Bill Detail
An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements)
This enactment amends the Indian Act to provide, among other things, new entitlements to registration in the Indian Register in response to the challenge of certain provisions of the Act under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Nicholas v. Canada (Attorney General) and that the persons who have become so entitled also have the right to have their names entered in a Band List maintained in the Department of Indigenous Services.
This bill, S-2, updates the Indian Act to allow more people to be registered as Status Indians. It responds to a court challenge that found parts of the old Act discriminatory, particularly regarding who could be registered. The changes aim to correct past injustices and allow individuals who were unfairly excluded to be recognized, and also to grant their descendants the right to registration. It also clarifies the definition of a "dependent person" and ensures that those entitled to registration can have their names added to a Band List. This affects Indigenous individuals seeking Status registration and their families, ensuring more equitable access to rights and benefits associated with being registered under the Indian Act.
Legislative Timeline
Votes
Yes / No Ratio
How each party voted
| Party | Position | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloc | Yes | 100% | 0% |
| Conservative | Yes | 100% | 0% |
| Green | Yes | 100% | 0% |
| Liberal | Yes | 100% | 0% |
| NDP | Yes | 100% | 0% |