You're absolutely right. Either the bill was poorly drafted or it shows a malicious stance on first nations consultation. A number of indigenous leaders have criticized the bill. I want to highlight the strong condemnation that came from the Ontario chiefs yesterday, not to mention what Grand Chief Woodhouse Nepinak said.
As things stand, do you feel that an investment fund like yours can come out ahead under Bill C‑5 in relation to major projects of national interest? We know that the government is reserving the right to shirk its responsibilities under the Indian Act, but that represents a huge risk. At the end of the day, do you see more risks or more benefits when it comes to allowing first nations to be responsible for their own economies?
I just want to point out something I find deeply offensive in the rhetoric around Bill C‑5. The government is saying that it wants to go from 13 Canadian economies to one Canadian economy. However, the reference to one Canadian economy does not take into account the fact that first nations have separate economies. It can't be said that there is a single first nations economy. The proof is that the economy of Métis people, the economy of each first nation and the economy of Inuit should be taken into account.
If the government can ultimately usurp first nations' rights to major investments, does Bill C‑5 pose more risks?