First of all, thank you for coming on relatively short notice. I appreciate hearing from you.
I've spent my whole life waiting for land claims to be settled in the area where I live. I was hoping that once they were settled, we would drift into a happy future, but it doesn't sound as though that's the case.
We heard from the AFN the other day. They talked about how our policies were outdated and how the government needs to review some of the policies, such as the comprehensive claims policy and others. I watched the Déline, for example, negotiate self-government. In one community, it cost $70 million to negotiate. It took over 20 years and was a very slow process.
The treaties were supposed to renew the agreements. They were supposed to take the uncertainty out of how to deal with land and self-government and services and the fiscal compensation that were all included in the agreement, but it doesn't sound as though the government is eager, or has been eager during your time, to move forward.
I have three questions. I'll just ask them, and you can answer them as you see fit.
First of all, how does the existing fiscal policy impact your ability for implementation?
Second, what recommendations would you like to make to this committee?
Third, do you feel as though you're working in a nation-to-nation environment now with this situation?