Mr. Saganash, I can see your lawyer's side coming out.
It's clear for us. How many times have we been disappointed in many areas, with respect to certain files, because the roles and responsibilities of each party haven't been made official? We are calling on you today. We would like an official agreement in writing and have it respected so that there is no disappointment, no misunderstanding or misinterpretation.
Yes, this partnership means that we can have a dialogue and an exchange between adults, experts and elected representatives to find better solutions. I hope to see this relationship, which will allow us to do something new, set out in writing. It would be very different from other committees.
I would also like to feel this time that it will not be partisan. Mr. Saganash, you expressed that idea very well. Our values make us want to make changes for families and women. It's very important. We hope to have a contract that will link our organization and MPs who represent the various regions of Canada.
As for an action plan, Mr. Saganash, it is extremely important that we feel that there is a political will. The MPs of the Conservative majority who are here could perhaps raise the awareness of their minister colleagues who can play a role. As the former associate deputy minister responsible for the Status of Women Secretariat, I call this advancing things. You have the capacity, so use it.
One very important aspect of this action plan is to do something very different. How many times have we criticized you, regardless of the government in power, in the past 20 years? We have said that you have not consulted the first nations, the Métis or the Inuit, and that you sought their enlightened consent even less. This time, let's prove that we can do things differently. The Native Women's Association of Canada should participate in developing the action plan. I guarantee you that if I feel this way, we will work side by side while I am with the Native Women's Association of Canada.