Perhaps I can answer some of the question in terms of how the existing fiscal policy impacts the implementation. I have a few points.
First of all, the previous government basically adopted this policy, two weeks before the writ was dropped, without consultation with our members. That's important to note. We cannot implement this policy without breaching our agreements. It conflicts with existing terms of our agreements, which require that our fiscal renewal must be negotiated. It's stated clearly in our final agreements in the Yukon that the Government of Canada “shall” negotiate, but the policy uses a formula-based approach that is grounded in the Indian Act. Modern treaties were signed in order to move forward and away from the Indian Act, and our new fiscal policy brings us full circle back to what we have spent decades working to get free from.
It's important to know, too, that the fiscal approach undermines the foundation of modern treaties. It is a key tool that government uses to reconcile the honour of the crown for our people. If Canada wants to change the treaty bargains, then you need to do this through the front door, not by determining our agreements through backdoor policies like this. It's very important.
I just want to add that the new fiscal policy was developed for status Indians under the Indian Act. The biggest thing to recognize here is that our agreements, modern treaties, have done away with the Indian Act, so what is it doing here in the first place?
The other thing is that it recognizes Indians under the Indian Act on settlement land, on reserve land. We provide services throughout our territory and Canada to our citizens. We cannot be lumped into a small group like that. It would tremendously reduce the funding that's available to us.