Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Hrudey and Mr. Gagnon.
I don't think anybody sitting around this table would disagree that first nation communities should have access to safe drinking water.
Part of what we've heard, either through testimony here or through written correspondence, is that there are a number of concerns about whether Bill S-8 will deliver safe drinking water. Part of the concern raised is the fact that a regulatory process will be developed that is not clear. Although the language in the proposed act says “working with first nations”, it's not clear that actual regulatory processes will actually be developed in full partnership with first nations. We've seen a long history of that not happening, so that's concern number one.
Concern number two, which you have both spoken to in one way or another, is resources, whether those be capital infrastructure costs or the ongoing operations and maintenance costs and training costs.
The third issue that's been identified—and Mr. Gagnon did address this somewhat—is around where the liability will rest and whether chiefs and councils will actually have the capacity to own that liability. Then there are the issues around operational gaps.
I quickly want to touch on a couple of points. In the report of the Expert Panel on Safe Drinking Water for First Nations, you indicated that the federal government must close the gap. But there were some concerns about putting in a regulatory regime, because creating and enforcing a regulatory regime would take time, attention and money that might be better invested in systems, operators, management, and governance.
I think you spoke to that, Mr. Hrudey. Is that correct?