Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for attending. I really appreciate the briefing. I asked for it. It's helpful to hear from the government on their perspective.
There is a lot to cover. I'm going to pick up right away on your statement on page 10 that “Emerging evidence suggests...”, and so on and so forth. A finalized treaty and self-government enable economic development, well-being, and so on and so forth: we're hearing that over and over again.
Having heard from the BC Treaty Commission, having looked at papers, and having talked to some of the first nations, the impression that arises over and over again is that the federal government is dragging its feet, particularly between agreement in principle and the final agreement. So the obvious question is, if the Government of Canada firmly believes this is the way to move forward and achieve well-being and economic benefits for first nations, where's the barrier? Why aren't we moving forward more expeditiously in resolving the treaties?
Next, we have two scenarios. In certain parts of Canada, we have these so-called modern treaties. In other parts of Canada, in a huge swath, in the Prairies and parts of eastern Canada, we have the original treaties. Many people who exist under the original treaties are feeling that they're getting short shrift on the traditional lands, that it's not enough to look at better ways to manage their reserve lands, and that they're missing out on the benefits they deserve in both their traditional harvests and in their underground resource extractions.
I would appreciate your responses.