Band Membership Those who lost their membership in a band through sexual discrimination in the past, can apply to regain membership. Bands can control their own membership based on their own membership rules. Bands may still take control of their own membership registration, but the rights of those individuals already registered and added to the band list are protected. A woman who marries a member of another band no longer automatically becomes a member of her husband's band. Transfers between bands are still possible if the receiving band agrees.
Bands can better control development on reserve lands.
Bands can seek court orders to enforce all by-laws made under section 81. A provision empowers courts to make orders prohibiting the continuation or repetition of the offence by the person convicted. Since some people accepted into band membership under band rules may not be status Indians, C-31 clarified that various sections of the Indian Act would apply to such members. Enfranchisement C-31 abolished the concept of enfranchisement. The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development cannot disallow intoxicant by-laws.