Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's good to be back. I want to thank you for inviting me here to talk about this really important topic. It is complex, and I know it's kind of a vexing issue for a number of first nations and first nations individuals. Just by way of background, I'm a member of the Haida Nation in British Columbia.

Committees of the House  Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, I believe you shall find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move: That the membership of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be amended as follows: Mr. MacKenzie (Oxford) for Mr. Butt (Mississauga—Streetsville).

Nunutsiavut Government Final Agreement Implementation Committee  Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the 2005-07 annual report of the Nunatsiavut Government Final Agreement Implementation Committee.

Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement Implementation Committee  Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the Report of the Implementation Committee on the Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005.

First Nations Elections Act  I would urge all members to compare the option the bill would provide to first nations with the electoral system currently provided for in the Indian Act. The problems allowed by the Indian Act's lack of clarity could be exceptionally damaging. Let me give the words used by Mr. John Paul, executive director of the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs in a recent appearance before the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. It's been one of those days, so I do apologize for the ten minutes that I kept you waiting. I'm pleased to be joined by Karl Jacques, who is from our justice department; Brenda Kustra, the DG for governance with my department; and Andrew Francis, who is CFO in corporate accounting for the department.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Chairman. I appreciate this opportunity to discuss supplementary estimates (C) for fiscal year 2011-12 and the main estimates for fiscal year 2012-13 for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. This committee has an important role in reviewing the department's expenditures.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE AND ITS COMMITTEES  In that letter, John Paul, executive director of the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs, described the current failings of the Indian Act. He stated: As you are aware, for years, many First Nations members have been critical of the Indian Act election system, which they believe sets out an electoral regime that is antiquated and paternalistic.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Chair. I can tell you had a carpentry background by the way you pounded that gavel when you started. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada's supplementary estimates (A) for fiscal year 2012-13.

Indian Act Amendment and Replacement Act  It says: Today the Indian Act is the repository of the struggle between Indian peoples and colonial and later Canadian policy-makers for control of Indian peoples' destiny within Canada. The marks of that struggle can be seen in almost every one of its provisions.

Northwest Territories Devolution Act  Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate the opportunity to rise in the House to speak to the bill. In one of my previous incarnations I was assistant deputy of resources for Yukon and I had the privilege of participating in some of the devolution negotiations for Yukon. I also had the privilege of working in the Northwest Territories back in the 1960s.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, our government is working with our aboriginal partners. Just last week I signed a memorandum to expedite economic development with Chief Robert Louie and Chief Austin Bear of the First Nations Land Management Board and Resource Centre. This will allow additional first nations to manage their land base free from the Indian Act.

Indian Act Amendment and Replacement Act  Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it you shall find agreement to apply the outcome of this vote to the next vote.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I want to thank the mayor for being so kind as to offer me his chair. I am not Ernie Daykin; I am not the mayor of Maple Ridge. My name is John Gailus. I'm a member of the Haida Nation of British Columbia. I worked for almost five years with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, as it then was, doing economic development as a senior lands and management leasing officer.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Chair. I'm pleased to be here today in this committee room, which I think I've spent a little bit of time in before. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the supplementary spending estimates of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. I appreciate the role that the committee plays in reviewing the department's expenditures.