S-2An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements)
Government bill, introduced in the Senate on May 29, 2025
- Status
- In committee in the House of Commons since February 27, 2026
- Sponsor
- Marc GoldSenator
- Senator
What it does
Amends the Indian Act to create new registration rights in the Indian Register and related Band List rights for some people.
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.
Who it affects
- People seeking Indian Act registration
- People newly entitled to registration
- Bands with Band Lists
- Indigenous communities
Background
The bill responds to a Charter challenge to certain provisions of the Indian Act in Nicholas v. Canada (Attorney General).
Where it is
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Current stage. Now here
Report stage
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.
LiberalMandy Gull-Masty· February 27, 2026
“I stand here to speak to Bill S-2, a vital step towards addressing inequities in the Indian Act. It is worth remembering that before 1960, a first nations woman like me would never have had the opportunity to sit in this chamber as a member of Parliament unless she first gave up her status.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeBilly Morin· February 27, 2026
“I challenge the Liberals to not use delay tactics when it is politically convenient, to show leadership and to put in the work to pass Bill S-2, which honours the Nicholas decision and gets rid of the second-generation cut-off, expediently during this Parliament.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocMarilène Gill· February 27, 2026
“Before addressing the bill directly, I would like to start by expressing my sincere solidarity with women. The Bloc Québécois also stands in solidarity with them.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPLori Idlout· February 27, 2026
“Uqaqtittiji, I would like to thank the minister for sharing her time with me on this important bill, Bill S-2, to amend the Indian Act. Bill C-38, from the last Parliament, was a bill that I could not support at the time because of the inequities that first nations would continue to have.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At consideration in committee in the House of Commons. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.