Off-reserve Aboriginal Leader urges government to reintroduce legislation to protect Human Rights of First Nations citizens
(OTTAWA, ONTARIO – September 7, 2007) The leader of the national Aboriginal organization that advocates for the needs and aspirations of Canada’s off-reserve Aboriginal peoples has asked the federal government to ensure that it re-introduces legislation in the upcoming new session of Parliament that seeks to put an end to an exemption in the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) preventing First Nations citizens from protection under the Act’s provisions.
National Chief Patrick Brazeau of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples met with Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl earlier this week, and specifically asked that the government move to immediately reinstate the legislation following the delivery of the Speech from the Throne.
The Harper government introduced legislation to repeal section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act in December 2006. In doing so, it sought to ensure that all Canadians have equal access to human rights protections, and to empowering First Nations individuals with the ability to seek recourse. First Nations citizens were made exempt from the CHRA’s provisions at the time of its introduction in 1977, as efforts were underway to attempt to reform the Indian Act. The application of section 67 was meant to be a temporary measure.
The repeal of section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act would offer First Nations citizens the same fundamental human rights protection as other Canadians.
After all, protection of human rights must begin in our own backyard.
- 30 -
For further information, please contact:
Al Fleming
Director
Public Affairs
613-747-6022 (office)
613-867-8696 (mobile)
al@abo-peoples.org
