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Indigenous Affairs

During oral questions on Indigenous Affairs, members debated remarks about the future of the Indian Act following a first ministers’ meeting. The Conservatives said First Nations wanted the meeting to focus on economic partnership, land, and treaty rights, and asked why the Prime Minister instead raised the idea of ending the Indian Act; they also raised concerns about the handling of Bill S-2, which amends the Indian Act’s registration rules, including allegations that elders were asked to sign five-year confidentiality agreements, and about delays in other promised legislation. The Liberals said the Indian Act has caused lasting harm through racism and discrimination, and that any process to move beyond it must be First Nations-led and co-developed with rights holders, respecting their treaties, laws, and governance structures.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Billy Morin

Conservative
“First Nations should decide their own future. At the meeting this week, they wanted to talk about business, land, and treaty rights. Instead, the Prime Minister brought up getting rid of the Indian Act. I want him to explain why he is bringing up an old idea that causes division.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives believe in self-determination and first nations deciding their own paths for themselves. At Monday’s first ministers’ meeting, first nations helped determine the agenda on economic partnership, land, and treaty rights, but the Prime Minister could not focus on that important conversation and instead resorted to speculation about abolishing the Indian Act, which was not the focus of the first nations’ agenda. Why is the Prime Minister now inviting the uncertainty and division that comes with resurrecting the Liberal Indian Act white paper of 1969?

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Ginette Lavack

Liberal
“The Indian Act has caused lasting harm through racism and discrimination. Our focus is on building a stronger nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations based on respect for their laws and rights.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Indian Act has a long and harmful legacy of colonization, racism and discrimination, with lasting impacts on first nation individuals, families and communities. The discussions underscore the importance of continuing to strengthen the relationship between Canada and first nations, one that is grounded in respect for first nations’ self-determination, laws and inherent rights. Fundamentally, our focus remains on how our relationship can be strengthened with first nations on a nation-to-nation basis.

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Billy Morin

Conservative
“The Prime Minister cannot be trusted on reconciliation. He makes elders sign five-year secrecy agreements on this bill. He still has not passed promised clean drinking water laws, and he ignores court rulings about Indigenous rights. Other countries cannot trust him if he will not keep his promises to First Nations.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 56 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “the 1969 white paper-musing Prime Minister”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, after 11 years of Liberal reconciliation rhetoric, how can anybody trust the 1969 white paper-musing Prime Minister, who delays legislation for any interests other than his own and ignores court rulings that require him to uphold the government’s commitments? On Bill S-2, he is demanding that elders sign a five-year non-disclosure agreement because he does not trust the supposed partners in reconciliation. On safe drinking water, he still has not passed legislation the Liberals promised in 2022 and is still fighting them in court. How can international partners trust the Prime Minister when he cannot even fulfill Canada’s treaties with first peoples here at home?

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Ginette Lavack

Liberal

Linked statement

“Any plan to move past the Indian Act must be led by First Nations. We must work with them as partners and respect their rights, treaties, and decisions about their own future.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 45 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, to be clear, any process about how we move beyond the Indian Act must be first nations-led. It has to be co-developed with rights holders. First nations are diverse. They have distinct histories, they have treaties and they have governance structures that we have to respect. Their voices have to guide this process and decisions about what comes next. We are committed to working in partnership with first nations to chart a path forward together that respects their rights, reflects the priorities they bring forward and supports their self-determination.

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