Yes. I think the question you're asking is a very important one in terms of whether this is enough to address that issue and to bring the proper focus here.
I would concur with the national chief and with others who have presented. I think that it is a shift. It's a big shift, and I think it's very important in Canada that we have this shift, but I also think it's important that we don't do a shift so hard that provinces and others won't work together, and we can't bring provinces and first nations together.
There will be first nations that do not want to work with the province. I have that experience myself with some clients and others in my own first nations' background. Sometimes people don't want to work with the province, but practically, if you want to get your children out of the child welfare system, you have to work with the province.
This is enough of a shift. I would be worried that if it were too harsh, it could be too directive at provinces. I like clause 20 on coordinating agreements. I also respect the fact that no one has to work with a province if they don't want to. I think this is your opportunity to put the children at the centre. I agree with you very much on the substantive equality.
I would really draw your attention to something that is just so powerful in this bill, and that's in paragraph 9(2)(d), which is about services having to be provided to indigenous children in a manner that does not contribute to the assimilation of the people, group or child, or the destruction of their culture. It doesn't matter who is taking care of the children. Services have to respect and protect culture. That provision alone is so helpful to have as an overarching lens. These are critical steps.
Is it everything? I think it's a big shift, and I think we on the ground will work with that very strongly to support first nations' children in their identities, their cultures and their communities. I think we have to remember that there are chiefs and collective rights, but there are also children's rights. We also have to stay focused on.... The children have to have their rights recognized, and these sorts of things are very critical for the rights of children.