SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 236

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 20, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 236 - Oct/20/23
Mr. Charlie Angus (Timmins—James Bay, NDP)
  • Oct/20/23 10:18:49 a.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill C-38 
Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest. The term “enfranchisement” meant the destruction of indigenous identity. To be enfranchised meant someone's inability to leave the reserve, the inability to vote, the inability to marry whom one loved, and even the inability to fight to defend Canada, because the Canadian government, in the First World War, did not want to allow indigenous soldiers because it did not want to recognize them as citizens with rights. We have a long way to go in dealing with the destruction that was done. I appreciate my hon. colleague for bringing this bill forward, although this bill has been sitting on the back burner for some time now. The issue goes back to the fact that, at the end of the day, those who are trying to re-establish their rights are still going through the department of Indian affairs. That is what it was before and that is what I still call it. It is a department that is underfunded and that does not take this issue seriously. It is bureaucratic red tape. My hon. colleague says that indigenous identity must be dealt with by indigenous people. When are we actually going to see a bill that is about nation to nation, that is about empowering the nation to make decisions about environmental protection and growth, and that is about who their band members are? We are still going through the department of Indian affairs. It is still a colonial system and a broken system.
254 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 236 - Oct/20/23
Mrs. Jenica Atwin
  • Oct/20/23 10:28:26 a.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill C-38 
Mr. Speaker, it is a piece of legislation that would come in a series of other approaches in addressing the inequities in the Indian Act. The enfranchisement piece is really key. Other items include getting rid of some of the inflammatory language and restoring some of the rights that should be there. Again, it is a process, and we are committed to doing the work that needs to be done to undo the wrongs. This is an important step forward.
80 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border