Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples

Issue 14 - Seventh Report of the Committee

Thursday, November 24, 2005

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

SEVENTH REPORT

Your Committee, to which was referred Bill C-54, An Act to provide First nations with the option of managing and regulating oil and gas exploration and exploitation and of receiving moneys otherwise held for them by Canada, has, in obedience to the Order of Reference of Tuesday, November 22, 2005, examined the said Bill and now reports the same without amendment, but with observations, which are appended to this report.

Respectfully submitted,

NICK G. SIBBESTON

Chair

Appendix to the Seventh Report
of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples on
Bill C-54, An Act to provide First Nations with the option of managing and regulating oil and gas exploration and exploitation and of receiving moneys otherwise held for them by Canada.

OBSERVATIONS

At its meeting of Wednesday, November 23, 2005, the Committee agreed to adopt Bill C-54 without amendment, but with the following observations:

Over the last number of years, a variety of non-derogation clauses have appeared in federal legislation. This has created uncertainty and concern for Aboriginal peoples that needs to be resolved.

On the matter of non-derogation, the Committee strongly recommends that a thorough study of non-derogation clauses be completed by the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs as soon as possible but no later than June 30, 2006.