Evidence of meeting #12 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was tribunal.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Barry Devolin
We've arrived at the end of the third round.
The last questioner is Mr. Albrecht. We're going to squeak in by 5:30.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The great collaborative approach that's been taken to come up with this process has been pointed out a number of times today by the minister and also by the department's officials and colleagues, and certainly we all applaud that.
I'd like to question in terms of the regional first nations. We know there has been collaboration between the AFN and the government. Has there also been collaboration between regional first nations groups, and how have they responded to the drafting of this bill?
5:25 p.m.
Executive Director, Specific Claims Reform Initiative, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
I know the government consultation and the collaborative process was with the Assembly of First Nations as the national organization representing first nations across the country. This is a bill, and it's national in scope.
In the joint task force itself, of course the AFN designated four individuals and Canada had four individuals. There was a cross-section there: Roger Augustine, the chief of staff for the AFN; of course we had Lawrence Joseph, who is the AFN regional chief and also the chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations; Wilton Littlechild, the AFN regional chief of Alberta; and Shawn Atleo, the co-chair, who is the AFN regional chief for B.C.
I know this is probably something, in terms of individual first nations, beyond the group in consultations with them, and something the AFN could elaborate on should you invite them to the committee.
One of the other things worth mentioning is that the consultation on the idea of an independent body goes back many years, so most concerns were well known by this juncture.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
You're fairly confident that the regional first nations groups were adequately represented in the consultation process from the Assembly of First Nations on down, if we could use that terminology?
5:25 p.m.
Executive Director, Specific Claims Reform Initiative, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
It's probably not for me to say. I think this is something the Assembly of First Nations could elaborate upon. What I can say is that this has been going on for so many years that the concerns and the problems are very well known, and that we did deal very closely with the national organization that I understand represents first nations across Canada.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
I think it's important that all Canadians are assured of the fact that this isn't a one-sided approach by government mandate. We've seen the AFN, and I'm encouraged to hear that other groups at regional levels were also included in those consultations.
Thank you.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Barry Devolin
That's it?
Thank you, Mr. Albrecht.
We're done on time.
I want to wrap up by thanking the witnesses for being here and for staying after the minister was here.
The meeting is adjourned until Monday.