Mr. Chairman, we had a brief meeting as a special committee during lunch break. We had some discussion about the points, the statements of support, and questions of concern that were raised by different Members through the course of the debate this morning, and yesterday.
We took note of them, and following the discussion we had, it was the view of the committee that a significant point was made, which was that without the details and legal text, Members were uneasy about endorsing the report. So, there was some discussion about it. It was our view that the question we are putting to people is based on the Consensus Report, which is all that we have as political leaders right now in Canada. This includes the Prime Minister, it includes the Premiers, provincial Legislatures, and aboriginal organizations across the country.
Based on this Consensus Report, will you support the agreement? Will you support it? We felt it is a fair question, it is perfectly logical, and rational, for Members to say that of course it is subject to the legal text. Again, all of us who are participants in this process quite properly expect the legal text, to reflect fully and completely what our understanding of what was agreed to in the Consensus Report, and that if the legal text any way deviates, or falls short of what we think is agreed to in the Consensus Report, then, of course, Members would be quite in their right to disown the legal text. So, we have added an additional recommendation which will address the need for Members, at a later date when it becomes available, to take a position on the legal text of this agreement.
We had, as I say, this brief meeting, and I think Members felt that as a committee we have met the terms of reference, the areas of work that you asked us to adjust, and we have done that.
For instance, in the first point, to work towards putting in the Constitution the inherent right to self-government. Members know, as it is reported in the Consensus Report, we have gone far beyond just putting the inherent right in the Constitution. There are additional provisions, many additional provisions, provided to aboriginal peoples of this country, and we have not come home with a bare minimum. We have come home with a significant list of achievements, and we believe that the work of the committee, and the achievements that we have made on your behalf, are significant, and they deserve to be endorsed, as we are suggesting. We should not look to modifying the verbs, or adjectives, at this time. We do signal that we respect the right of this Legislature to review the final text, and ensure that it properly and fully reflects what was agreed to in Charlottetown, and that will be dealt with in our recommendation. Thank you.