Thank you for the question.
First and foremost, what is really important to focus on—and we've had these conversations—is what is in this legislation and what is not in this legislation. That's what we're here to study.
The bill does not touch on the negotiation of lands. It does talk about future negotiations of treaties, but this bill fundamentally does two things. It recognizes the status quo that's existed for the last 100-plus years that these are Métis governments and they represent Métis collectivities. When treaties are negotiated, they also don't necessarily need to be land treaties.
Member Battiste has spoken about this in previous hearings. Treaties can also refer to peace and friendship treaties. They don't always necessarily lead to land. When the treaties are negotiated, if they are to impact first nations' rights, then there will be a duty to consult triggered and they will be consulted.
At this point in time, this piece of legislation does not speak to that. It's simply about the internal governance of these three Métis governments.