In terms of the recommendations from the AFN, we feel it's inappropriate for the federal government to grant itself the discretion to appoint the majority of the board of directors responsible for providing this independent oversight of its own actions. This is not within the spirit and intent of reconciliation, and it's very paternalistic.
The AFN proposes that clause 10 be amended to provide for the following nominations of the first board of directions: Assembly of First Nations, three nominees; ITK, two nominees; MNC, two nominees; and the remaining two to five nominees to be nominated and appointed by the minister in collaboration with the transition committee. This proposal ensures that the majority of nominations to the first board of directors will remain with the AFN, ITK and MNC, and not the federal government.
The second part of the recommendation is an actual amendment we're suggesting. The second recommendation is around clause 12, which deals with representativeness. It says that the board of directors “must, to the extent possible”, include first nation, Métis, Inuit, and other peoples in Canada. What we're saying as the AFN is that it is of the utmost importance that the NCR board of directors include first nation representation. It should not be “to the extent possible”, but that there must be first nation representatives on the board of directors.
I will wrap it up there—oh, sorry. There is an actual proposed amendment: The AFN proposes that clause 12 be amended to provide that the council's board shall include representation from first nations.
The third portion is not an amendment. It is around funding. Bill C-29 actually includes no provisions with respect to funding or operational budgets; it simply states that the NCR must fulfill financial reporting requirements. Again, we have a proposed amendment under funding. In order for the NCR to be truly independent and adequately resourced, the AFN recommends that Bill C-29 be amended to include guaranteed funding provisions to ensure that the important work of the NCR be sustained into the future.
I want to thank you, despite some of our technical problems. We will submit the full speech that I have prepared in writing.
I want to say meegwetch, thank you; ninanâskomon, which in my language means, “I'm grateful, I'm thankful, I thank you”; and kisâkihitin, which means, “I love you”.