Media Room

Section 67 report

The Commission is releasing today “A Matter of Rights” – A Special Report of the Canadian Human Rights Commission on the Repeal of Section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Under section 67, people living in on-reserve communities are excluded from filing a complaint with the Commission relating to any action arising from or pursuant to the Indian Act. First Nations people living on-reserve are the only group of people in Canada that are legislatively excluded from filing human rights complaints in some circumstances.

We recently met with the Minister of Justice, the Honourable Irwin Cotler, to discuss the Special Report and urge speedy implementation of its recommendations.

Once section 67 is repealed, the Commission is committed to working with First Nations communities, if they so wish, to put in place their own processes for resolving human rights issues in a manner that is sensitive to the particular situation and needs of specific First Nations.

The report makes it clear that we need to ensure that human rights protection is introduced in a way that respects the rights and interests of First Nations while still ensuring that individuals are protected from discrimination. The present situation is an embarrassment to Canada and it has lasted far too long already.

Mary Gusella