The Chiefs of Ontario maintains its position opposing the Nault Governance Initiative in accordance with Resolutions 02/01 and 01/40.

The AFN Confederacy does not have the authority to approve the “Penultimate Work Plan” on the Nault Governance Initiative.

1. The Nault Initiative and the so-called “Penultimate Work Plan” prejudice fundamental First Nations rights, including the inherent right.
   
   
2. The Halifax National Assembly Resolution #12/2001 sets out the AFN position on this matter. The Chiefs rejected the Nault Initiative and called for a Rights Based Agenda.
   
   
3. According to the AFN Charter Article 2, Subsection 6, only the Assembly has the mandate to deal with fundamental First Nations issues. The Confederacy has no such authority.
   
   
4. Therefore, the Confederacy has no authority to deal with the “Penultimate Work Plan”. Instead, the matter should be deferred to an Assembly, which should be called on a priority basis.
   
   
5. In good faith, being accountable to First Nations, Minister Nault should financially support such an Assembly and defer implementation of the Initiative until the Chiefs in Canada come to a consensus through due diligence and traditional process.