As the Senate progresses with Bill S-2, ongoing discussions revolve around its effectiveness in addressing the persisting discrimination in the registration process under the Indian Act. The primary focus of the bill is to eliminate the remaining sex-based discriminations during registration, particularly in connection to enfranchisement, which involves the involuntary loss of status to attain full citizenship.
Apart from rectifying sex-based discriminations, the bill introduces measures to reunite women who were compelled to join their husband’s band post-marriage with their original communities or “natal band.” Additionally, it offers individuals a pathway to voluntarily remove themselves from the registry and eliminates outdated and offensive language from the Indian Act.
Senators are deliberating whether to advance the bill in its current form or incorporate additional amendments, such as scrapping the “second-generation cut-off” rule that revokes status after two generations of a non-status parent. Madeleine Redfern, the interim CEO of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, expressed support for Bill S-2. However, she noted that the bill overlooks critical registration issues like the second-generation cut-off and the communities’ autonomy in managing their membership.
Redfern, an Inuk from Iqaluit, highlighted the Nunavut Agreement as a model of self-determination in determining identity and community affiliation. She emphasized the possibility of implementing similar self-enrolment programs nationwide. Senator Mary Jane McCallum mentioned that if the bill is amended to eliminate the second-generation cut-off, it could potentially reinstate status for up to 225,000 individuals, a significant increase from the estimated 6,000 under the current version of the bill.
Pam Palmater, the chair in Indigenous Governance at Toronto Metropolitan University, urged immediate action from the government. She emphasized the urgency of eliminating the second-generation cut-off and criticized the government for repeatedly enacting bills with incremental changes while maintaining control over Indigenous legislative matters through what she termed the “disappearing Indian formula.”
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak also addressed the standing committee, expressing support for the bill’s objectives but stressing that it represents only a small step toward eradicating registration discrimination. She criticized the lack of direct consultation with rights holders and the insufficient resources provided to accommodate new registrants in previous amendments to the Indian Act registration provisions.
A follow-up committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday evening to further discuss the bill and potential amendments.