Mr. Chair, if I may do so, I think it's important to provide the full contextual piece of how the consultations were done with both initiatives.
First of all, with respect to devolution, we conducted a fairly comprehensive consultation process—three phases—which took place from January 2011 up until we signed the devolution agreement. During that period, we consulted with 22 different aboriginal groups, first nation communities, and that influenced the outcome of our negotiation positions.
My understanding is that my colleagues who were working on regulatory improvement undertook similar consultations during the development of the framework of their proposal.
Where we then began to converge with respect to the two initiatives was on August 16, 2013, when the same groups, the 22 first nation communities and aboriginal groups, were sent a package. The package contained all four elements of the bill that is now before you.
We set out a timeline. It was from that point on that the consultations were coordinated on the elements of the legislative proposal. We set a deadline of October 15 to receive comments, whether they were written or through meetings with the department. From there we moved forward with our recommendations on a final approach to the government. The government then made the decision on how they wished to proceed with Bill C-15.