International Trade committee  At its very core, the Constitution protects aboriginal and treaty rights. The Supreme Court of Canada has interpreted that to mean, at a minimum, information, consultation, accommodation, and at times, consent. Canada now supports UNDRIP and the United Nations' position that UNDRIP applies at all international forums.

International Trade committee  The most important question you asked here today was whether there is consensus among first nations about the TPP. We're here to talk about the TPP. Canada would know that, had it consulted with first nations. That's evidence that Canada didn't consult with first nations. How is anyone supposed to know if there's a consensus on the TPP?

International Trade committee  It's all on our own dime. All the research I did was on my own dime. Any of the other first nations, the few that have the time and resources to work on it, are working on it on their own dime because there's nothing to support them.

International Trade committee  I can't speak to the specifics of that case, but I can talk to it related to the TPP and other trade agreements whereby, whenever there's a dispute or there's arbitration, one of the biggest problems is that the majority of protections are with investors and not the states, and that according to all the United Nations experts, investors have been very successful in imposing fines or winning these cases against states that try to protect the environment or that try to protect food security or issues like that.

International Trade committee  Canada could at least make the case for substantive amendments with a view to ratifying it in the future like New Zealand did, but Canada has specifically chosen not to. I don't know if at this point in time you're at a substantive amendment or a yes or no, and if it's just yes or no, then it's no.

International Trade committee  I have about 40 of them. The main one is basically the exemption of the aboriginal and treaty rights, lands, and resources from the application of the TPP. That's the main one. Obviously, the wording would have to be very specific.

International Trade committee  Yes, I will.

International Trade committee  I don't have all the details. All I know is that the Maori obviously were involved a lot earlier on, although probably not as early as they should have been or New Zealand wouldn't have been arguing after the fact for intellectual property rights for plants for Maori. However, they did successfully get in the treaty exemption provision, which is under the exceptions part of the TPP; whereas under the TPP all Canada has is something on government procurement, which is no more than what they've also set aside for regular Canadians.

International Trade committee  The biggest threat to indigenous trade import or export is Canada itself. Despite having treaties that guarantee the right to trade and our own self-governing and aboriginal rights to trade, Canada has made things like gaming and tobacco criminal acts. It does not recognize the Jay Treaty and our right to cross and work over the border, as the United States does.

International Trade committee  I would just say that the TPP as it currently reads would not bring the kind of benefit, in my opinion, to first nations that's being talked about here. Canada's only specific mention is on the procurement policy, and that's where indigenous peoples tend to be relegated, jobs and training, beads and trinkets.

International Trade committee  No, we haven't been consulted. Most of the first nations chiefs and organizations I contacted before being asked to come here a week ago were saying, “TPP? What are the first nations issues?” There's no money, no resources, and no information. No one's reaching out. You cannot say that you have consulted or even informed people if they haven't even heard of this process.

International Trade committee  There actually are problems with all of the trade agreements that currently exist. The reason you don't have anything in front of you is that indigenous peoples haven't had the funding to challenge them directly. The international and domestic processes are exceptionally expensive.

International Trade committee  Thanks for the question. It's really several issues. One, it's a matter of joint jurisdiction, legal jurisdiction. First nations have not been involved in any of the process and they should have been involved because it involves our lands, resources, people's intellectual property, and the environment, all things that protect indigenous peoples.

International Trade committee  Bonjour. Good Morning. Ni'n teluisi Pam Palmater. I'm from the sovereign Mi'kmaq nation that rests on unceded territory in most of the Atlantic provinces. First, it's my responsibility and honour to acknowledge the traditional territory on which we sit. In terms of my background, I've been a practising lawyer for 18 years, specializing in legislation and laws impacting first nations, both domestically at parliamentary committees and at the United Nations, most recently on the treaty negotiations for transnational corporations and the lethal harm it does to indigenous communities.

Public Safety committee  Just to be clear, I'm saying that there is no way at all to save this bill.