On December 13, the Ministers of Indian and Northern Affairs and Justice tabled a bill to repeal section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act. Section 67 excludes people living on reserve from filing a complaint with the Commission relating to any action arising from or pursuant to the Indian Act. This makes First Nations people living on-reserve the only group of Canadians that are denied the ability to file human rights complaints in many circumstances.

The Commission is pleased that the Government is acting on this important issue. We have long argued that repealing section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act is a question of fundamental rights, and that First Nations people, like all other residents of Canada, are entitled to protection from discrimination. The Commission’s October 2005 report A Matter of Rights highlighted the need for this change to the Act.

Now that section 67 is being repealed, the Commission is committed to working with First Nations stakeholders to facilitate a smooth transition. The Commission has recently established an Aboriginal Program to give specific attention to the unique needs and circumstances of Aboriginal communities as they relate to the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Employment Equity Act. One of the new Program’s roles will be to work with First Nations communities, if they so wish, to develop appropriate community redress mechanisms.

David Langtry
Commissioner