C-334
First Session, Thirty-ninth Parliament,
55 Elizabeth II, 2006
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
BILL C-334
An Act to provide compensation to First Nations veterans on a comparable basis to that given to other war veterans
first reading, June 19, 2006
Mr. Martin (Winnipeg Centre)
391068
SUMMARY
The purpose of this enactment is to provide for the preparation and presentation to Parliament of a compensation plan to give First Nations veterans equitable treatment and recognition.
This is to include the offer of a land grant equivalent to that given to other veterans, compensation for the delay in providing equal treatment, the foundation of a scholarship in honour of First Nations veterans and a formal apology from the Government of Canada to First Nations people. The enactment also provides for an appropriate war memorial on or near Parliament Hill.
The proposed compensation plan will be considered by a standing committee of the House of Commons to allow a full public debate and ensure full and complete treatment of the omissions made in the past.
Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address:http://www.parl.gc.ca
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1st Session, 39th Parliament,
55 Elizabeth II, 2006
house of commons of canada
BILL C-334
An Act to provide compensation to First Nations veterans on a comparable basis to that given to other war veterans
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
Short title
1. This Act may be cited as the First Nations Veterans Compensation Act.
Definitions
2. The definitions in this section apply in this Act.
“compensation plan”« régime d’indemnisation »
“compensation plan” means the plan referred to in section 3.
“First Nations veteran”« ancien combattant des premières nations »
“First Nations veteran” means a person who is
(a) a veteran as defined in the War Veterans Allowance Act; and
(b) an Indian as defined in the Indian Act, a Métis, an Inuit or other First Nations person prescribed by regulation.
“Minister”« ministre »
“Minister” means the Minister of Veterans Affairs.
Minister to prepare compensation plan
3. The Minister, in consultation with the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, shall prepare a compensation plan for First Nations veterans that places First Nations veterans, with respect to compensation for their service, in a comparable position with veterans who were not First Nations persons.
Elements of plan
4. (1) The compensation plan shall include:
(a) an offer of equitable compensation in the form of
(i) a grant of land equivalent to the grant of land made to other veterans, or
(ii) financial compensation in an amount equivalent to such a right,
as elected by the First Nations veteran;
(b) a payment of a certain sum equivalent to the compensation and other benefits, other than grants of land, that were offered to veterans other than First Nations veterans;
(c) a payment of a certain sum to adequately compensate for the delay in proper and full recognition of the service to Canada by First Nations veterans and the delay in giving them compensation equivalent to that given to other veterans;
(d) provision that the compensation referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c) shall be available
(i) to First Nations veterans who are surviving on January 1, 2006, or
(ii) in respect of a person who was a First Nations veteran, but who is not surviving on January 1, 2006, to any person who was a spouse of the veteran as prescribed by the regulations, or a deemed spouse of the veteran, who is surviving on January 1, 2006;
(e) any provision necessary to ensure that families of deceased First Nations veterans receive treatment equal to that received by families of all other deceased veterans;
(f) provision for the erection of a war memorial on or near Parliament Hill, designed in consultation with representatives of First Nations organizations, that recognizes the service of First Nations war veterans and provides a memorial for those of them who gave their lives in the service of Canada during the wars in respect of which allow­ances are paid under the War Veterans Allowance Act;
(g) provision for consultations with the Royal Canadian Legion to ensure that the memorial referred to in paragraph (f) is included in the ceremonies traditionally carried out on Remembrance Day each year and that First Nations veterans are appropriately represented at those ceremonies;
(h) an undertaking that First Nations veterans will be appropriately represented in any delegation of veterans that represents Canada at any event outside Canada;
(i) provision for a scholarship in First Nations studies to be established in honour of First Nations veterans;
(j) any other matter that the Minister, in consultation with the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, considers necessary or desirable to give equitable treatment and recognition to First Nations veterans; and
(k) draft legislation to bring into effect the provisions covered by paragraphs (a) to (j).
Public apology
(2) The compensation plan shall also provide for a public apology to be made by the Prime Minister on behalf of the Government of Canada to the First Nations people for the disparate treatment their veterans have received in the past.
Regulations
5. The Minister may make regulations prescribing anything that, by this Act, is to be prescribed.
Presentation to Parliament
6. (1) The Minister shall prepare the compensation plan and cause it to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first three days on which that House is sitting following April 1, 2007.
Referral to committee
(2) The compensation plan, on being laid before the House of Commons, shall be automatically referred to the standing committee appointed by the House to deal with matters relating to First Nations people, and the committee shall report on it within 90 days of the referral or such longer period as the House may direct.
Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of CommonsAvailable from:Publishing and Depository ServicesPublic Works and Government Services CanadaOttawa, Ontario K1A 0S5Telephone: (613) 941-5995 or 1-800-635-7943Fax: (613) 954-5779 or 1-800-565-7757publications@pwgsc.gc.cahttp://publications.gc.ca