Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would answer your question by pointing out that I'm Anglican. I'd love in any separation issue to have a hypothetical child raised Anglican. I don't have any constitutionally enshrined rights about my ability to exercise rights in that sense.
Section 35 of the Constitution recognizes that indigenous peoples are not in the same category as other groups. They are not stakeholders we're dealing with. We're also dealing with a marginalized population where we know we have been separating indigenous children from their families over and over again, first with the residential school system and now through the actions of provincial governments in terms of social services. If our family law fails to take account of this, we are putting indigenous culture in the same pot with a factor to be considered.
Yes, we'd like them to be raised with their family that came here from Scotland, or we'd like them to be raised....
This is very specific. This is sui generis. Indigenous status in this country is not like the others. It's constitutionally protected but has been more deeply abused than others.