“Let us rise with more energy. Let us stand with a greater determination.”
– MP Romeo Saganash, author of Bill C-262
The last session of Parliament fell just short of an essential and long overdue step in the protection of Indigenous rights.
Bill C-262, a private member’s bill setting out a framework to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, was passed by the House of Commons in 2018. But when the Bill came to the Senate, it was blocked by the stalling tactics of a small group of Senators.
As deeply frustrating as this was, the campaign for Bill C-262 nonetheless built an important foundation for the future.
We saw a tremendous display of public support for implementation of the Declaration and we know that politicians took notice. In fact, even as that small group of Senators exploited the procedural rules of the Senate to delay and ultimately block Bill C-262, all parties in the House of Commons passed a motion expressing unanimous support for the Bill.
When Parliament resumes after the election, Amnesty International wants to see implementation of the Declaration high on the agenda.
This means finally passing into law the key elements originally set out in Bill C-262: a commitment to law reform, the creation of national implementation plan in collaboration with Indigenous peoples, and accountability for moving forward with such a plan.
This also requires clear, unambiguous support from all Parties.
Join us in making Indigenous rights an election issue
Amnesty has included the implementation of UNDRIP as the first of it’s Top 10 Election Asks.
Register now to join us in making Indigenous rights an election issue this October.
Learn more
Learn more about the background of Bill C-262.
