Government given 3-month extension to implement McIvor decision

Ministry of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
News Release

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OTTAWA — On April 1, 2010, the Court of Appeal for British Columbia granted a three-month extension of the declaration of invalidity that resulted from the McIvor v. Canada ruling.

The Government of Canada now has until July 5, 2010 to amend certain registration provisions of the Indian Act that the B.C. court deemed to be discriminatory.

On March 11, 2010, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-3, Gender Equity in Indian Registration Act, to address the requirements of the British Columbia Court of Appeal decision.

Once passed, Bill C-3 will ensure that eligible grandchildren of women who lost status as a result of marrying non-Indian men will become entitled to registration (Indian status) in accordance with the Indian Act.

This government is committed to ensuring the early passage of the proposed legislation and we will continue to work diligently to see it through and mitigate the effects of a legislative gap in British Columbia.

I encourage all members of Parliament to join me in working together to get this necessary legislation adopted.

The proposed legislation is currently in Second Reading in the House of Commons.

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