I was about to quote a couple of people who speak to this need for true co-development and, maybe, the lack of actual consultation and co-operation. We're just trying to ensure that happens.
Chief Henry Lewis from Onion Lake Cree Nation was at committee on October 3—just recently—and he said:
Onion Lake Cree Nation has protocols outlining consultation and what requirements governments and industry must follow when engaging us through our own process. This has not been followed.
I'm not going to read all these other quotes, but Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler wrote:
We acknowledge that some First Nations have had opportunities for input into the drafting of this legislation, but we do not agree that this legislation has been co-drafted.
In September, Chief Billy-Joe Tuccaro from Mikisew Cree First Nation said, “there has been absolutely no consultation in regard to this bill that's being rammed down our throats.”
My point in reading these quotes is that this is not my opinion as to the lack of consultation and co-operation. The reason we're trying to add some language and substance to this part of the legislation is that we ensure the parties affected by the legislation are, in fact, included in the creation of regulations in the legislation. That is my push-back as to why I believe this amendment is extremely important.