Madam Chair, this amendment is one that was recommended by the Assembly of First Nations. It's quite critical to understand the impact of the words that are currently found on page 9 in proposed paragraph 6(1)(e), which deals with the
coordinated action between federal and provincial governments, and the federal government and Indigenous governing bodies
The draft that we have for first reading qualifies the words “Indigenous governing bodies” with the words “that are jurisdictions”. The impact of that is to provide that those first nations that are allowed to participate in more coordinated action with the federal government are only those that have entered into agreements as outlined. The existing definition of “jurisdiction” would restrict the indigenous governing bodies that were allowed to enter into agreements.
In accordance with the Assembly of First Nations' recommendations, therefore, my amendment removes the words “that are jurisdictions” so that this paragraph (e) would read, in lines 25 and 26:
federal government and Indigenous governing bodies with respect to impact assessments;
Then it goes on to paragraph (f).