First of all, thank you all very much for your presentations.
I'm going to begin by reading directly from the bill and asking for comment from both of you.
Clause 22 talks about, in my opinion, the nexus of this bill. The really powerful part is the issue of paramountcy. It gives indigenous nations paramountcy over federal and provincial law.
I want to read directly from the bill:
22 (1) If there is a conflict or inconsistency between a provision respecting child and family services that is in a law of an Indigenous group, community or people and a provision respecting child and family services...that is in a federal Act or regulation, the provision that is in the law of the Indigenous group, community or people prevails to the extent of the conflict or inconsistency.
Morley Watson, can you perhaps comment on this provision and how you see this?