Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to say from the outset, welcome back to all of you. When we left, it was summer. Now we've come back, it's still summer. That's kind of fun for all of us.
First of all, I took great interest in the proposal to do the study, because I come from a region where the first modern treaty was signed back in 1975—the first treaty that involved a province as well. It was kind of interesting how development happened from there on.
I smiled when you said that negotiated agreements are only as good as their implementation. You're dead right when you say that, because it was a challenge for us to negotiate the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement from the outset. Little did we know that the greatest challenge was the implementation. I always use the example of chapter 28, on social and community development, where it is said that on an equal basis, Canada and Quebec will construct community centres in every Cree village. That took about 25 years to implement, because it was claimed by both governments that there was no definition of a community centre. It's true, but it's rather bad faith, if you ask me.
You used a lot of United Nations declaration language in your presentation. I noticed “respect”, “co-operation”, ”partnership”. The principles that we find in the preamble of the UN declaration are now put forth by this government as basic principles for this renewed nation-to-nation relationship. I agree with that approach.
You also talk about self-determination. I recall reading the mandate letters, both to the indigenous affairs minister and to the Minister of Justice. Both referred to the UN declaration as a basis of a new nation-to-nation relationship. The PM has used that as the basis for a renewed relationship with indigenous peoples.
My question, very simply, is this. Has there been thought put into using the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the basis for a new policy? You agree that it needs to be updated. “Updated” is the word you used. Is that a feasible proposition?