C-38An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements)
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on December 14, 2022
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the House of Commons
- Sponsor
- Patty HajduLiberal
- Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
What it does
Changes the Indian Act to create new registration rights in the Indian Register and add those people to Band Lists.
What it does
- Creates new entitlements to registration in the Indian Register under the Indian Act.
- Gives people who become entitled the right to have their names entered in a Band List kept by the Department of Indigenous Services.
- Responds to a Charter challenge to parts of the Indian Act in Nicholas v. Canada (Attorney General).
Who it affects
- People seeking Indian Act registration
- People newly entitled to registration
- First Nations Bands
- Indigenous Services Canada
Background
The bill was introduced after a Charter challenge to certain Indian Act provisions in Nicholas v. Canada (Attorney General).
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Defeated here. Defeated
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by a cabinet minister on behalf of the government. Government bills get set time for debate, so they are the most likely to become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalJenica Atwin· October 20, 2023
“The bill before us today would make important progress by addressing several major inequities in the Indian Act and by responding to long-standing concerns raised directly by first nations about the registration and band membership provisions of the act. More specifically, this bill proposes to address four key issues.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeEric Melillo· October 20, 2023
“I thank all my colleagues for that support. I think they will find that my friend from northern Saskatchewan has some very insightful and important remarks to share.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocSimon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay· October 20, 2023
“Be that as it may, although it merely amends the scandalous Indian Act, the bill before us today remains incredibly relevant. The spirit of Bill C‑38 stands as a sentinel against the injustices perpetrated by the Indian Act, which continues to cast long shadows, even into present-day Canada.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPLori Idlout· October 20, 2023
“I struggle to support Bill C-38, an act to amend the Indian Act. I am conflicted and disappointed to witness yet another form of incremental change proposed by the Liberal government.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caGreenElizabeth May· October 20, 2023
“I was so disappointed when I read Bill C-38. She confirmed for me my sense that this is so much less than what one should expect at this point.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At second reading in the House of Commons. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.