Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I think it's important to reflect. I know it's been a while. We've been away from the witness testimony. However, it's very important that, when we're talking about this legislation, we're talking about the internal governance of the Métis of three provinces. This is citizenship. This is governance. This is ratification. This is not lands. This is not resources. In fact, the minister, when he was here, said those things were “not contemplated in the legislation.” What we want to do is figure out a way to protect...so people understand this is not going to impact their rights, whether it be lands, resources, fishing or hunting.
That's why we put in a non-derogation clause. In fact, Lori, it was your NDP-2, which we all voted in favour of. I can read the exact words:
For greater certainty, nothing in this Act is to be construed as abrogating or derogating from the protection provided for the rights of the Indigenous peoples of Canada by the recognition and affirmation of those rights in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
When I'm looking at clause 14 on this, it is also very consistent with that language, saying this is not a treaty of lands. My understanding is that pulling in lands, resources, hunting and fishing is not in contemplation of what's in the scope of this legislation. If we start adding things that were never discussed or part of the intention of this legislation, it makes it out of scope.
I would almost venture to say that, if I started bringing up Métis in other provinces, outside of Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan, that, too, would be out of scope for this legislation, because the intention of this legislation is to cover just these three provinces and speak to the internal governance of these areas.
Moving forward, I think clause 14, which we're currently on, is consistent with what we've already said and all agreed to in NDP-2. Without any amendments, I think it's ready to go.