Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Indeed, the Province of Ontario has recognized seven communities in Ontario. The Government of Canada has not played any role in that regard, and this legislation does not specify specific communities that are being recognized in Ontario or elsewhere. Therefore, this is not.... We didn't need to look into this.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We know that the Métis Nation of Ontario has done a lot of work on its registry, and it recently actually removed a large number of members from the registry, pursuant to additional work. To this point, we are satisfied that all of these three organizations are doing thorough work to vet their memberships, and we are reassured that there will be verifiable....

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  This government is definitely moving away from determining who the individual members of indigenous groups are, consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous groups have the right to determine their own memberships. It is not, at this point, an objective to follow what was done for the Indian registry.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I'll ask Mr. Schintz to answer the question.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. It is our assessment that the scope of these agreements and of the treaties that will be entered into will be limited to core governance, and therefore it's unlikely that it would affect.... The mere recognition of an indigenous government, as is done in this legislation, does not impact, in our view, the rights of other collectives, and if in the future the treaties have the potential to affect rights of other collectives, there will be a consultation on these treaties.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The first change would be that these Métis governments would be recognized as indigenous governments for the collectivities they represent. Obviously, the act would also recognize the inherent rights of these collectivities. Second, there would be a process in place for future approval of treaties.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's right. The approach we would take would be to sit down with our partners and co-develop with them an approach geared toward achieving their vision of self-determination once we start discussions of that nature. Nothing in this bill or in the eventual treaties would prevent other groups from pursuing a similar approach.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm not sure. I'll try to answer.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  As I said in answering a previous question, our relationship with our partners is evolving, so we evolve together. We work together on the path towards self-determination. The next step that Canada and these three organizations have agreed to pursue is the negotiation of a treaty on core governance, which is along the same lines as the agreements signed in February, but as treaties.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think the answer would be that it depends on what these organizations decide when they determine their own rules, but theoretically it is a possibility.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. The connection between the legislation and the agreements is that on the basis of the current agreements, Canada and these organizations will negotiate treaties that will deal with the same elements of the agreements. The legislation provides a framework that will allow for the adoption of these treaties.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, and I will invite others to provide additional details. My understanding of that clause would be that it would provide for what we would call a reading down of the agreement to make sure that no rights are actually affected. Is that clear enough?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. The position we adopt with our partners is that it's for them to choose. Individuals can decide to become members of these organizations. There's a strict process to ensure that only those entitled are accepted. That's the basis of their choice. Who will represent them depends on who they want to represent them.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. The agreements as they stand include a non-derogation clause, and nothing in the agreements as they stand would impact the aboriginal rights of other indigenous groups. Similarly, the treaties will include a clause of that nature, and including a clause in the bill to the same effect would reinforce the message that nothing in the act affects the aboriginal rights of other groups, whether they are Métis or first nations or Inuit.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  What's on the table is legislation that provides a framework to bring into force treaties. The treaties that are contemplated are core governance treaties, which would deal with citizenship, as the minister described, leadership selection and internal governance, with no jurisdiction over lands.