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Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples

Issue 29 - Ninth Report of the Committee

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THURSDAY, May 13, 1999

The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples has the honour to present its

NINTH REPORT

Your Committee, to which was referred Bill C-49, An Act providing for the ratification and the bringing into effect of the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management, has, in obedience to the Order of Reference of Tuesday, April 13, 1999, examined the said bill and now reports the same with the following amendments and observations:

Clause 28, page 15:

1. In the English version, replace line 25 with the following:

"other first nation community purposes.".

2. Replace lines 42 and 43 with the following:

"first nation shall apply the rules set out in the Expropriation Act, with such modifications as the circumstances require.".

Your committee is highly sensitive to the vital importance of the Bill C-49 land management initiative to the economic, social and political development of the participating First Nations, and urges that the bill be proceeded with expeditiously.

Your committee acknowledges receipt of the May 12 letter from the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development sharing the committee's concern for the pressing need to address aboriginal women's rights issues, including the division of matrimonial property. In light of existing constitutional guarantees, your committee endorses the minister's invitation to assist her by studying these issues in a formal way, and undertakes to pursue the requested study in the fall 1999 session.

Respectfully submitted,

CHARLIE WATT

Chair

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