Canadian Heritage committee  It's my client's position that there should be two separate days, and that's what I'm able to speak to at this time. That being said, any legislation that is drafted that will impact indigenous people should be done in very clear consultation with them. If there are questions st

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you. Mr. Hogg, I understand that you had one more question. You had extra time the last time around, so could you try to keep it to three minutes, please?

Canadian Heritage committee  My addition to those comments would be that the consultation should happen first. We're commenting on this legislation after it's written. Perhaps some of these issues could have been solved.

Canadian Heritage committee  I think it would mean a combination of all of those things. Certainly, if the aim is to find what it is that indigenous, first nations, Métis and Inuit constituents require, it requires asking them about their needs.

Canadian Heritage committee  When you're talking about principles we see, are you speaking specifically about the truth and reconciliation thing?

Canadian Heritage committee  For the indigenous peoples day, we see this as a day of celebration, of respecting and promoting and assisting, ultimately, in the longevity and the thriving of diverse, vibrant indigenous cultures. That would be what we see in this National Indigenous Peoples Day. But the secon

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes. And if we see this as possibly something that the federal government can assist through funding for capacity building within communities and within organizations to bring forward what these days mean to individual communities that are distinct and that have very distinct cul

Canadian Heritage committee  From our perspective, we understand June 21 to be the day that is set aside as a celebratory day. Speaking from what I know from my client, the specific dates, to my knowledge, are not as important as the separation and the meaning behind the separate dates.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes.

Canadian Heritage committee  I think it's important that both of those days be holidays, simply for the weight given to both of those days if they are created as federal statutory holidays. In my view, that is the federal government setting an example for reconciliation.

Canadian Heritage committee  Can I just ask a clarification question? Did you imply that it's at least a strong possibility that if these days are not combined, neither will go forward?

Canadian Heritage committee  From our view, if there's concern that continued debate over the importance of this separation would harm the progression of the bill, I would respond that to progress with a bill that does not respect the separate spirit of these two events that we're discussing would be to fail

Canadian Heritage committee  I can speak only to my own knowledge, but to my own knowledge, yes.

Canadian Heritage committee  This is the first time, to my knowledge, that NWAC has been contacted in relation to this bill.

Canadian Heritage committee  Just for clarity, the question is what would we do to ensure that we have not mixed these two days? To be succinct, separate them. Be very clear about the different meanings. I think that different programming for different days would also be prudent in order to conceptually dist