First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) – On 1st anniversary of the unanimous passage of Bill 41, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act), on November 26, 2019, the FNLC has stated: “Instead of aligning its actions and laws with the Act, we have seen the Province push forward in recent months with several pieces of legislation, including Bill 22 Mental Health Amendment Act and Bill 17 Clean Energy Amendment Act, without engaging with First Nations Title and Rights holders and without regard to the detrimental impacts these bills stand to have on First Nations and the rejection of these bills that many First Nations publicly provided. The FNLC urges the NDP government to live up to its commitments under the Declaration Act, including ensuring new and existing laws are consistent with the UN Declaration, and fulfilling its election commitment to establish a dedicated Secretariat to oversee the Declaration Act’s implementation.

“We will not stop holding the provincial government to their commitments to align legislation and to build a strong action plan which addresses fundamental and significant issues such as self-determination, lands, territories and resources, economic and fiscal relations, cultural and language, social well-being and racism,” stated Regional Chief Terry Teegee. We are encouraged by the new majority government’s commitment to ‘improving Indigenous input on provincial policy and legislation’ and to create a dedicated Secretariat to ensure all new legislation and policies are consistent with the UN Declaration in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous leadership. We look forward to actively engaging with Premier Horgan and his new Cabinet to ensure this new Secretariat has a mandate to succeed.”

“As the NDP enters into a new term with a significant majority government, it is critical they make the necessary and overdue advancements that will align provincial policy and legislation with the UN Declaration. They must consult and work closely with First Nations every step of the way, including relying upon Indigenous leadership and guidance when establishing a dedicated Secretariat that will ensure government policies and legislation are consistent with the UN Declaration.