OTTAWA,
ON, May 2, 2024 /CNW/ - Canada's relationship with Indigenous Peoples
is our most important one. As partners with the original
inhabitants and stewards of Canada's lands and waters, we know that we
need to make good on our commitments and responsibilities. This
starts with trust, transparency, and accountability.
As part of Canada's
constitutional framework, Modern Treaties have been fundamental to
advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples for almost half a
century. They promote strong and sustainable Indigenous
communities, while affirming Indigenous rights over lands, waters,
and resources. For over 20 years, Indigenous Modern Treaty Partners
have been calling for improved independent oversight so that the
federal government is held accountable for its obligations under
Modern Treaties.
Today, the Prime Minister, Justin
Trudeau, was joined by Indigenous Modern Treaty Partners and
Self-Governing Indigenous Governments at the second
Intergovernmental Leaders' Forum, to announce the creation of an
independent oversight body headed by a new Commissioner for Modern
Treaty Implementation.
The creation of this new role is a major milestone and
transformative shift in the Crown-Indigenous Modern Treaty
relationship. The Commissioner will work to hold the Government of
Canada accountable for its Modern
Treaty obligations and advance key priorities. Additionally, the
Commissioner will help ensure the federal government is held
accountable for living up to the commitments in Modern Treaties
and, more importantly, the nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown, and
government relationships they embody. Budget 2024 will be providing
$10.6 million over four years to
support the functions of the Commissioner and to stand up the
office.
Today's announcement will help to ensure lasting accountability
and fairness for Indigenous Peoples. We are learning from the
mistakes of the past and creating a strong foundation for our
ongoing work together to address challenges faced by Indigenous
Modern Treaty and Self-Government Partners across Canada. Everyone deserves what they need to
grow and succeed on their own terms. Reconciliation will remain at
the forefront of everything we do and will continue to be a key
pillar of our work to build a fairer Canada for everyone.
Quotes
"We're listening to our Modern Treaty Partners.
To honour our agreements with Indigenous Peoples, we need to ensure
that trust, transparency, and accountability remain at the heart of
our efforts to build renewed nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown, and
government-to-government relationships. By implementing our
commitments, we're taking an important step on the path of
reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada."
— The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau,
Prime Minister of Canada
"Modern Treaties and Self-Government Agreements are delivering
real results for communities – I have seen that power firsthand.
But Canada still has work to do to
live up to our promises. The creation of a new Commissioner for
Modern Treaty Implementation as an Agent of Parliament will
hopefully be a transformational shift toward a future where
partners can be assured Canada
will fulfill all of our treaty obligations, in the spirit of
reconciliation.
— The Hon. Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous
Relations
Quick Facts
- The Intergovernmental Leaders' Forum is comprised of the Prime
Minister, ministers, and leadership from 30 Modern Treaty holders
and Self-Governing Indigenous Governments.
- Participants at today's meeting included:
- Patty Hajdu, Minister of
Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal
Economic Development Agency for Northern
Ontario
- Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern
Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development
Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic
Development Agency
- Arif Virani, Minister of Justice
and Attorney General of Canada
- Ya'ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and
Associate Minister of Health
- Harjit S. Sajjan, President of
the King's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and
Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of
Canada
- Pascale St-Onge, Minister of
Canadian Heritage
- Following consultations with partners, concluding June 28, 2024, the legislative proposal to
establish the Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation will be
introduced in Parliament.
- The proposed Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation
would take shape as an Agent of Parliament. The Commissioner's role
was co-developed with Modern Treaty Partners to ensure independent,
credible, effective, and sustainable oversight of Modern Treaty
implementation, and hold the federal government accountable to
Parliament for Modern Treaty objectives, obligations, and
relationships.
- The Commissioner must hold the confidence of Indigenous Modern
Treaty Partners and thus consultation with Indigenous Modern Treaty
Partners will be an integral part of the legislative and
appointment process.
- The Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation will:
- Conduct independent and expert oversight of any activity
carried out by the Government of Canada that relates to the implementation of
Modern Treaties.
- Seek to ensure the timely and effective implementation of
Modern Treaties.
- Report to Parliament to hold the Government of Canada accountable for its Modern Treaty
obligations.
- Be independent, objective, and impartial in the discharge of
their mandate, and have expert knowledge of Modern Treaties.
- Have the authority to require departments to provide the
information necessary to carry out its mandate.
- Commit to uphold the spirit and intent of the agreements.
- The establishment of the Commissioner for Modern Treaty
Implementation contributes to the implementation of
the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples Act and advances implementation of the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action
Plan.
- In Budget 2024, the Government of Canada proposed a $9.4
billion package of measures to create jobs, unlock
opportunities, and build more housing and infrastructure for
Indigenous Peoples. Learn more.
Associated Links
- Canada's Collaborative Modern
Treaty Implementation Policy
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples Act
- Budget 2024: Fairness for every generation
This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca
SOURCE Prime Minister's Office