Questions Surround Bill C-3
Monday, January 31, 2011 at 15:58
Questions are being raised over an upcoming amendment to the Indian Act.
Bill C-3 is designed to fix gender discrimination within the code.
However, the bill could also result in 45,000 new people being granted First Nations citizenship.
Flora Nuiltcho is a first nations woman who won her citizenship through Bill C-31.
However, she explains the process took years to complete, and she’s cautioning other people who are about to become First Nations to be patient.
Nultcho worries some residents will think the benefits associated with being First Nations will immediately start to flow to them once the new bill is passed.
Meanwhile, a well-known lawyer is weighing in on the subject.
Tony Merchant recently launched a $2.7 billion lawsuit to recover money owed to First Nations people who were wrongly denied status.
He says there is currently no mechanism to recover benefits associated with being a First Nations person.
Indian Affairs says costs associated with the new registry are under review.