Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. Mr. Chair, I don't know if it's my place to present a position on this issue. I think the minister has indicated that he is willing to hear about the amendments that will be proposed and that he will examine them carefully. Our role will then be to support him in this work.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the question. This legislation is about recognizing that the Métis collectivities in Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan have the inherent right to self-government, and it's also about recognizing that the Métis governments mentioned are mandated to represent the section 35 rights of those collectives.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We can't, unfortunately...

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I...

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  They're not likely to be any time soon.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The point is that there are conditions. If a treaty is eventually amended so that it affects rights, for example jurisdiction over land...

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Minister. With your permission, Mr. Chair, I will reply in French. Ms. Gill, we have a lively relationship with our indigenous partners. As for the first step with our Métis partners, we have an agreement and we're going to negotiate.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  This is not for the territory that the community of Kebaowek might occupy, but, should a Métis group be granted jurisdiction over certain lands and should there be a potential overlap, then that would be a possibility. In that case, there would be consultation and possible adaptations.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Minister. Actually, the minister presented this very well. As a next step, there would be a negotiation of a treaty with the same subject matter already included in the current agreement. Other things would have to be done before a treaty would come into force. Constitutions would have to be adopted by each of the groups.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would say at the outset that before entering into a treaty with any indigenous group, we look at the history and all the environment, including the case law—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. We do that to ensure we are dealing with a rights-bearing collective. The other thing I would add is the fact that the MNO, MNA and MN-S have been identified by Canada as a rights-bearing collective doesn't mean that there are no other rights-bearing collectives. It doesn't prevent any other group from pursuing their own achievement.