Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
We've met with QNW and AFN representatives. What emerged from our meetings is that these organizations view the Indian Act as colonialist and would like to administer their own affairs, regardless of the issue involved.
How do you plan to proceed to respect this desire for autonomy, or to be treated as a nation, and ensure that in the case of women and children, customary law can be combined with equality. As Ms. Jacobs mentioned, Aboriginal customary law can be discriminatory at times.
I'd also like to know if women will be involved in the process of developing new legislative measures. I'm thinking here about the QNW, the AFN and possibly other stakeholders. Among other things, will these measures take into account common law spouses and persons with a different legal status, in so far as band membership is concerned. Will the interests of children have priority?
Finally, can you tell me how much the government plans to invest, or has already invested, in social housing and in preventing violence?