Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I appreciate the question. In the preamble of the bill, there is recognition and an acknowledgement of the United Nations' work in terms of the special rapporteur and his mandate. I will note, however, that the visit occurred after the introduction of the bill in Parliament, so we didn't have the benefit of that direct input at that time, but there is a reflection in the preamble.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, as part of first nations planning—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I appreciate the question. They are complementary in nature, absolutely. Our sister department, Environment and Climate Change Canada, is responsible for modernization of the Canada Water Act. Ultimately, though, they both touch water. They both have agreement-making abilities. This bill before you is really focused on first nations and first nations drinking water on first nation lands, but they are complementary in nature.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That provision is in a broader context of the bill. In that broader context is rights recognition that requires a coordinated approach with provinces and first nations. Therefore, there is a requirement of agreement between those provinces and first nations. That just suggests reading them together.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I appreciate the question and clarification. Agreements are one way to do it, where there would be signatories of the provinces as well as the first nations who are impacted. However, there are other ways too. It is a coordinated approach, and we do want to leave space for first nations as the rights holders with their own governance systems to ensure that those agreements are approached in a way that works for every party.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Absolutely. I definitely appreciate the question. It is aligned with the rights recognition components. Anything that would be on first nation lands wouldn't necessarily need agreement of the province. However, we do recognize that water flows, and so those pathways for that coordination are also provided for to help ensure that.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I appreciate the question. Many of us benefit today when we get up in the morning, wash our faces, use the washroom and brush our teeth. All of these factor in water. As we know, with a lack of enforceable standards on first nations lands right now, it is difficult to ensure we can partner with first nations to make sure they have the same equity as everybody else in Canada.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  This was a key area of work with our first nation partners. As you'll notice from the first draft that was released publicly and is still online, as well as the second draft, and then what was introduced in Parliament, there have been substantial changes to those standard pieces that took direct input from first nations and applied them to the bill that's with you today.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Similar to the broader bill, the main guiding principle is about consultation and co-operation with the rights holders. That determination would be done directly with first nations communities, as we do recognize there are different needs from community to community, whether there be drought, for instance, or other factors at play in different regions across present-day Canada

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I appreciate the question. This gets into the agreement-making abilities outlined in the proposed act. The proposed act allows for agreements with multiple orders of government, in order to be as inclusive as possible of holistic approaches to different watersheds in different areas of present-day Canada.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. Maybe just to add some additional pieces, because the commission does complement other elements of the proposed bill, including the rights recognition and the principles that are laid out in the bill, there are data sharing and data principles in the bill that would be guiding all decision-making throughout the whole bill, including the co-development of those terms of reference for the water commission, as well as any agreements to support the exercise of first nation rights.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  As contemplated in the 2021 settlement agreement, a first nations advisory committee was created. If you go through that agreement, it does have diverse first nations from all over present-day Canada represented on the committee, which was instrumental, as defined by its role in the settlement agreement, in informing the development of the proposed bill that is with you today.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I appreciate the question. It is a bit difficult for us to answer, as we are not the chief. It's ultimately up to first nations and first nation leadership to define their role in the development of that process. We take all input that we receive very seriously to move forward to strengthen the bill that you see with you today.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, it was part of all of our outreach to every single first nation across present-day Canada.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The previous bill from 2013 really focused on enabling a regulation-making framework, so it did not have specific standards in it. This bill does have specific standards for drinking water quality, water quantity and wastewater services as well, so that is a key difference. In addition to the funding that you mentioned, rights' recognition is in this bill and not the previous bill, as well as the water commission for those wraparound support services that are in this bill but not in the previous bill.