Natural Resources committee  Oh, boy. I'm not sure how to comment on that. I will say that there have been aboriginal members appointed to the board. Is that equivalent to appointing an aboriginal representative? I don't see things that way, I guess. I'm who I am, and I'm quite happy with who I am.

Natural Resources committee  I think the question of my appointment is better asked of the people who hired me. Why they chose me or didn't choose me is a question better posed to them.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you, honourable member, for the question. Yes, I have worked a lot with first nations, mostly, as I say, in northeast B.C., NWT, and Inuit and eastern Arctic. I also have an education. I went to the Coady International Institute at St. Francis Xavier. I also have a B.A. in economics from the University of Calgary.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you for the question, honourable member. I lived for seven years in Fort Liard, which is just down the road from Fort Nelson, although it is in the Northwest Territories. I spent a lot of time in Fort Nelson. I spent a lot of time in Fort St. John. Some of my clients included Treaty 8 Tribal Association, Fort Nelson First Nation, Fort Liard first nation.

Natural Resources committee  When you work with first nations, I think that happens pretty much every day. I can't think of a specific example at this moment. It seems as if you're always fighting for something. I hope that's adequate for your question.

Natural Resources committee  It's Shane Parrish. Thank you, honourable member, for the question. I think I'll go back to my time in Antigonish at the Coady International Institute and the cross-cultural education and training that I received there. It was very beneficial

Natural Resources committee  After graduating I went to the eastern Arctic and later on to the Northwest Territories. There's my work in education in various locations throughout Canada and varying cross-cultural conditions. These are experiences I've enjoyed very much, living, working, and being with people all over the north and south of Canada.

Natural Resources committee  I have never been a member of any political party, federal, provincial, or territorial. I have made contributions to all three of the parties represented today.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you, honourable members. Good afternoon. I welcome this opportunity to appear before the committee today to discuss my qualifications as a member of Canada's National Energy Board. I was recently appointed as a permanent member of the National Energy Board, on August 6, 2013.