Metis presidents urge standing committee to pass Bill C 53 without amendments

By Shari Narine Local Journalism Initiaive Reporter It’s not at this stage in the process that Canada should weigh in, the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs was told Oct. 26. It was holding its first hearing on Bill C-53, legislation that recognizes certain Metis governments in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan. The time to weigh in will come when treaties from the legislation are being negotiated and that’s when other Indigenous people will be consulted, said Michelle LeClair, vice president for the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S). “All three treaties?will be negotiated independently and it’s there, through that process, that duty to consult will be triggered,’’ she said. “But the venue for these concerns is not here. Not regarding Bill C-53. Our legislation doesn’t trigger the duty to consult. It lays…

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