Minister Strahl Announces That Royal Assent Given to Legislation Extending Human Rights Protections to All First

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Jun 19 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development and Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians,
with Patrick Brazeau, National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal
Peoples, today announced that legislation extending fundamental human
rights protections to all First Nations communities has received Royal
Assent.

"Passage of Bill C-21, An Act to amend the Human Rights Act marks a
significant turning point in the relationship between First Nations and
the Government of Canada," says Minister Strahl. "It underscores this
government's strong commitment to protecting the human rights of all
Canadians."

"First Nations citizens governed by the Indian Act have waited thirty
years for this simple yet significant accommodation," said Patrick
Brazeau, National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. "We view
it as another constructive, meaningful step on the road to recognizing
and responding to the real needs of Canada's First Nations citizens, both
on- and off-reserve. First Nations citizens can now finally enjoy the
same protection of their human rights as all other Canadians have had
available to them for the past

thirty years."

Repealing section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act is the culmination
of a concerted effort by the federal government to bring an end to a
legislative gap that has left many individuals, mainly those living on
reserves, without full legal access to the Act.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) has hailed the repeal of s.
67, and has announced its commitment to work in close collaboration with
First Nations organizations and the Government of Canada to design and
build a human rights system that reflects and respects Aboriginal
peoples' cultures and traditional laws.

Bill C-21 was reinstated and deemed referred to the Standing Committee on
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development on November 13, 2007, where a
number of amendments were made in response to testimony heard from
witnesses representing a broad variety of interests.

The bill as amended in the House of Commons and passed by the Senate
includes a three year transition period for application of the repeal to
First Nation governments, a non-derogation and interpretive clause and
the requirement of a joint study to be undertaken by the federal
government with representatives of First Nations during the transition
period to prepare for implementation. Application of the Act is immediate
to the federal government.

This release is also available on the Internet at www.inac.gc.ca

Contacts:
Minister's Office
Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl
Josee Bellemare
Press Secretary
819-997-0002

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Media Relations
819-953-1160

Canadian Human Rights Commission
Media Relations
613-943-9118

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
Media Relations
Al Fleming
613-867-8696

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