Yes, I can, absolutely.
Of course, the Assembly of First Nations would disagree with that legal position taken by Department of Justice lawyers in the Shamattawa case. We support Shamattawa in their class action, and of course we believe that Canada does have that legal obligation. We believe that it's rooted in the Constitution; it's rooted in treaty. Certainly Canada has adopted those instruments of international human rights.
The DOJ position stated in that case does not align with those laws, and this is all the more reason that we need this bill. We need this bill to make it clear, without “best efforts”, because of course first nations cannot rely on the best efforts of federal governments. We need firm commitments to make it crystal clear to DOJ lawyers and to everyone else that Canada does bear that legal obligation.
That's how I would respond.