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Bill C-29

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First Session, Forty-fourth Parliament,

70-71 Elizabeth II – 1 Charles III, 2021-2022

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-29
An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation

AS PASSED
BY THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
December 1, 2022
91107


SUMMARY

This enactment provides for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation as an independent, non-political, permanent and Indigenous-led organization whose purpose is to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Available on the House of Commons website at the following address:
www.ourcommons.ca


TABLE OF PROVISIONS

An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation

Preamble

Short Title
1

National Council for Reconciliation Act

Interpretation
2

Definitions

Establishment
3

Sending of articles of incorporation

4

Not agent of Her Majesty

5

Qualified donee

Purpose and Functions
6

Purpose

7

Functions

Board of Directors
8

First board of directors

9

Composition

10

Nominations

11

Indigenous persons

12

Representativeness

13

Knowledge and experience

14

Term of office

15

Election

Disclosure of Information
16

Protocol

Annual Reports
16.‍1

Report of Minister

17

Report of Council

Financial Report
18

Contents

Dissolution
19

Distribution of property

Coming into Force
20

Order in council



1st Session, 44th Parliament,

70-71 Elizabeth II – 1 Charles III, 2021-2022

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-29

An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation

Preamble

Whereas, since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have thrived on and managed and governed their Indigenous lands;

Whereas, since the arrival of settlers and colonization, Indigenous peoples have experienced assimilationist policies, which must be addressed through reconciliation;

Whereas reconciliation with Indigenous peoples is recognized as a fundamental purpose of section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982;

Whereas that reconciliation requires collective efforts from all peoples and the commitment of multiple generations;

Whereas Indigenous peoples have their own collective identities, cultures, teachings and ways of life and have, throughout history and to this day, continued to live in, use and occupy the lands that are now in Canada;

Whereas the Government of Canada is committed to achieving reconciliation with Indigenous peoples through renewed nation-to-nation, government-to-government and Inuit-Crown relationships based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership;

Whereas the Government of Canada is committed to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

Whereas reconciliation requires the revitalization and celebration of Indigenous languages;

Whereas the Government of Canada recognizes the need for the establishment of an independent, non-political, permanent and Indigenous-led organization to monitor, evaluate, conduct research and report on the progress being made towards reconciliation, including in relation to respect for and the protection and promotion of the rights of Indigenous peoples, in all sectors of Canadian society and by all governments in Canada, in order to address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action number 53;

Whereas the Government of Canada recognizes the need for such an organization to be a catalyst for innovative thought, dialogue and action;

And whereas the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of the work of such an organization as well as the need to cooperate with it and support it in its contribution to advancing reconciliation, including through the provision of information referred to in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action number 55;

Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Short Title

Short title

1This Act may be cited as the National Council for Reconciliation Act.

Interpretation

Definitions

2(1)The following definitions apply in this Act.

Council means the corporation incorporated as a result of the sending of the articles of incorporation and other documents referred to in section 3.‍ (Conseil)

governments means the Government of Canada and provincial, local and Indigenous governments. (gouvernements)

Indigenous peoples has the meaning assigned by the definition aboriginal peoples of Canada in subsection 35(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982.‍ (peuples autochtones)

Minister means the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. (ministre)

transitional committee means the National Council for Reconciliation Transitional Committee established by the Minister under section 19 of the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Act.‍ (comité de transition)

Act prevails

(2)In the event of any inconsistency between this Act and the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, or anything issued, made or established under that Act, this Act prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.

Establishment

Sending of articles of incorporation

3One of the members of the transitional committee authorized to do so by the committee must send to the Director, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, articles of incorporation and the other documents that are required under that Act to effect the incorporation of the Council.

Not agent of Her Majesty

4The Council is not an agent of Her Majesty in right of Canada nor is it, for greater certainty, an entity governed by the Financial Administration Act.

Qualified donee

5The Council is deemed to be a qualified donee within the meaning of the Income Tax Act.

Purpose and Functions

Purpose

6The purpose of the Council is to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Functions

7In carrying out its purpose, the Council is to

  • (a)develop and implement a multi-year national action plan to advance reconciliation;

  • (b)monitor and conduct research on the progress being made towards reconciliation in all sectors of Canadian society and by all governments in Canada to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action;

  • (b.‍1)ensure that reconciliation is consistent with the protection and promotion of the rights of Indigenous peoples, including by advancing a rights-based approach to self-determination;

  • (c)conduct research on practices that advance reconciliation in all sectors of Canadian society, by all governments in Canada and at the international level;

  • (d)monitor policies and programs of the Government of Canada, and federal laws, that affect Indigenous peoples;

  • (e)recommend measures to promote, prioritize and coordinate reconciliation in all sectors of Canadian society and by all governments in Canada;

  • (f)educate the public about Indigenous peoples’ realities and histories and advocate for reconciliation in all sectors of Canadian society and by all governments in Canada;

  • (g)stimulate innovative dialogue, thought and action on reconciliation;

  • (h)monitor and report on the progress made on measurable outcomes, including in relation to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action number 55; and

  • (i)protect Indigenous language rights, including by ensuring that, to promote and support the participation of Indigenous persons in the work of the Council, translation and interpretation services are made available to them.

Board of Directors

First board of directors

8The persons whose names are set out in the notice of directors sent under section 3 are to be jointly selected by the Minister and the transitional committee, taking into account sections 9, 11, 12 and 13 and the nominations referred to in subsection 10(1).

Composition

9The Council’s board of directors is to be composed of a minimum of nine and a maximum of 13 directors.

Nominations

10(1)The board of directors is to include

  • (a)one director who may only be elected after having been nominated by the Assembly of First Nations;

  • (b)one director who may only be elected after having been nominated by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami;

  • (c)one director who may only be elected after having been nominated by the Métis National Council; and

  • (d)one director who may only be elected after having been nominated by the Native Women’s Association of Canada.

Vacancy — nominated directors

(2)If there is a vacancy among the directors referred to in paragraphs (1)‍(a) to (d), the remaining directors may exercise all the powers of the directors if the number of directors on the Council’s board of directors constitutes a quorum.

Application process

(3)The other directors are to be elected following an application process established by the board of directors.

Indigenous persons

11(1)At least two thirds of the directors must be Indigenous persons.

Residents of territories

(2)At least two of the directors must be residents of Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut.

Representativeness

12(1)The Council’s board of directors must, to the extent possible, include representation from

  • (a)First Nations, Inuit and the Métis;

  • (a.‍1)Indigenous elders;

  • (a.‍2)Indigenous survivors of the discriminatory and assimilationist policies of the Government of Canada and their descendants;

  • (b)other peoples in Canada;

  • (c)Indigenous organizations, as defined in section 2 of the Department of Indigenous Services Act, to reflect the diversity of arrangements that govern relationships between Indigenous communities and the Government of Canada;

  • (d)youth, women, men and gender-diverse persons;

  • (e)various regions of Canada, including urban, rural and remote regions;

  • (f)Indigenous persons whose first or second language learned is French; and

  • (g)survivors of Canadian residential schools or their descendants.

Gender diversity

(2)The composition of the board of directors must also, to the extent possible, ensure and equitably reflect gender diversity.

Knowledge and experience

13(1)Each director must have knowledge and experience with respect to matters related to Indigenous peoples and other matters related to the Council’s purpose.

Consultation

(2)To ensure that Indigenous views are heard in relation to the advancement of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, the Council must consult with a variety of persons with relevant knowledge, expertise or experience, including elders, survivors of the discriminatory and assimilationist policies of the Government of Canada and Indigenous law practitioners.

Term of office

14Directors are to hold office for any term of not more than four years that will ensure as far as possible the expiry in any one year of the terms of office of not more than one third of the directors. A director is eligible to serve for a maximum of two terms.

Election

15Despite subsection 128(3) of the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, and subject to section 8, each director is to be elected by a special resolution, as defined in subsection 2(1) of that Act, of the members of the Council.

Disclosure of Information

Protocol

16(1)Within six months after the day on which the Council is incorporated, the Minister must, in collaboration with the Council, develop a protocol respecting the disclosure by the Government of Canada to the Council of information that is relevant to the Council’s purpose.

Relevant information

(2)The protocol must allow, to the extent possible, the Council to receive all the information it judges relevant to fulfill its mission.

Annual Reports

Report of Minister

16.‍1The Minister must, within six months after the end of each financial year, submit to the Council an annual report setting out

  • (a)a comparison of the number of Indigenous and non-Indigenous children in care, the reasons for their apprehension and the total spending on preventive and care services by child-welfare agencies;

  • (b)a comparison of the funding for the education of Indigenous children on and off reserves;

  • (c)a comparison of the educational and income attainments of Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons;

  • (d)the progress made on closing the gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in a number of health indicators, such as infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services;

  • (e)the progress made on eliminating the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in youth custody;

  • (f)the progress made on reducing the rate of criminal victimization of Indigenous persons, including data related to homicide, family violence and other crimes; and

  • (g)the progress made on reducing the overrepresentation of Indigenous persons in the justice and correctional systems.

Report of Council

17(1)The Council must, within three months after the end of each financial year, submit to the Minister an annual report setting out

  • (a)the state of reconciliation, including the progress being made towards reconciliation in all sectors of Canadian society and by all governments in Canada; and

  • (b)the Council’s recommendations respecting measures to promote, prioritize and coordinate reconciliation in all sectors of Canadian society and by all governments in Canada.

Tabling in Parliament

(2)The Minister must cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the day on which the report is received.

Government response

(3)Within 60 days after the day on which the report under subsection (2) is laid, the Prime Minister must, on behalf of the Government of Canada, respond to the matters addressed by the report that are under the jurisdiction of Parliament by publishing an annual report on the state of Indigenous peoples that outlines the Government of Canada’s plans for advancing reconciliation.

Financial Report

Contents

18(1)Within six months after the end of each financial year, the Council must make public

  • (a)the documents and information that are required to be placed before the members of the Council under section 172 of the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act; and

  • (b)a detailed statement of the Council’s investment activities during that year, its investment portfolio as at the end of that year and its management of funds that it has received during the year.

Audit engagement

(2)The comparative financial statements referred to in paragraph 172(1)‍(a) of the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act must be subject to an audit engagement.

Dissolution

Distribution of property

19In the case of dissolution of the Council under Part 14 of the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, any property remaining on liquidation after the discharge of any liabilities of the Council, other than property referred to in section 234 of that Act, is to be distributed to one or more qualified donees, within the meaning of the Income Tax Act, specified by the Minister, that have a similar purpose to the Council.

Coming into Force

Order in council

20This Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.

Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons

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