Thank you, Mr. Chair. I, too, appreciate the intention of what the mover is presenting here, but I clearly think that the department and the Minister and committee have come a long way. This was originally a clause that really was very limited; a nominated area could sit in the nomination phase for an extended period of time.

I think clause 1.10.1.1, an area nominated under this section shall be considered by the Minister without delay. We went back and forth to even get to that point and felt that that was fairly reasonable.

I think that, when you are discussing the opportunity to nominate an area with an Indigenous government, there is a period of negotiation that goes on. We all know how difficult it can be, and in terms of trying to find time frames for governments to get together to have these reasonable negotiations. I think putting a time constraint on them would either put them in too much a pressure situation to try to find terms, and/or they would end up just saying, "Forget it" and leave it be. That defeats the purpose of the whole entire act, which is to support protected areas.

For those reasons, I won't be supporting the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.