A Summary of Current Federal Legislative Amendments Affecting First Nations

The Proposed Legislation

Why It Concerns First Nations

This450pagebillchangedmorethan70federalActswithoutproper Parliamentarydebate. ThisbilldramaticallychangesCanadasfederalenvironmentallegislation, removingmanyprotectionsforwater,fish,andtheenvironment. ThechangesweremadewithoutconsultingFirstNations. Thissecondbillalsoexceeds450pages,andchanged44federallaws,again withoutproperParliamentarydebate. Thisbillremovesmanyfishhabitatprotectionsandfailstorecognize Aboriginalcommercialfisheries. ChangestotheNavigableWatersProtectionActreducethenumberoflakes andriverswherenavigationandfederalenvironmentalassessmentis requiredfrom32,000tojust97lakes,andfrom2.25milliontojust62rivers. Thismeansashocking99%ofCanadaswaterwayslosttheirprotectionfor navigationandfederalenviroassessmentpurposes. ThesechangesweremadewithoutconsultingFirstNations. This bill imposes standards on First Nations governments that far exceed thoseformunicipal,provincialandfederalofficialsinotherjurisdictions. It requires First Nationowned businesses (unlike nonAboriginal businesses) topubliclyreportincomeandexpenses,thusunderminingcompetitiveness. ItaddsadditionalbureaucracytotheexistingrequirementthateachFirst NationprovideOttawaover150financialreportseachyear,contrarytothe recommendationsofCanadasAuditorGeneralandtheTreasuryBoard. Thesechangesarebasedonacommon,racistassumptionthatFirstNations officialsareallcorruptanassumptionthatisfactuallyandstatistically incorrect. Thegovernmentintendstointroducethislegislation,butithasntyet. TheActwouldpermitprivatepropertyownershipwithinreserveboundaries. Individualbandswouldbeabletoadoptthelegislationonanoptionalbasis. AprivatepropertysystemiscontrarytothegoalofmanyFirstNationsto protectAboriginallandsasacollectiveresource. TheActwouldallowthesmallexistingAboriginallyownedlandbasetobe soldtononAboriginalbuyers,foreverlosingtheselandsasAboriginallands. Thisisparticularlyariskforimpoverishedcommunitieswhomaybeforcedby economicdesperationtoselltheirownlandsforshorttermgain. FirstNationsneedmoreoptionstousetheirlandsforeconomicdevelopment purposes,butthissimpleonesizefitsallfixisdangerous.Thegovernment shouldinsteadworkwithFirstNationstoaddressrealselfsufficiencyby ensuringAboriginalcontroloverresourcesextractedintheirtraditionallands, andaddressingeducational,healthandothersocialdevelopment.

Bill C-38 Budget Omnibus Bill #1

Bill C-45 Budget Omnibus Bill #2

Bill C-27 First Nations Financial Transparency Act

The First Nations Private Property Ownership Act (Proposed)

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The Proposed Legislation

Why It Concerns First Nations

Therearecurrentlynolawsthatdeterminehowpropertyonreserveis dividedupwhenmarriedcouplesdivorce.Thisbilladdressesthatgap,but doessowithoutrecognizingFirstNationsjurisdictionoverreserveproperty. Therearemanyissuesassociatedwithmatrimonialpropertyonreserve, includingviolenceagainstwomen,housingavailability,selfgovernment rights,capacitytodevelopandenforcelaws,andaccesstojustice.These issueshavebeendisregardedintheinterestsofasimplefix. TheprovisionallawsinthislegislationwillinfringeonFirstNationsinherent selfgovernmentrights.Thelegislationwillalsomakeitdifficultforpeopleto ensurethelawsareenforced,astheywouldhavetogotoaprovincialcourt, whichcanbedifficultduetodistanceandexpense. ThisBillprovidesanalternativeelectionsregimeundertheIndianAct. AlthoughthiswillaffectallFirstNations,therewasnoconsultationaboutit. ItispositivethatthisbillallowsFirstNationstooptintoanalternativeregime forelections.TheMinistercan,however,simplyimposeanelectionprocess againstthewillofaFirstNationcommunity,andatthediscretionofthe Minister(iftheMinisterdecidestherehasbeenaproblemwithanelection). ThiscanleadtopoliticalinterferencewithFirstNationselections. ThisActwillallowCanadatooverrideFirstNationbylaws,BCRsandpolicies thatprotectsafedrinkingwater. TheMinisterwillnowhavethepowertorequireFirstNationstochargefees tomembersforreceivingcleanwater. TheActallowsthegovernmenttoannulordestroyAboriginalrightsand treatyrightstotheextentnecessarytoensuresafedrinkingwater.Thisisa limitedpowerbutisconcerninginprinciple,especiallywhenthegovernment wasnotabletoprovideanyjustificationwhyitneededthispower. Thisisaprivatemembersbillthatisasubstantialpieceoflegislationwhich wouldimposesweepingchangestotheIndianAct.Yettherehasbeenno properconsultationwithFirstNationsaboutit. FirstNationssupporttheneedtoabolishtheIndianAct.Anydiscussionabout legislationtoreplacetheIndianAct,however,needstofullyinvolveFirst Nations.Yettherehasbeennosubstantialconsultationonthisbill. ThisBillsaysthatnolegislationwillbeinterpretedasannullingordestroying Aboriginalortreatyrights.However,ifanotherActshowedaclearintention ofdestroysuchrights,thisActwouldnotpreventthatfromhappening. Thislegislationhasbeenintroducedforthefourthtime. ThisActwouldmakeitpossibleforFirstNationstotakeonmuchofthe authoritycurrentlygiventoprovinces(suchasfisheries,wildlifeandhabitat management,education,childprotectionandadoption,andhealthcare). IfthegovernmentintendstosupportorproceedwiththisAct,however, theremustbeconsultationwithFirstNationsastheimpactonFirstNation communitieswillbeprofound.
Prepared by Lorraine Land, Liora Zimmerman and Andrea Bradley December 20, 2012

Bill S-2

Family Homes on Reserve and Matrimonial Interests or Right Act

Bill S-6 First Nations Elections Act

Bill S-8 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act

Bill C-428 Indian Act Amendment and Replacement Act Bill S-207 An Act to amend the Interpretation Act

Bill S-212

First Nations Self-Government Recognition Bill