Indian Act section contrary to equality laws
Page 2
The law of the land has caught up with the Department of Indian Affairs.
The long-awaited decision in the Corbiere case was handed down by the Supreme Court of Canada on May 20. The court ruled that Section 77 (1) of the Indian Act, which allowed bands to prohibit off-reserve residents from voting in band council elections, was contrary to the equality provisions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.