I want to thank the member for the question.

Development in First Nations territory—all of them are not opposed to development. They want to see prosperous opportunities for their community members, as well.

However, there is a process to engage with First Nations and their leadership. It takes time. It takes trust. It takes a respectful relationship that must be built. When you try to move legislation and you send that legislation as, “Hey, we’re doing this,” you’re really being disrespectful to that process, toward the leadership of First Nations communities, because there is an extensive engagement process that they have to follow through as well with their elders, with their community members, with their knowledge keepers, with their medicine people.

These discussions cannot happen as an afterthought. It must happen before the legislation and even while the legislation is being developed. That’s what informed negotiations, discussions look like, and it develops a real, respectful relationship with First Nations.

I don’t see it moving forward. We’ve seen it from the previous government—doing the divide and conquer because they couldn’t move some of their priorities forward. We’re seeing it with this government as well. It really sets communities back. It really puts them on the defensive.

I just highlighted many of those court cases that are now going forward and the lawsuits that have been launched against both Canadian and Ontario governments. This should be a red flag for this government. This should be a sign to tell them, “We need to take a step back. We are not properly engaging. We are not doing the processes. And we are not respecting the requests from First Nations communities to have meaningful consultation.”

It’s so good to hear the support from the member from Guelph on this bill. I’ve had those conversations with him for the last few years on how critical it is to expand the battery and electric vehicle market in Ontario and the necessity of the resources that we can source from Ontario for these.

I’m curious, though, and this is something that I think is a province-wide issue: When we’re having those conversations and discussions with Indigenous territories that are directly impacted by this, how far out should that net go? Is it just any Indigenous territory in the province of Ontario? Is it just directly those whose traditional lands are in that area?

I was just wondering if the member had any advice for us on exactly what that consultation should look like within that spirit of reconciliation.