Thank you, Madam Minister.
In that regard, there's an elephant in the room: Why isn't the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations co-defending this bill with you? He can certainly delegate responsibilities, but when it comes to the human rights of first nations people, it is inappropriate for him not to be there. We talk about rights, respect for agreements and treaties, but it is absent.
This is what first nations have told us repeatedly over the past several meetings of the committee. It sends a message that the government sees water management for first nations as purely administrative. However, it's an essential element, which is at the heart of first nations development. Why is that?