Mr. Speaker, recently I was at a forestry conference and heard a respected first nations leader speak, a leader who is very much involved in ensuring that his people benefit from the natural resources in their territory. When asked about UNDRIP, he said it is important to understand that UNDRIP does not give first nations people rights. The United Nations has not given first nations people rights. It simply sets out the rights that indigenous people already have.
I am wondering if the member could comment on that, as well as on the Conservative concern I hear that somehow this bill and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples would somehow curtail the rights of first nations to access the natural resources on their territories.