Hi. I want to raise an issue that I haven't come across being talked about very much in the discussions about the TPP. It is about our relations with indigenous peoples and the impact of the TPP on the indigenous peoples of Canada.
Canada is a treaty nation. Our political and legal legitimacy rests upon the fact that we have signed treaties with the indigenous peoples of this country, starting with the Royal Proclamation. Section 25 of the Constitution recognizes the treaty rights of indigenous peoples, not only now but in the future. Treaties are very important for Canada's existence as a country. The TPP really challenges a bunch of things. I would also say that Canada is in the process of trying to really think about its relations with indigenous peoples.
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, respect for which our government right now is talking about, is part of that, along with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. The country is trying to think about how to form and renegotiate healthier relations with indigenous peoples, and the TPP really challenges that in many ways, I would say.
Chapter 20, on the environment, is a big problem. It certainly runs the risk of leading our government to have its hands tied in responding to the environmental complaints of indigenous peoples in terms of the use of resources on their territories.
The ISDS is also a problem. In fact, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples earlier this year talked about the fact that ISDS poses a problem for indigenous peoples.