Thank you very much.
I do want to add some things to the record, Mr. Chair.
First of all, with the comments made by Mr. Leef earlier about the first nations saying that they weren't prepared to negotiate or had asked to be part of the conversation on the four amendments to see if there could be consensus, I'd like to refer you to a letter from the Teslin Tlingit Council, dated March 17. They state that they “...remain committed to resolving these conflicts with Canada outside of the courtroom. Canada must provide us with the opportunity to do that by withdrawing Bill S-6 and by directing Canada's officials to work with our officials to find remedies that do not conflict with the Teslin Tlingit final agreement.” Furthermore, in a letter on June 24 the TTC indicates that “Canada has the opportunity to make the changes to these proposed amendments that can contribute to a more robust Yukon economy and make the territory a preferred place to invest. We would like to help Canada do that.” They would also like to send a delegation to meet with the Prime Minister. This was a letter to the Prime Minister and to Minister Valcourt.
I also want to read out a letter from the Champagne Aishihik First Nation, as follows:
[English] We have consistently sought meaningful engagement to negotiate these matters but Canada has yet to demonstrate it will give full and fair consideration of the views of Yukon First Nations. We continue to be stonewalled with clear signals that these amendments are not up for negotiation.
They go on to say the following:
Nonetheless, we have offered practical solutions to these concepts that do not necessitate legislative action but could be addressed by other means, and in some cases, point back to the better thought out solutions already agreed to under the Five Year Review. To date, we have been incredibly frustrated that our reasonable requests and observations have been treated with little, to no, regard.
That letter is dated March 26, 2015.
I also want to put into the record a letter that we received. Dated March 26, it was actually sent to the clerk for the committee here. It's from the Yukoners Concerned group. It states:
[English] I have lived in Yukon for 30 years surrounded by the most resilient, innovative and progressive people. We worked together in good faith to create the YESSA Act. The First Nations of the Yukon are part of the land, part of the water and we all have a duty to our ancestors to protect it for all our children's sake. I and many other Yukon people stand behind the Yukon First Nations opposition to the Bill S-6. We are not going back to colonial rule, we are fed up with our First Nation friends and neighbours having to go to court to protect our rights. There is no going back when we all have had the taste of the promise of self-governance.
I just thought it was important to put this on the record.
One thing we also have to recognize is that when Yukon land claims and self-government legislation was going through Parliament in June of 1984, the Reform-slash-Conservative Parliament voted against it, including Minister John Duncan and actually our colleague Mr. Strahl's father. This is what actually gave effect to these agreements that we're talking about today.
I'm just wondering if this is where the government is trying to go and if they're trying to chisel away at what is before them just because they didn't like it way back then. We have to keep in mind that in 1974, the unelected Conservative Senator Lang was one who was actually against this as well. We have to remain concerned about why we are where we are today.
I don't know if I have any time left, Mr. Chair.