Fisheries committee  That's good. He pretty much covered it.

Fisheries committee  Thank you.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We've been working closely with the Nuu-chah-nulth, the five nations, since 2009 when the decision came down. There have been active negotiations involving both CIRNA and ourselves. We've provided them with significant additional commercial fisheries access. We're working closely to implement their right to preferred means of fishing, and that process is ongoing and enormously complex.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  You raise a good point in emphasizing the need for coordination and working together so we're not tripping over ourselves in trying to advance the relationship through exercises we have been going through, broader oceans management initiatives, and marine protected areas that involve Transport Canada and other departments as well.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  With former Minister Tootoo initially, followed by Minister Leblanc, reconciliation became very much a top priority for the ministers and for the department. I mentioned the program renewal initiative that we had. It represents a significant investment in supporting the economic sustainability of indigenous communities; those programs put emphasis not just on the act of fishing but also on business development and practices and expertise.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think they will be informed by UNDRIP, obviously. I think what we're looking at is really a bottom-up approach in terms of respecting what groups are seeking in terms of involvement in fisheries, oceans, or marine safety, to give effect to the relationship through agreements that helps codify and put in place rules and responsibilities through joint decision-making or shared decision-making governance structures—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  —along with the capacity and the support—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  —that's needed to participate in those processes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think it will inform our negotiations in terms of going forward. We'll be seeking to put in place decision-making processes that address the rights and interests of indigenous groups and that support their involvement in processes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's a science-based department. With scientific research in terms of stock assessment work on the levels of abundance, consistent with the protections provided under section 35 of the Constitution, the department gives priority to food and social ceremonial fisheries, whether through treaty or general operational practices.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, similarly, like my colleague, Dominique, we work very closely with our legal counsel in terms of supporting the relationships we have with indigenous groups.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Pardon?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. There are currently 25 treaty comprehensive claims agreements that have fisheries provisions in them, which provide for fisheries access, either subsistence, food, social, or ceremonial purposes, establish joint technical fisheries committees, and such.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We are also actively negotiating in partnership with our colleagues at indigenous relations.