Before I begin, I would like to recognize the Algonquin Nation on whose traditional territory we are gathering.
We would like to thank the committee for inviting the Department of Justice to appear today with respect to this private member's bill, Bill C-262. As you know, in May 2016, the federal government expressed its unqualified support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and committed to its full implementation, in partnership with indigenous peoples.
Since then, the government has taken many steps toward implementing the UN declaration, which have been highlighted on various occasions by the Minister of Justice as being a necessary component of the transformation that the federal government wishes to undertake in renewing its relationship with indigenous peoples.
Establishing the Working Group of Ministers on the Review of Laws, Policies and Operational Practices Related to Indigenous Peoples was a key step in this process.
In announcing the creation of the working group in February 2017, the Prime Minister indicated that its objective is to seek to ensure that the crown is meeting its constitutional obligations with respect to aboriginal and treaty rights, adhering to international human rights standards, including the United Nations Declaration, and supporting the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action.
Further, in July 2017 the Government of Canada adopted and publicly released “Principles Respecting the Government of Canada's Relationship With Indigenous Peoples”. The principles are rooted in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and the UN declaration, and are informed by the report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. The principles, as well as the UN declaration, guide the review of the laws, policies, and operational practices and form a foundation for transforming how the federal government supports indigenous peoples and governments.
In carrying out its mandate, the working group has also heard from many indigenous leaders and organizations about their vision for how Canada should adopt and implement the UN declaration in full partnership with indigenous peoples. As explained by the Minister of Justice when she announced the government's support for Bill C-262 in November 2017, this bill broadly aligns with the government's commitment to implement the UN declaration and its commitment to transform the crown-indigenous relationship. It represents one critical aspect of the shift that must be made to transform indigenous-crown relations based on the recognition and implementation of indigenous rights.
Bill C-262 calls for the alignment of federal laws with the UN declaration. The bill's proposed approach, similar to the approach taken to date by the federal government, reflects an acknowledgement of the need to implement the UN declaration in co-operation and collaboration with indigenous peoples through a range of diverse measures, including legislative policy and administrative measures. The nature, scope, and type of approach taken in specific areas will necessarily vary.
The bill also reflects article 38 of the United Nations Declaration, which states the following:
States, in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples, shall take the appropriate measures, including legislative measures, to achieve the ends of this Declaration.
For this reason, and as many have observed, the bill alone will not accomplish the full implementation of the United Nations Declaration. A comprehensive approach including additional efforts and measures to implement the United Nations Declaration is needed.
On February 14, 2018, the federal government took additional steps to advance this implementation. The Prime Minister delivered a statement on the recognition and implementation of indigenous rights in the House of Commons that confirmed the shift to a recognition of a rights-based approach to relations with indigenous peoples and committed to the development of new legislation and policy through a new recognition and implementation of rights framework.
The measures proposed in Bill C-262, as well as the important discussion the bill will generate before this committee and across the country, are part of accelerating the shift to recognition of rights-based relationships.
Madam Chair, we look forward to answering questions from members of the committee on this private member's bill, Bill C-262. Thank you.