Thank you, Chair, and thank you to our visitors today for coming to testify.
I want to go to Mr. Lafond first.
I certainly agree that the bigger long-term picture is recognition through section 35 and more definition through that mechanism, but you also referenced the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The current Liberal government has developed legislation to recognize that and to guide them and have said it for a number of years. Article 9 of the declaration says:
Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right to belong to an indigenous community or nation, in accordance with the traditions and customs of the community or nation concerned. No discrimination of any kind may arise from the exercise of such a right.
Would you say that the current government is living up to its commitments under UNDRIP or is it being hypocritical in terms of its application of such things?