Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Maybe this does seem too idealistic or whatever, but when the question comes up, “Does no mean no?”, I think about it in a sexual assault context, and I think, yes, no means no. What do you tell your sons and your daughters? No means no. Here, in this context of aboriginal rights

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. We'll see you in Winnipeg sometime.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No, but please say more.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's kind of the point of the legislation. That's what Brenda was just saying about certainty. If you're clear on how you act, you spend less time in court.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  What do you mean by “there's no consensus”?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Right.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Sure. Let's look at environmental assessment, which kind of relates to “does no mean no”. If you were developing environmental assessment acts, as you are right now, what would that mean in terms of indigenous peoples' rights? If it means seeking consent instead of consultation

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Let's say you're setting up a mine in Nunavut, and the mining company is from outside and wants to come in. You're the regulator, as the Government of Canada. Do you just go ahead with it or do you consult with the people in Nunavut, form an agreement, build partnerships, and dev

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Right, and so maybe it ends up that only 75% of workers are from that area instead of 90%, or whatever. Naturally, when you have developed a relationship and a partnership and approach it that way, you can overcome the hard issues and make progress in the negotiations.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  As collective as they come, right?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would hope that whatever your work is, it's influenced by the UN declaration. If you're doing a policy review of child welfare, you would look at what the relevant provisions are in the UN declaration dealing with child welfare. Have you turned your mind to it? I imagine that t

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, a check-in piece to see if you've considered these issues, these rights.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I don't share it either. I don't think it is a blunt instrument. I think it's a very specific instrument. Yes, Canada has protections, but has Canada—because it has section 15 and section 35—achieved equality? No, it hasn't. That was actually one of the main points I was trying t