Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Certainly, there's not much I can add. I think Chief Fairclough stated it eloquently. We cannot continue to have implementation of land claim agreements by way of litigation. I think the point should be raised that Yukon first nations negotiated for decades and never once did we

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  As a quick comment, it wouldn't be the board that makes that decision; it's the decision body. That's significant. I just want to pass it over to my colleague Jim Harper, who has dealt with these issues.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  One of the key points of YESAA is that it was intended to be independent from all the parties. It was intended not to be an agency of government in which assessments were carried out in that manner prior to YESAA being in place. It was a fundamental discussion by the tripartite w

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Sure, but the minister can provide instructions by way of that provision in the statute, if it is passed, dealing with cumulative impacts and the scope of assessments, which effectively change the ground rules of all assessments. Certainly we understand that a minister is not goi

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. I'll make some quick comments. To follow up on the grand chief's and the other chiefs' comments, yes, it's a positive step that other governments are recognizing the deep issues first nations have with respect to the amendments. Ideally, this discussion should have ta