Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No. First off, in regard to the flooded lands, negotiations are ongoing. We've been trying to make sure we have a table meeting every two months. What stage are we at? Again, Canada has a rental model that's not acceptable to the first nations, so those are issues we still have to deal with.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  For myself, I really never had any formal land management training. A lot of this has been, I guess you would say, self-taught or through experience. As I said, I've been dealing with lands since 1992. At Mississauga we're always dealing with lands and lands issues. So it was really that process itself and teaching myself.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Right now, I would say we have one of the most sought after environmental workers under contract with us. We're going into our second year and we're hoping we can keep her on for the third. She has her B.Sc. and is familiar with the territory. We're really striving forward towards our plans.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's moving. The number crunching has come out again, and we've had changes in regard to meetings, whether they're going to be conference calls or face to face at the table. Those changes have come, and we're still waiting for, I guess, confirmation of the negotiator, once he knows what his final budget is.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It goes back to the 1800s. I think the real formalization goes back to 1974. It all has to do with an order in council that was passed. I think it was the infamous 0.16 acres. So, yes, we're hoping we can have this resolved.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Can you rephrase that? You're saying that the off-reserve membership would be affected by the FNLM?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No. Unfortunately, it only applies to the land and not to the people off reserve. Those off reserve have been consulted, I think, throughout the process. They had to be part of the vote, which was difficult for us because we've had numerous votes with our trust. One of the requirements was that 35% had to vote, and of that 35%, 50% were in favour.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would say to a certain extent we are seeing some influx. One of the things is that the housing list is growing. Hopefully, we're looking at ten units this year, and then bringing a lot of people back. They do see some of the benefits, especially with the ones who got an education in the natural resources field; that's what we're targeting now, and also environmental management, and then we'll be looking into biology and those other areas, plus construction.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would say not a lot. I can't remember the vote. I think we had 22 votes, so the majority, I believe 70%, was the on-reserve vote, but don't quote me on it. Even though 60% to 70% of the members live off reserve, we really have to target the ones on reserve to ensure we can do some of these things, when we base it on 35%.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We do have an industrial park, which was private property we purchased outside of the settlement agreement. That is there. The province has very limited land. There are lands in our area that are provincial lands, and we are well aware and the province is aware. Those are some of the things we are looking at in our negotiations.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That was the OIC granting the lands reserve status.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That was March 25, 2010. It was signed off by Privy Council.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Flooded lands fall under the specific claims act, yes. The other one was started, I believe, around 1999 or 2000; it was around the ILA highway negotiations. That one was supposed to be a quick administrative fix, and.... It's this day and age; we're nearing completion. I think our biggest problem is getting the legal counsels to get together.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  You don't really want to know what my suggestion would be for the reasons. As far as I'm concerned, there are no major issues. It is a coordinating effort; it's one of getting the legal team together along with the full table. I hope you can understand that Ontario has, I would say, about seven representatives; they have the MTO, the MNR, and then the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs.