International Trade committee  Yes, it is. The short answer is yes. Build upon that, because when you start talking about.... Where's the inventory of businesses that can compete and bid on these contracts? Where's the capacity? Do they have the capacity to make sure they deliver a good-quality product and/or service in whatever industry or sector you're talking about?

International Trade committee  How much time do we have, Mr. Chair?

International Trade committee  One of the things that we're looking for is to go beyond the duty to consult and accommodate. Working towards free, prior and informed consent creates economic certainty. There's been such a dialogue, discussion and debate in this country regarding the UN declaration, and I spin it around and say that it creates economic certainty.

International Trade committee  We have to demonstrate that we're committed as a country to getting this ratified, no question. You have to be mindful that the movement to enforcement or passing it in both Mexico and the U.S.A. has to be done co-operatively. We have to watch. You can't get too far ahead. We can support some of the requests by the Democrats to reopen it, but if you start opening it up, it really becomes precarious.

International Trade committee  The short answer is to work with the appropriate minister and appropriate government department in terms of a policy change inside, towards a policy that reflects that set-aside. That's it.

International Trade committee  Yes. We can talk later.

International Trade committee  We have 634 first nations. You're not going to get 634 chiefs unanimous on any issue. This is by far the most progressive agreement to date. We're going to build on it. Most first nations would say it's moving. Is it ideal? Of course not, but it's a start. This is the first time we've ever had an indigenous person's voice around an advisory table.

International Trade committee  It is a form of economic reconciliation, when you look at it in the bigger scheme of things. There are going to be a lot of opportunities on the procurement side, but as well there are references to textiles. There's internation trade between the tribes in the U.S. and Canada.

International Trade committee  That's a good question. One way it's going to benefit is through the procurement piece, by having not just objectives, but specific targets with specific numbers in terms of procurement. That's a big thing. That's one way, and that's specifically referenced within the CUSMA as well.

International Trade committee  Even just working with the Assembly of First Nations, through our chiefs committee on economic development, we have reps from every province and territory. We have the appropriate mechanisms to help facilitate that. There are other existing aboriginal institutions, economic development institutions, in Canada as well, but for us, from the first nations side, we have a structure in place.

International Trade committee  Thank you for the question. Regarding the whole legislative process in getting bills passed, there's always an amendment process to the bill. With Bill C-100, we're specifically looking for a non-derogation clause in there, that nothing in this agreement will negatively impact existing aboriginal treaty rights, recognizing Canada's Constitution, section 35.

International Trade committee  Correct—on the implementation piece. You have the international trade piece, and that's fine, but each nation-state is going to have to look at legislation for implementation. Canada's mechanism for that is Bill C-100. We're saying to put the non-derogation clause within Bill C-100.

International Trade committee  You could recommend that. Then we'd ask for the appropriate process to be utilized and that it be followed up on.

International Trade committee  That's a good question. There are a couple of things. I think the premiers have to be totally involved in this as well. Again, premiers have to have a really respectful relationship, a tight, close, working relationship, with first nations people in their respective provinces and territories.

International Trade committee  With our counterparts in the United States, the National Congress of American Indians, I went down and made a presentation to the chiefs and they passed a resolution to support the inclusion of an indigenous peoples chapter within NAFTA 2, the USMCA. That was brought to the table through negotiators.