Madam Chair, I did want to point out that there are 640 first nations communities across the country and they have a variety of needs. You cannot homogenize the needs of the first nation community in Nova Scotia with that in Victoria. They have different needs.
I recall very vividly that when we were looking at matrimonial real property rights, those who came from the first nations leadership said they did not want to have something imposed. They did not want provincial law to be imposed on them.
This talk about being treated equally under the law, it doesn't work. We talk about equality but we don't talk about equity. Equity is making sure that you have given and considered the differences in community needs in order to make sure that you're being fair. Despite that, the legislation that is currently before the House imposes provincial law.
So I think very clearly we need to stand up in this committee for those women and first nations leaders who were very clear, unequivocally clear, about the process. Three months was not nearly enough and they needed far more time than they got. The amendment that we see before us I think addresses that. I will be supporting it.