Madam Chair, we hear about the government and its relationship with first nations and see how it has failed to honour section 35 rights. We have heard from witnesses that a large part of the issue is that DFO does not have the mandate to negotiate on a nation-to-nation basis. Witnesses say that responsibility falls to the government and the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and that she should be leading this discussion.
What can she say to ensure true nation-to-nation discussions are happening that are not based on existing regulations and colonial procedures?