Federal Government Fulfills Promise To Introduce UNDRIP Legislation

On December 3, 2020, Minister David Lametti, the federal Minister of Justice, introduced Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Bill follows on the Liberal Party of Canada's commitment to table legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) within the first year of a new mandate.

The Bill—a mere seven sections—is based on Private Member's Bill C-262, which passed in the House of Commons but died on the Order Paper in the Senate in June 2019. In summary, the Bill would require the federal government, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples, to:

• take all measures necessary to ensure the laws of Canada are consistent with UNDRIP;