Canadian Prime Minister Carney says Canada should consider reforming or abolishing the Indian Act
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Prime Minister Mark Carney told First Nations leaders that the government will explore options to modernise, reform or possibly repeal the Indian Act, and announced a consultation process to be defined amid concerns that Ottawa is opening yet another politically charged and complicated debate.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will examine ways to modernise or even repeal the Indian Act following a meeting with First Nations leaders and provincial premiers in Ottawa. The government is again taking up a major legal and policy question that will affect governance across the country, and it will launch a consultation process, though the details remain to be worked out, and not all participants agreed with the proposal.
"I am committed to a process that moves Canada beyond the Indian Act, and I am directing my ministers to work in partnership with First Nations to chart that path together," Carney said.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew had earlier called for the Act’s abolition, describing it as "long overdue." Carney credited Kinew’s advocacy and said the goal of any reform would be to fully modernise the governance relationship between Canada and First Nations, which would require careful work to avoid creating confusion or endless federal bureaucracy.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said the discussion would ultimately be decided by First Nations themselves, noting the diversity of communities across the country and the need to respect differing local views rather than impose a one-size-fits-all solution.
During the same meeting, Carney introduced the idea of a First Nations Sovereign Wealth Fund, describing it as an opportunity for Indigenous peoples to share directly in the wealth generated by major projects such as the proposed Alberta-to-West Coast pipeline. He instructed Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne to explore the fund and its possible alignment with the broader Canada Strong Fund.
"There have been various models that have been suggested. I think all need to be explored. One could work alongside the Canada Strong Fund," Carney added.