The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is deeply disturbed by a proposed bill excluding the voice of urban Indigenous Peoples across the country. Bill C-29 looks to establish a council that would report on the state of reconciliation in Canada, but fails to include the voice of CAP and its constituents.
“Reconciliation must include all Indigenous Peoples across Canada regardless of where they live,” says CAP National Chief Elmer St. Pierre. “The majority of Indigenous people now live off-reserve and in urban areas. Their voices play a critical role in understanding the numerous challenges Indigenous people face on a daily basis. Denying CAP and its constituents a place on this essential council would be a tremendous loss in the efforts towards reconciliation.”
Bill C-29 looks to address the 94 calls to action released by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015. In its current form, the legislation would create a council comprised of several directors but only three positions for National Indigenous Organizations. In doing so, the proposed bill would discriminate against hundreds of thousands of Indigenous peoples living in urban areas.
“The federal government must include all Indigenous peoples when creating legislation and engaging on vital issues,” says St. Pierre. “The exclusion of any Indigenous voices is a step in the wrong direction.”
CAP demands the federal government rework bill C-29 to include the majority of Indigenous peoples now living off-reserve and in urban areas. The exclusion of any Indigenous voices is a step in the wrong direction.
