This is an unofficial version. If you need an official copy, use the bilingual (PDF) version.

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S.M. 2016, c. 5

Bill 18, 5^th Session, 40^th Legislature

The Path to Reconciliation Act

Table of contents

(Assented to March 15, 2016)

RECOGNIZING that Manitoba is situated on the traditional lands and territories of Indigenous peoples;

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that Manitoba benefited and continues to benefit from the historical relationships and treaties with Indigenous peoples and nations;

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that Indigenous people within Canada have been subject to a wide variety of human rights abuses since European contact and that those abuses have caused great harm;

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that reconciliation is founded on respect for Indigenous nations and Indigenous peoples and their history, languages and cultures, and reconciliation is necessary to address colonization;

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established as part of a response to the abuses of colonization, and that the Commission has provided a path forward to reconciliation;

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that the Government of Canada also has a significant role in advancing reconciliation;

AND AFFIRMING that the Government of Manitoba is committed to reconciliation and will be guided by the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the principles set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:

Reconciliation

1(1)

"Reconciliation" refers to the ongoing process of establishing and maintaining mutually respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in order to build trust, affirm historical agreements, address healing and create a more equitable and inclusive society.

Indigenous peoples

1(2)

"Indigenous peoples" includes First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples of Manitoba.

Principles

2

To advance reconciliation, the government must have regard for the following principles:

Respect: Reconciliation is founded on respect for Indigenous nations and Indigenous peoples. Respect is based on awareness and acknowledgement of the history of Indigenous peoples and appreciation of their languages, cultures, practices and legal traditions.

Engagement: Reconciliation is founded on engagement with Indigenous nations and Indigenous peoples.

Understanding: Reconciliation is fostered by striving for a deeper understanding of the historical and current relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and the hopes and aspirations of Indigenous nations and Indigenous peoples.

Action: Reconciliation is furthered by concrete and constructive action that improves the present and future relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Minister

3(1)

As a member of the Executive Council, the minister responsible for reconciliation must lead the government's participation in the reconciliation process, including by

(a) making recommendations to the Executive Council about measures to advance reconciliation;

(b) promoting initiatives to advance reconciliation across all sectors of society, including interdepartmental, intergovernmental, corporate and community initiatives;

(c) promoting recognition of the contributions of Indigenous peoples to the founding of Manitoba for the purpose of advancing reconciliation; and

(d) making recommendations to the government about financial priorities and resource allocation across the government in relation to reconciliation.

Members of Executive Council

3(2)

Each member of the Executive Council is to promote measures to advance reconciliation through the work of the member's department and across government.

Strategy

4

The minister responsible for reconciliation must guide the development of a strategy for reconciliation that

(a) is to be guided by the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the principles set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

(b) builds upon meaningful engagement with Indigenous nations and Indigenous peoples about the past, present and future relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples;

(c) creates a framework for an ongoing and evolving process to advance reconciliation;

(d) establishes immediate and long-term actions that are responsive to the priorities and needs of Indigenous nations and Indigenous peoples, including those set out in the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission;

(e) fosters the involvement of all sectors of society in the reconciliation process; and

(f) establishes transparent mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the measures taken by the government to advance reconciliation;

(g) ensures that survivors of residential school abuses have a role to play in its development.

Progress report

5(1)

For each fiscal year, the minister responsible for reconciliation must prepare a report about the measures taken by the government to advance reconciliation, including the measures taken to engage Indigenous nations and Indigenous peoples in the reconciliation process and the measures taken to implement the strategy.

Tabling report in Assembly and publication

5(2)

Within three months after the end of the fiscal year, the minister must table a copy of the report in the Assembly and make it available to the public. The minister must also arrange for the report, or a summary of it, to be translated into the languages of Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuktitut, Michif, Ojibway and Oji-Cree, and make each translation available to the public.

Translation and publication in Indigenous languages

6

Within 30 days after the coming into force of this Act, the minister responsible for reconciliation must arrange for its translation into the languages of Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuktitut, Michif, Ojibway and Oji-Cree. Upon completion, each translation must be made available to the public.

C.C.S.M. reference

7

This Act may be referred to as chapter R30.5 of the Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba.

Coming into force

8

This Act comes into force on the day it receives royal assent.