Thank you, Minister, for being here with us today.
In our recent study on indigenous land rights, we heard from many witnesses that the government needs to reform how negotiation mandates are established to make them much more flexible and malleable. We also heard that the successful agreement should represent an ongoing relationship between crown and indigenous peoples. Our committee drafted a recommendation to reflect what we heard on these points: in budget 2018 invest $51.4 million over two years to continue to support federal and indigenous participation in recognition of rights of self-determination discussions.
Can you explain how this new approach and the new money will be spent to support it, as you claim, accelerate, and transition to self-determination?