Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Some of the obstacles are evident from our distant past. There are a host of reasons. I'm not going to get into them and explain the devastation of the residential schools and the host of other impacts, but we must grasp and understand that the first nations, the majority if not

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No. They have parked themselves because of some other matters that couldn't be dealt with, so there were delays.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  When a first nation signs an adhesion to the framework agreement, we enter into an agreement with the first nation on what we call the community action plan. That lays out all the requirements, from day one to the day they vote, and there are some milestones throughout that whole

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  But until that vote is secure, they're still under the Indian Act all the way through the process.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Rather than waste the time and the money, the six others came forward. We anticipate, with the new announcement in the budget of $30.3 million over the next five years, or whatever the term is, that in the near future, perhaps sometime in the summer months or the fall, there may

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  As I mentioned earlier, I think the interest.... The last, I understand, or the last number I have is around about 60. At one point it was about 85 or 90 with known letters of interest and band council resolutions on file submitted by the first nations.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I suspect.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, 34. That's what I suspect.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Funding is always a challenge. By means of the framework agreement and the requirements of the implementation of the framework agreement, funds have to follow each entrant, not only for developmental but when they become operational. There have to be adequate funds available to s

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think it has an effect on lenders. There's some comfort and security that interests are properly documented, and that they're actually registered interests within a recognized registry. I think that certainly gives comfort to bankers. It gives comfort to investors. That's certa

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. That's a very good question and an excellent point. It is critical and absolutely necessary, particularly at this time in our history and in the continued building of the nation of Canada, but more importantly, with first nations being an integral partner, participan

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  In this fiscal year.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Sorry...?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's difficult. Now there are two land registries. There's the first nations land registry, and then there's the Indian Affairs or Indian Act land registry. I'm told that the Indian Act land registry is in somewhat of a shambles. On the First Nations Land Registry, all the docume

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There's quite a high number right now that are developmental. Last year or so there were 28 new entrants. They're all developmental at this point.