Thank you, Madam Chair.
Allow me first to apologize for being late. I have no control over traffic. That's what you have to deal with when you choose to live across the river. I apologize to Loretta because I missed her presentation and part of Mr. Bear's presentation as well.
I do want to come back to something that's been identified by many witnesses before us who came before you, which is the chronic underfunding. Capacity building is also important. Many people have mentioned that in much of the testimony before us.
One of the things that intrigues me.... This study was not of our choosing. It was the choice of the majority of this committee. It wasn't necessarily my priority. There are a lot of other priorities for first nations people in this country other than this one.
Even if we achieved successful capacity building in any community, the fact of the matter is that these communities will remain under an archaic governance system, which is the Indian Act. Do you see that as a problem?
This is for each and every one of you.