One question I was asked earlier, I guess by Mr. Wilks, was about the benefit to leaders, to members, and to Canadian taxpayers. That's something that I can quickly remember that I was kind of....
The relationship we're looking at right now is not what some would term the ideal situation of self-government. That's why, when we talk about government to government, or nation to nation, when we start using that language, are we talking about what exists now or are we talking about a theoretical future?
It's important to know that Bill C-27 specifically excludes first nations who have a self-government agreement, so we can't talk about those communities that have these kinds of measures in place. Under the current Indian Act, the lines of accountability run from the chief and council to the minister and the ministry. Looking at that situation, you have to recreate relationships between members and leaders. That's what John was talking about with the tax relationship.
But on a basic level, having some kind of disclosure does try to recreate some kind of governance relationship that doesn't exist fully under the Indian Act so that band chief and council can be accountable to their members directly. That's the benefit to them. They have that sense that they're accountable, and they can go to their members and say that.
To members, same thing: it recreates that relationship that the Indian Act doesn't have and that the Indian Act undermined when it was first introduced.
When it comes to the Canadian public, it goes back to the thing about the funds—namely, are they being well spent? If you have a certain proportion of your money going towards salaries and whatnot, that's an issue that a lot of members want to know about. There are scarce funds on first nations reserves, so they want to know that information.
First nations do, and also taxpayers; we have a moral responsibility, as Canadians, to first nations, to the indigenous inhabitants of this country, and we want to make sure that the money we're sending is being well spent and is actually going to help. That's the benefit to them.
I'm just kind of.... Maybe the question came to you while I was speaking. Sorry.