Call to Action # 43

Why “In Progress?”

Mar. 30, 2022 – BC Government releases “United Nations Action Plan 2022-2027” with 89 Calls to Actions across four themes.

June 21, 2021 – Bill C-15 – An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act receives Royal Assent and becomes law. Developed with Indigenous Peoples, this Act creates a legislative framework to implement the Declaration in Canada. It requires the Government of Canada, in consultation and collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, to develop an action plan to achieve the Declaration’s objectives and take all measures necessary to align federal laws with the Declaration. The action plan, which must be developed in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples in two years, will include measures to:

• address injustices, combat prejudice and eliminate all forms of violence, racism and discrimination against Indigenous Peoples
• promote mutual respect and understanding, as well as good relations, including through human rights education
• ensure Canada is held accountable on progress through regular reporting and oversight

Only BC and the Northwest Territories have made legislative commitments to develop and implement UNDRIP legislation. Ontario and Quebec have backtracked on their original commitments. BC passed Bill 41 “The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act” on Nov. 28, 2019 when it received Royal Assent and became law.

Dec. 1, 2020: Government of Canada introduced Bill C-15 “An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” for First Reading in the House Commons over the strong objections of the provincial governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec and New Brunswick.