Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I believe we're seeking and want to embark on a government-to-government relationship. Solutions exist—solutions that were outcomes expressed in the first nations-crown gathering—whether it be in education, financial arrangements, supporting first nations governments, or looking

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I appreciate that you introduced Bill C-575, and I realize that the discussion has been ongoing for more than a year and a half. But I know that the perception out there that first nations do not disclose financial information to their citizens is greatly over-exaggerated. That's

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm sorry.... I love having Karen here. It is true that the cutbacks are far-reaching from the federal government. There are institutions that provide governance support or support for principles around creating good governance, whether in financial accountability or otherwise.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's right.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  You're right. The national centre was, of course, as its name implies, a national centre, and it engaged with a significant number of communities across the country in providing, really importantly, the sharing of information about what other communities are doing, providing assi

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think our chiefs are unhappy with this piece of legislation, and I've been before this committee expressing displeasure with other pieces of legislation. For the most part, the reality is that there is a thinking that the government is introducing legislation that seeks to defi

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The short answer to that is yes, and the requirement that disclosure of critical financial information must be and should be—I don't think there is any dispute with this—disclosed to our citizens. That is the obligation that our nations have—to do so.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There are several organizations that seek to assist in developing capacity for first nations. We mentioned the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada and the First Nations Financial Management Board. The organization that was cut in the last budget was the First Nati

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  First nations that disclose their financial statements on websites that are publicly available beyond first nations citizens in our communities do so at their own prerogative, and it's their right to do so. Quantifying the number of websites that contain financial statements is

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  My concern about that—and I know there was some thought on Monday in terms of a clarification around what it actually means. My read of it, and my read of the public sector accounting standards, is that this bill adds a bit more to the definition of what an entity is, and it adds

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Do you mean that this bill would increase onerous reporting requirements? Well, it certainly would require first nations to ensure that they produce—and we do already—audited financial statements in response to obligations. But it would place upon first nations the obligation t

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The point is that we must support an individual government's, in this case a first nation's government's, ability to choose what the most appropriate mechanism is to report, be accountable, and be transparent to their individual citizens. If a first nation seeks to expand the abi

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I remember the discussion and the dialogue from the minister. It was around resorting to a superior court to enforce remedy, whether it be against a citizen or the minister himself. To answer your question, I did get the indication that punitive measures by way of cutting federa

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I do have the resolution in front of me. Certainly the intent of the resolution in part was in response to the tabling of private member's Bill C-575, and in the other part it was a recognition that our first nations and our communities already, as required, disclose this informa

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Respond to the AFN resolution?