Yes, thank you.
One of the very real challenges that the Council of Canadian Academies faces is that the viewpoints of indigenous communities are by no means common. The range of viewpoints is very large. Some of them would very likely be completely opposed to any concept of medical assistance in dying. Others would be much more accepting. That's the extent to which they were able to determine what the viewpoint of indigenous communities might be. Certainly consultation is an important aspect of how we operate in Canada. I do concur that there hasn't been a body out there to do those kinds of consultations.
If indeed the purpose is to alleviate suffering of individuals who are suffering intolerably, I would ask the question of whether it's an appropriate response to say that because there hasn't been enough consultation, the 16-year-old with terminal illness, who is in intractable pain that can't be controlled, will just have to wait while we make our decision. I personally would think that's an unacceptable approach.
Thank you.