Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Again, my personal thanks go to each of you for appearing today. I want to especially congratulate Chief Paul on outlasting five or six prime ministers. That's quite a feat, especially from my perspective as a rookie MP.
The issue of consultation--adequate consultation, full consultation—has come up not just from each of you as witnesses today, but from many of the other witnesses we've heard. I think in answer to Ms. Neville's question, Chief Eastman said that it would involve consultation right to the individual level. Certainly I agree that would be ideal, but if we consider that consultation would occur at the individual level, then at the first nations level, at the regional level, at the provincial level, at the federal level, what do we do? I mean, we want to listen; I'm committed to listening. But at the end of the day we've listened already to a number of federal representatives only, and we have very disparate views on what should be done.
At the end of the day, someone needs to grapple with this and make a decision. How would we possibly begin to engage in dialogue, first at the 600 first nations level across Canada, and then at the individual level, and still be sure that we haven't offended anyone in the process? That's a challenge that I'm sure you face in your individual band councils, as well. You make decisions, and people will always say you didn't listen to them because you didn't implement the decision or the suggestion they gave you.
I want to ask, how can we ensure you that we've listened and still possibly not come up with the decision that your group would have preferred? I say that with respect. I'm not trying to be disrespectful. It's a challenge we face not just on this issue in this committee, but in many others.
If you could help me with that, I would appreciate it.