The board has independently developed its own rules and bylaws, including time limits for executive committee assessments and designated office assessments.
I think the problem with the provisions brought about by Bill S-6 was that it imposed a maximum timeline. In addition to that, if there were any extensions requested, those timelines required the approval of the federal minister, and for any subsequent extensions, cabinet approval. That's one problem in terms of the shift in the balance of power and taking away independence of the board. We support the independence of the board in the original intent of the agreement.
In addition, though, for complex projects that might be pushing those maximum timelines, Chief Smith definitely spoke to the adequacy of information, how that can eat up time at the beginning of the assessment and limit the amount of time that first nations can participate. We need to be careful in terms of balancing the assurances that first nations can have meaningful, well-informed responses to projects and not be fettered by legislated maximum timelines. Keeping it at the board level for the rules and bylaws allows a degree of flexibility and non-imposition of legislative timelines, which in our view will only lead to considerable conflict if they're pushed.