Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Certainly, we're prepared to do that. We've had many discussions with a number of different organizations about this area and how to avoid complaints. Again, it's a discussion that we certainly need to have a lot more of. We're prepared to have that. We've worked it so that there

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. I've worked with enough different first nations, Métis, and Inuit groups across the country to know there is nothing that I, or I suspect any other government official, could say that would create that trust. What I can say is that the approach is designed with a nu

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  My colleagues from the Department of Justice have given a fair bit of thought to this, and I would turn to one of them.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There are a couple things on that. As my colleague here has said, it isn't our reading of the law from the Supreme Court yet that there is a duty to consult in legislative development clearly established at this point in time. If we look at all of the different areas where ther

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Our view on this, I guess, is twofold. The Supreme Court has not established a clear direction that there needs to be consultation on legislative development, and the Supreme Court has been very clear on some other aspects of requirements to consult. But in addition to that, we b

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  And, again, I think it is the full range of activities that are under way that inform that decision-making. Certainly you're quite right in pointing out that the Supreme Court is making clearer and clearer what the rules in this area are. I think it's helpful to all parties to un

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  In terms of the working together, if I can touch on that part first, yes, we're very committed to working with the CHRC where appropriate and working with first nations to understand the impacts. We understand very clearly that there are some legitimate questions out there on the

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Perhaps I can touch on that, in the first instance. I think it is fair to say, in terms of the approach here and the urgency that the minister has described about wanting to make sure the ability to discriminate is removed—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm sorry, under the Indian Act, yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  To deal with that situation in as timely a way as possible probably is inconsistent with the length of time that any number of options and accords might take. If you were to go down the route of asking the Supreme Court on this, that is a very extended period of time.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It would probably be quicker than if you started and a trial went through all the different levels; there is no doubt about that. But it can also be a very lengthy process.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Absolutely. Obviously we've heard the same comments out there. I think it's useful to divide, maybe, the concerns into two categories, as I've heard them. There are a number of very real and important questions about how you deal with a complaint if it arises. I think it's fair

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  If I remember correctly, they have over 600 members.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes but I do not have it in front of me.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I will perhaps talk about one aspect of this issue and then I will ask my colleagues from Justice to provide more details. First of all, as you all know, this is not a new initiative since it has been talked about for 30 years and has been studied in several reports. So, this h