[Member speaks in Cree]
Madam Chair, I want to take this opportunity to respond to the accusations coming from the other side since I didn't get a chance to respond. I take reconciliation very seriously. After 35 years of honest effort at reconciliation, I took offence at the member for Pontiac's accusations of partisanship.
I listened to our witnesses this morning, and one of them said that although the commitments are very nice, it's not happening on the ground. Another witness concurred with that observation. I quoted the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. I don't think we can say that the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal is a partisan body. What I'm trying to achieve here, Madam Chair, is what is just for this country. I've been doing that for the last 35 years. Being accused of partisanship was unwarranted on the part of the member for Pontiac. He may disagree with me, and I don't mind, but I certainly won't take any form of paternalism from anyone. We've had enough of that for 150 years. I don't think it's warranted anymore.
Thank you, Madam Chair. My apologies for that. I had to respond, I think I had the right to respond.
One of the things we've heard over and over again since we started in Vancouver on Monday is that the process failed a lot of first nations that had either comprehensive or specific claims. There needs to be a major change to that policy, or even to the approach to specific and comprehensive claims.
You talked about that. At the core of this problem is the need for a level playing field and equal access to resolution. We've heard that throughout. It's unjust that only monetary compensation is contemplated for specific claims and not for land. That seems to be your ultimate goal. I think a lot of groups across this country agree with that.
Injury to culture was also mentioned, and that is also contemplated by others. We're here to propose perhaps new policies or maybe a major change to a fair, transparent process that may be required in the future to deal with these challenging claims.
I'd like to hear more about what you would recommend to this committee for us to do our job and deliver to the present government. It's a very general question to all three of you.