AT A GLANCE

In response to TRC Call to Action 53, the Government of Canada is creating an Indigenous-led National Council for Reconciliation through Bill C-29 (the National Council for Reconciliation Act). The Council will be overseen by a 9 to 13 person Board of Directors which must include one person nominated by the Assembly of First Nations, one by Inuit Tapiirit Kanatami, one by the Métis National Council and one by the Native Women’s Association of Canada.

The mandate of the Council would be to ensure that the Government of Canada is accountable to reconciliation and the implementation of the TRC Calls to Action. Some of the duties of the Council as outlined by the bill include:

Developing a multi-year national action plan on reconciliation

Monitoring and conducting research on the progress being made toward reconciliation, as well as federal policies and programs that affect Indigenous peoples Recommending measures to promote reconciliation and educating the public about Indigenous realities

As of May 2023, the Bill has passed its second reading in the senate and is currently under consideration by the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples. After this, there are two more steps before it is officially passed.

TRC CALL TO ACTION 53

“We call upon the Parliament of Canada, in consulation and collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to enact legislation to establish a National Council for Reconciliation”

TRC CALL TO ACTION 54

“We call upon the Government of Canada to provide multi-year funding for the National Council of Reconciliation”

TRC CALL TO ACTION 55

“We call upon all levels of government to provide annual reports or any current data requested by the National Council of Reconciliation”

TRC CALL TO ACTION 56

“We call upon the prime minister of Canada to formally respond to the report of the National Council of Reconciliation by issuing an annual 'State of Aboriginal Peoples Report’”