Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for your question. I think it is a good question, because it actually gets to the point behind why we need to see an expansion, why we need to see these regulations passed--so that we can actually go to other revenue streams.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Every community has revenue streams of some sort, federal transfers of some sort, that essentially may be the sum total of funds that they receive. I come from a small community in southern British Columbia--I'm chief of the Tzeachten First Nation--and on our board we have very close ties to all sorts of communities, no matter what size they are.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think probably the answer is that certainly we are looking to serve all communities in Canada. I think the answer to the question is that we had to keep it optional, because there were communities and the federal government that weren't prepared to do that. They would be doing a bit of a flip if they were to suggest for a moment that now you have to go there.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I don't think that....

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and good morning to everybody. First of all, I want to tell you how pleased we are with the opportunity to address the committee this morning. Certainly we understand the challenges that arise in trying to accommodate so many groups, and we are appreciative of that.