Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Free, prior and informed consent is an inherent right of indigenous people, and Jamie was correct when he said that at UNDRIP discussions, this came to the forefront. It almost sank that piece of legislation coming forward.
Consent from indigenous people could come in many forms and fashions, but I'm convinced that UNDRIP is broad enough that it covers most pieces of legislation, including this one. Does it mean we're going to have to redefine “consent” every time there's a new piece of legislation brought forward? I'm very concerned because, from where I sit, I see the desire to want “consent” defined will probably sink this bill. I don't believe that our term is long enough for us to clarify that definition. It could take years.
I think that, by going forward with CPC-1, we're certainly going to jeopardize this important and much-needed piece of legislation. I think there will be a time when we're going to need further clarification government-wide, but we can't do it in every piece of legislation. I'm very concerned where this is headed when we enter an area where we don't have a clear definition.