Evidence of meeting #4 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was tribunal.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Brampton West, ON
If they choose to get some independent legal representation, there would be a cost, but there's no actual cost if they choose not to get that kind of representation?
Director General, Specific Claims Branch, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
The rules of the tribunal stipulate that they have to be represented by legal counsel, so they have to seek legal counsel.
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Brampton West, ON
Can you tell me more about the mediation services unit, for example? What does it do? Can you give examples of when the MSU has been used?
Director General, Specific Claims Branch, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
The mediation services unit will administer the rosters of the independent mediators. If at the table both parties agree there's an issue that needs to be kind of massaged better to get to a settlement that we just can't see, or that we're not able to crack, I guess, both parties can request a mediator.
They can also specify as to what type of mediator they want; it might be that it's a very narrow question, so they would give us much direction as to what it is they would like to see in a mediator. Then, looking at those criteria, our services will look at the roster and refer names to the negotiating table. The parties will analyze who's there and then choose a mediator of their choice.
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Brampton West, ON
Just so I'm clear on this, it can be on any specific issue that's proving to be difficult in the negotiations. A mediator's services can try to help resolve that particular issue?
Director General, Specific Claims Branch, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
If both parties feel there is a need for it, yes.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Committee members, it looks to me as though there's no indication that those people who would be available to speak in the third term here have any desire to intervene.
We do thank you for coming today to provide this material to us. I think you've whet our appetite possibly for some additional discussions later on. We do appreciate your testimony today, and we appreciate the time you have taken to present as well as to prepare for this. Thank you so much.
Colleagues, I'll suspend the meeting for just a few moments so that we can move in camera, and then we'll have a discussion on future business at that point.
[Proceedings continue in camera]