Transport committee  Thank you for the question. The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is leaning toward one body with respect to any changes or recommendations coming forward. What we're finding overall is that if you have two or three different committees or bodies looking at different changes to leg

Transport committee  In terms of modern protection and assessment, inclusiveness is very important, as well as a holistic approach, including the voices of our elders. I noticed that when we talk about the environment and any issues around the protection of the environment, sometimes the elders are l

Transport committee  Yes, with respect to vision, we want to ensure that our provincial and territorial organizations in Canada are consulted. Vision can encompass a number of things, and once the information is provided to us in terms of the details, then we're certainly going to submit something to

Transport committee  Yes, it's the same for the congress. We're not aware of any examples, but we are certainly going to take the opportunity as well to draw up any submissions on that. We welcome the opportunity to submit those, so yes, we'll be doing a little bit of an investigation process. Than

Transport committee  Yes and thank you for the question. Regarding the relationship with the minister's office, we want to go back to see where we are with respect to the letters that were referred to just a couple of minutes ago. I want to go back to our office to find out where we are. One thing

Transport committee  There is, but what we are finding is that, over the last number of years, it has been watered down quite significantly. Again, some of the concerns.... I'll give you an example from Saskatchewan. When we attend any kind of meetings with government officials, the constituents are

Transport committee  Yes, for sure, I agree with that.

Transport committee  Yes, that's correct. We were never consulted with respect to what you referred to.

Transport committee  There are a number of government officials who work within the departments. A phone call or an email stating that this is what the federal government is looking at would probably go a long way in terms of informing our constituents and the organization. What we do is pass on that

Transport committee  Prior to the changes in the act, 99.9% of the waterways were protected, and we certainly would like to go back to that. There are a couple of things that we agree with, which Kyle Vermette of the Métis National Council was talking about, in referring to traditional knowledge an

Transport committee  We believe that community engagement is number one. If the federal government shares that information prior to setting any policy issues on the table, that's really important, and at least people will have an opportunity to voice their concerns. Sometimes there will be a lot of p

Transport committee  In 2002, the congress was extensively involved with the Species at Risk Act. Actually, we had representatives on the committee itself. Our voice was at the table on a continual basis. I know they've actually made changes to that, as well. I'm not even sure where it is at this poi

Transport committee  We got thrown off?

Transport committee  I was just saying that when the congress goes about developing policies and when we engage the community, we structure it in such a way that people—we'll call them community experts—get involved in certain policy issues. Certainly, with respect to this issue, these people are imp

Transport committee  Yes, it is. It is our understanding. Our organization certainly wants to be actively engaged in the process and in terms of ensuring that our voice is heard from coast to coast, and yes, for sure, what you're saying is the case.