The hon. member for Kenora—Kiiwetinoong.
Rebecca Alty Liberal
Third reading (House), as of April 21, 2026
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This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.
This enactment provides for the appointment of a Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation to conduct reviews and performance audits of the activities of government institutions related to the implementation of modern treaties. It also establishes the Office of the Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation for the purpose of assisting the Commissioner in the fulfillment of their mandate and the exercise of their powers and the performance of their duties and functions. Finally, it makes consequential amendments to other Acts.
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-10s:
This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Bill C-10 proposes a Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation, an independent officer reporting to Parliament, to oversee and improve the federal government's fulfillment of modern treaty obligations.
Liberal
Conservative
NDP
Bloc
Green
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
Conservative
Eric Melillo Conservative Kenora—Kiiwetinoong, ON
Mr. Speaker, this is more typical Liberal legislation. I have had the honour of serving on the indigenous and northern affairs committee for many years now. Over and over, we have seen the government make big promises and then take very little action.
The member spoke about the 94 calls to action, but only 14 or 15 have been completed by the government. It made big promises on drinking water and did not follow through. In the fall of 2022, the government said that legislation was around the corner to make first nations policing services essential, and we are still waiting for that legislation. The same can be said for modern treaties. The government has achieved zero.
Why are the Liberals looking to create more bureaucracy and spend more, instead of just moving forward with modern treaties? They already have the power to do that.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, one thing I am always cognizant of is that at times there are political entities in the chamber that provide misinformation. We are close to having 20 of the recommendations completed. Not all 94 recommendations are federal responsibilities. For example, the Pope gave an apology. The federal government may have tried to influence the Pope, but it was the Catholic Church that ultimately had to deal with that particular recommendation.
Of the recommendations the federal government is responsible for, at least 80% are under process. We cannot just click our feet, wave a magic wand and have them completed. Many of the recommendations take years to complete.
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
Conservative
Kurt Holman Conservative London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives support modern treaties, but there are concerns that with this bill, the establishment of an independent commissioner and office would lead to more government bureaucracy. In his speech, my Conservative colleague from Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes mentioned alternatives to prevent this.
How can the member opposite be certain that in the establishment of the commissioner position, no government bureaucracy will take place?
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
October 7th, 2025 / 12:05 p.m.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, I spent a great deal of my time noting how, from an economic and social point of view, it is in our best interests collectively as parliamentarians, representing all of Canada, to ensure that we continue to make progress on indigenous relationships, nation to nation. I believe this legislation further advances that by ensuring that we have an official agent of Parliament to assist in pushing the government to take necessary actions.
I wanted to talk about Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, and I hope to get another opportunity to do so.
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
October 7th, 2025 / 12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Mr. Speaker, the member talked about making progress on these issues. I would point out that under a Conservative government, we signed six modern treaties, and that under 10 years of Liberal government, no modern treaties have been signed. Does the member think that is progress?
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
October 7th, 2025 / 12:05 p.m.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, as the minister who introduced the legislation explained, it takes years to get a modernization project. I suspect that many of the modernization treaties that were signed by Stephen Harper began under Paul Martin. All one needs to do is look at Paul Martin's impact on the Kelowna Accord, something Stephen Harper opposed. Had Stephen Harper supported it, we would have seen a lot more support on the issues of housing, education and health, which really—
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
October 7th, 2025 / 12:05 p.m.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, we are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars back in 2005.
At the end of the day, I do not have a problem comparing records. All one needs to do is to look at the calls to action and look at our record.
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
October 7th, 2025 / 12:05 p.m.
Bloc
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC
Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the speech by my colleague from Winnipeg North. He mentioned that true reconciliation is not limited to apologies. I would like him to explain to us today why his government is not repealing the Indian Act, a discriminatory, colonial and paternalistic law imposed on first nations. That piece of legislation embodies everything that stands in the way of true reconciliation.
Why, after all these years, has his government not taken steps to repeal the Indian Act?
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
October 7th, 2025 / 12:05 p.m.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
That is a really good question, Mr. Speaker. I have often thought that myself. When I talk to indigenous leaders and non-indigenous people who are trying to move that file forward, it is often raised.
I believe it is a fairly complicated issue, so I am not prepared to answer at this time. I do not have that level of expertise, but it is something that I too, from what I hear, would like to see disposed of. I wish it were that simple.
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
October 7th, 2025 / 12:05 p.m.
Liberal
John-Paul Danko Liberal Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is from Winnipeg, which has a sizable indigenous population. He has been very engaged in consultation with members of his own community. What is the member hearing from those in his constituency and how would he expect that to apply across Canada?
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
October 7th, 2025 / 12:05 p.m.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, one of the most prominent individuals I have had the pleasure of representing, who I believe has moved out of Winnipeg North, is the current national chief, Cindy Woodhouse, someone I classify as a personal family friend. She is a very powerful, strong voice for indigenous community members throughout the country. I have learned a great deal from her. It is one of the reasons I am an advocate for ensuring that we continue to push the envelope in dealing with reconciliation and getting the job done on certain projects, like the Shoal Lake 40 First Nation's Freedom Road. Do members know how long it waited for that to happen? There is also the water treatment plant at Shoal Lake to get rid of the boil water advisories.
We want to continue to advocate for good, healthy policy and budgetary measures.
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
October 7th, 2025 / 12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if the parliamentary secretary can highlight why it was so important for this legislation to come forward now and why we should pass it through the House as expeditiously as possible.
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
October 7th, 2025 / 12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day, as I said at the outset of my comments, this legislation is before us today because of the immense amount of work done over the years on identifying how we can further advance indigenous reconciliation. Having an agent of Parliament is something that indigenous community leaders and others, like me, believe will have a very profound and positive impact. It is a seven-year appointment of an individual who has incredible experience. Through that experience and knowledge, someone could make a difference, as Murray Sinclair did.