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Bill C-21

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First Session, Forty-fifth Parliament,

3-4 Charles III, 2025-2026

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-21
An Act to give effect to the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

FIRST READING, February 12, 2026

MINISTER OF CROWN-INDIGENOUS RELATIONS

91177


SUMMARY

This enactment gives effect to the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty and makes consequential amendments to other Acts.

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


TABLE OF PROVISIONS

An Act to give effect to the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

Preamble

Short Title
1

Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty Act

Definitions
2

Definitions

Treaty
3

Status

4

Given effect

5

Treaty prevails

Taxation
6

Tax treatment agreement

7

Clarification

General
8

Judicial notice — Treaty and tax treatment agreement

9

Judicial notice — Red River Métis law

10

Judicial review

11

Statutory Instruments Act

12

Orders and regulations

Transitional Provision
13

Actions and decisions deemed valid

Consequential Amendments
14

Access to Information Act

15

Privacy Act

Coordinating Amendment
17

Bill C-10



1st Session, 45th Parliament,

3-4 Charles III, 2025-2026

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-21

An Act to give effect to the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

Preamble

Whereas the Government of Canada is committed to achieving reconciliation with the Red River Métis through renewed government-to-government relationships based on the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership;

Whereas the Government of Canada recognizes that the inherent right of self-government is a right recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982;

Whereas the treaty entitled Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty was signed on November 30, 2024 on behalf of the Red River Métis and His Majesty in right of Canada;

Whereas the Government of Canada is committed to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Red River Métis and the Government of Canada view the Treaty as contributing to the implementation of that Declaration;

And whereas ratification of the Treaty requires the coming into force of an Act of Parliament that gives effect to it;

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 Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty Act.

Definitions

Definitions

2The following definitions apply in this Act.

federal law has the meaning assigned by the definition Federal Law in paragraph 1 of the Treaty.‍ (règle de droit fédérale)

Manitoba Métis Federation has the meaning assigned by the definition MMF in paragraph 1 of the Treaty.‍ (Fédération Métisse du Manitoba)

Red River Métis has the same meaning as in paragraph 1 of the Treaty.‍ (Métis de la Rivière Rouge)

Red River Métis law has the meaning assigned by the definition Red River Métis Law in paragraph 1 of the Treaty.‍ (loi des Métis de la Rivière Rouge)

tax treatment agreement has the meaning assigned by the definition Tax Treatment Agreement in paragraph 1 of the Treaty.‍ (accord sur le traitement fiscal)

Treaty means the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty, signed on behalf of the Red River Métis and His Majesty in right of Canada on November 30, 2024, as amended from time to time in accordance with its provisions.‍ (traité)

Treaty

Status

3For greater certainty, the Treaty is a treaty within the meaning of sections 25 and 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

Given effect

4(1)The Treaty is approved, given effect and declared valid and has the force of law.

Rights and obligations

(2)For greater certainty, a person or body has the powers, rights, privileges and benefits conferred on the person or body by the Treaty and must perform the duties, and is subject to the liabilities, imposed on the person or body by the Treaty.

Binding

(3)For greater certainty, the Treaty is binding on, and may be relied on by, all persons and bodies.

Treaty prevails

5(1)In the event of an inconsistency or conflict between the Treaty and this Act or any other federal law, the Treaty prevails to the extent of the inconsistency or conflict.

Act prevails

(2)In the event of an inconsistency or conflict between this Act or any other federal law, this Act prevails to the extent of the inconsistency or conflict.

Taxation

Tax treatment agreement

6The tax treatment agreement is approved, given effect and declared valid and has the force of law during the period that it is in effect.

Clarification

7The tax treatment agreement does not form part of the Treaty, and it is not a treaty or a land claims agreement within the meaning of sections 25 and 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

General

Judicial notice — Treaty and tax treatment agreement

8(1)Judicial notice must be taken of the Treaty and the tax treatment agreement.

Publication

(2)The Treaty and the tax treatment agreement must be published by the King’s Printer.

Evidence

(3)A copy of the Treaty or the tax treatment agreement published by the King’s Printer is evidence of the Treaty or the tax treatment agreement, and of its contents, and a copy purporting to be published by the King’s Printer is presumed to be so published unless the contrary is shown.

Judicial notice — Red River Métis law

9(1)Judicial notice must be taken of Red River Métis laws.

Evidence

(2)A copy of a Red River Métis law purporting to be deposited in the public registry referred to in paragraph 57 of the Treaty is evidence of that law and of its contents unless the contrary is shown.

Judicial review

10The Federal Court may undertake judicial review of an administrative decision taken by the Manitoba Métis Federation in the exercise of a statutory power of decision under a Red River Métis law, provided that all procedures for appeal or review applicable to that decision and set out in a Red River Métis law have been exhausted.

Statutory Instruments Act

11Neither Red River Métis laws nor any instruments made under the Treaty are statutory instruments within the meaning of the Statutory Instruments Act.

Orders and regulations

12(1)The Governor in Council may make any orders and regulations that the Governor in Council considers necessary for the purpose of carrying out any of the provisions of the Treaty, this Act, the tax treatment agreement or any other agreement related to the implementation of the Treaty.

Collaboration

(2)The Governor in Council must ensure that the Manitoba Métis Federation has a meaningful opportunity to collaborate in the policy development leading to the making of the regulations under subsection (1).

Transitional Provision

Actions and decisions deemed valid

13Any action taken or decision made by the Manitoba Métis Federation before the day on which the treaty came into force is deemed to have been validly taken or made under the Treaty to the extent that the action taken or decision made would have been valid under the Treaty.

Consequential Amendments

R.‍S.‍, c. A-1

Access to Information Act

14Subsection 13(3) of the Access to Information Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (h.‍1):

  • Start of inserted block

    (h.‍2)the Manitoba Métis Federation, as defined in section 2 of the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty Act;

    End of inserted block

R.‍S.‍, c. P-21

Privacy Act

15(1)Paragraph 8(2)‍(f) of the Privacy Act is amended by adding the following after subparagraph (vii.‍1):

  • Start of inserted block

    (viii)the Manitoba Métis Federation, as defined in section 2 of the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty Act;

    End of inserted block

(2)Subsection 8(7) of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (h.‍1):

  • Start of inserted block

    (h.‍2)the Manitoba Métis Federation, as defined in section 2 of the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty Act;

    End of inserted block

16Subsection 19(1) of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (e.‍1):

  • Start of inserted block

    (e.‍2)the Manitoba Métis Federation, as defined in section 2 of the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty Act;

    End of inserted block

Coordinating Amendment

Bill C-10

17If Bill C-10, introduced in the 1st session of the 45th Parliament and entitled the Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation Act, receives royal assent, then, on the first day on which both that Act and section 4 of this Act are in force, the schedule to that Act is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:

Red River Métis

Métis de la Rivière Rouge

Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons



EXPLANATORY NOTES

Access to Information Act
Clause 14:Relevant portion of subsection 13(3):

(3)The expression aboriginal government in paragraph (1)‍(e) means

Privacy Act
Clause 15: (1)Relevant portion of subsection 8(2):

(2)Subject to any other Act of Parliament, personal information under the control of a government institution may be disclosed

  • .‍.‍.

  • (f)for the purpose of administering or enforcing any law or carrying out a lawful investigation, under an agreement or arrangement between the Government of Canada or any of its institutions and any of the following entities or any of their institutions:

(2)Relevant portion of subsection 8(7):

(7)The expression aboriginal government in paragraph (2)‍(k) means

Clause 16:Relevant portion of subsection 19(1):

19(1)Subject to subsection (2), the head of a government institution shall refuse to disclose any personal information requested under subsection 12(1) that was obtained in confidence from


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