Home Partner News Media Releases Mainstream News Opportunities Multimedia Events Feb 16, 2024 A process that began months ago, drew closer to completion early this month with the advancement of Bill C-53, which now returns to the House of Commons for Third Reading. President of Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, Glen McCallum said seeing it read the first two times in the House of Commons and returned to the House by the Senate, made him hopeful for the day that it would be passed. “(After) all the years of our people being on the sidelines or falling through the cracks, it’s a tremendous thing to be able to see in regards to the strides that we’ve made between the federal government and the Métis Nation,” McCallum said. Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, specifically recognizes and affirms the existing Aboriginal and treaty rights of the Indigenous peoples of Canada which includes the right to self-government. In section 35, the term “aboriginal peoples of Canada” refers to the First Nation, Inuit, and Métis peoples of Canada. Self-governance agreements under section 35 are still subject to provincial and federal law and operate within the framework of the Canadian Constitution, they do not create new and separate legal systems. Bill C-53, which was introduced to the House of Commons in June 2023, is only about recognizing Métis governments as Indigenous governments within Canada, which has been historically denied. It is only about recognizing Métis governments’ authorities and authority concerning their internal governance, such as citizenship, elections, government operations, and child and family services. Bill C-53 is about implementing the aspects of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) included in self-government agreements and recognizing Métis governments’ self-determination and self-government over internal affairs. Read More: https://www.mbcradio.com/2024/02/what-is-bill-c-53
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