Council on a number of occasions voiced their concerns to the government at the time. The council hopes this review will address the issues of duplication and provide clarity and recognize the processes established under the IFA as the appropriate processes for assessing effects of proposed development in the Inuvialuit settlement region.
I'll turn it back to Kate.