I'm glad that you spoke about water, because I just got a letter today from the Blackfoot Confederacy, talking about their support for the Bill C-61 legislation that we have just tabled and that will be arriving at INAN committee.
I would just like to read you a statement. They say:
No consultation process will ever be perfect. However, starting over two years ago all First Nations were offered a significant opportunity by Canada to be directly involved in the development of Bill C-61. Our Nations provided extensive legal and historical submissions about our Treaty water rights at the outset of the consultation process. We meet many times with Canada's Bill C-61 team to review and comment on drafts of the legislation and by the time Bill C-61 was introduced in Parliament we were able to get significant changes made including broadening the recognition of our inherent right of self-government to include all aspects of “water” in general—not just drinking water. We also secured the protections in s.15 of the rights of First Nations to sufficient supplies of water, which is critically important in many regions where water scarcity is an issue.
Our general point is that all First Nations had the same opportunity to consult with Canada about Bill C-61 over a period of more than two years. Those consultations were meaningful in our experience and resulted in real and significant improvements to Bill C-61.
To me, that is the approach I think we need to continue to take. It's truly partnership. It's challenging our systems and institutions to share power and to listen to first nations about what they want to see in the governance of not just their community but this country. They are valuable partners.