The last major overhaul of the Indian Act was in 1951 - 50 years ago. That was still a time of Indian Agents. They were phased out years ago, leaving Chief and Council to fend for themselves regarding proper administrative and financial practices. As a result, procedures evolved without baseline standards and without consistency throughout the country. At the same time, there are no guidelines on accountability between First Nations leaders and citizenship.
Good governance means an effective system of checks and balances.
It means redress when there are wrongs. It means a clear understanding of everyone s rights. That s why I ve launched these consultations. There is no hidden agenda, no secret, pre-determined outcome. I want genuine and extensive discussions - not only with the leadership, but also with First Nations people themselves.