Excuse me. I understand that. I need to move to a second question.
I understand the duty to consult, and I understand that it's enshrined in judicial decisions and in history, but some have suggested, and I think I might join them, that this proposed legislation sets out a pretty protracted duty to consult. As you know, and as we all agree, the Indian Act needs to be replaced, but no one seems to know exactly with what.
Clause 2 of this bill, as you cited in your opening comments, requires the minister to report annually to this committee regarding progress by his department “in collaboration with First Nations organizations and other interested parties”. I would suggest to you that this is a duty to consult.
I appreciate your comments about timeframe and resources, but it's quite conceivable that in this process in the first year the duty to consult might set out a timeframe or resources to lead to eventual replacement of the Indian Act, based on the consultation that you so rightly desire.