Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. That's an excellent question. The conversations go to decisions that have been made, in the past, by the Crown. What we would move to is decisions made not just by the Crown—be it provincial or federal—but by Tsilhqot’in. Certainly, where they have title it's like man

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  On the agreements, first of all, we've been able to convince people that there's something worth talking about. This was one of the major steps in what we call the right to recognition table, or RIRSD. For 30 years, we said to people that if they wanted to talk about anything re

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  If I could turn it over to my colleague, Mr. Tremblay, it's not that I don't want to answer the question, but I want you to get the right information.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We don't handle infrastructure agreements, but—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll speak for 20 seconds and then I'll leave my colleague with 40 seconds because he has a program. One of the critical things is certainty—and with absence of certainty there is very little prospect for economic development—and support. Those are two key things. Agreement aft

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  May I add to that, Mr. Chair, very quickly? I take your point on the remarks. There are a number of things that we're doing. Remembering that we are the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, there are a number of different angles. I will list a few tha

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I can at least say that on August 15 of last summer we signed an agreement in principle with the Government of Nunavut and NTI, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, representing the Inuit. I think that's very important. It's a critical step and as you say, the negotiations have been g

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would like to add that it is important not to consider all of the nearly one million indigenous people in Canada from the same perspective and through a single action. There is a broad spectrum of situations in the country. There are situations that are going very well, situat

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I will try not to use all of the 10 minutes, so that more time may remain for questions. Thank you for the invitation to appear before the committee. We meet today on the traditional lands of the Algonquin nation. With me is Serge Beaudoin, Ass