Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you all for coming before the committee.
I have three questions, and I'm going to ask all three of them and let you fill in the time. I'll try to be fairly quick about them.
The first has to do with the appointment process. I want to come back to this, because it seems that the political agreement specifies that the chief will be engaged in a process for recommending members. So it actually relates not to the appointments but to recommendations. I would like you to comment on that. One of the suggestions that has come to us from other panellists is that perhaps elder advisers might be a good solution to balancing off some of the judge's non-aboriginal experience. I'm wondering if you could comment.
Secondly, in the transitional provisions under sections 42 and 43, my understanding is that some of the claims currently before the system are very long-standing. I pulled one sheet and some go back to 1991, 1998, 1987. In this transitional procedure, if people voluntarily choose to participate, will it in effect see the clock reset to zero for them once the bill comes into effect? I wonder if you could comment. It seems this would severely disadvantage a number of people who've had claims in the system for years and years. This is a technical issue that will probably have to go to Roger.
The third question I have relates to mediation. When the minister came before the committee, he talked about an evolving mediation role for the ICC. But it's unclear whether there would be more credence given to this mediation process than is currently given by various governments.
I'll turn it over to you.