Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I thank the witnesses for all of the insight today. These are important subjects, and your insights and perspectives are really important.
I am joining you today from the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, the Huron-Wendat, the Anishinabe, the Attawandaron and, more recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
My question is for Mark Podlasly. It comes with a glimmer of envy, as you're joining us from the Coast Salish territory, which is one of the most beautiful places in Canada. I hope that there aren't too many people from Milton listening as I express envy for how beautiful your territory is. I'm a water person myself, so I love your territory. That part of the country is beautiful.
I took note of your reference to article 4 repeatedly throughout your testimony today. I looked it up, and I want to read it out for my benefit and for the benefit of anybody else who is interested in listening.
It goes like this:
Indigenous peoples, in exercising their right to self-determination, have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to their internal and local affairs, as well as ways and means for financing their autonomous functions.
I don't know who it's attributable to, but I have heard that more human rights are never a bad thing. I do know that it was Martin Luther King who said, “A right delayed is a right denied.”
l am a strong believer that these rights have been delayed a tremendously long time. This bill, in swift form, will take action on that and give people and persons the rights they so deserve.
We have spent a lot of time discussing the nuances and differences between a veto and free, prior and informed consent. We also recently heard from a former MP, Romeo Saganash, on his definition or distinction between the two.
I'll read that, and then following that, Mr. Podlasly, I'd ask for your reflections on the subject.
Mr. Saganash said:
Veto and FPIC are two different legal concepts. One is absolute, and that is veto, whereas the other one is relative. Like all human rights, the right to free, prior and informed consent is relative. We have to take into consideration a lot of other factors and facts and the law and the circumstances of a given situation.
Mr. Podlasly, I'd just ask for your reflections on this, and thank you for your testimony today.