C-6 passes, other bills die

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When Prime Minister Jean Chretien called an end to the most recent session of Parliament on Nov. 13, bills C-19 (the financial institutions act) and C-7 (the First nations governance act) died on the order paper. C-6 (the specific claims resolution act) barely made it through and First Nation leaders are calling on incoming prime minister Paul Martin not to proclaim the legislation.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine said Oct. 22 that he was "dismayed at the passage of Bill C-6 by the Senate of Canada, because he knew it would be quickly passed into law by the House of Commons.

"This inherently flawed piece of legislation is unworkable, and the principles behind it are in need of serious examination and more extensive consultation with First Nations and other interested parties before an attempt is made to introduce this type of legislation," he said. "The legislation does nothing to provide for a truly independent and transparent claims body, one of the recommendations of the AFN-Canada Joint Task Force and a goal that is supported by First Nations."

Fontaine and other Native leaders object to the $10 million cap on claims and the fact that the government of Canada has the last word on appointments to the tribunal that will adjudicate claims that cannot be resolved through negotiation. Early work on the legislation referred to an "independent claims body." Native leaders say what will be created by C-6 is far from independent since the prime minister has the last word on appointments.

On Oct. 30, the national chief sent an open letter to government House leader, Don Boudria, telling him the AFN was opposed to C-6. But the government pushed through with the legislation despite that, invoking closure to end the debate.

First Nations were successful in defeating the other bills, although parliamentary rules allow the bills to be reintroduced when the House resumes.

With that in mind, Six Nations of the Grand River Chief Roberta Jamieson called on the new prime minister to refuse to proclaim C-6 and to leave C-7 and C-19 on the scrap heap.

"This offers a fresh start with a new prime minister," said Jamieson. "Hopefully Paul Martin will seize this positive opportunity to start anew and help cleanse the poisoned atmosphere that has surrounded the relationship between the First Nations and the federal government."