Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Toulouse, I just want to reassure you, members of the committee are aware of the significant needs of first nations, namely when it comes to housing in Quebec. At the moment, we are considering Bill C-44, and to date, we have heard from a number of groups. I'd also like to extend a welcome to Chief Picard who is also concerned with these matters; I know this because I was at the First Nations Socio-Economic Forum.
We are hearing from groups and hearing concrete recommendations on Bill C-44. This is, after all, a consultative process and the bill has not yet been passed, we should remember that. The committee will be issuing recommendations, reviewing clauses and referring the bill to the House. Although it may not be perfect, there is a process in place, one that is established under our parliamentary system.
The Native Women's Association of Canada, in its brief, suggested that section 67, which was at the time added as an interim measure, has in a way stopped the most vulnerable from filing human rights complaints when they involved a provision of the Indian Act. Thirty years have gone by and we now have to deal with this problem.
I heard what you had to say this morning, and I am conscious that the consultative process may not be perfect, but as Mr. Lemay mentioned earlier, efforts have been made over the last 30 years to correct the human rights gaps. I am wondering whether we should continue to wait or rather take this opportunity to improve the rights and living conditions of first nations. We are not talking about taking a giant step here, but rather a small step to move in that direction.
We know that first nations are doing important work when it comes to collective rights, but I would be curious to know whether steps have been taken to promote the individual rights of aboriginal people in their communities.