- How S-3 changed the Indian Act (video)
- Scenario 1: Eligibility for Indian Status under S-3 (video)
- Scenario 2: Eligibility for Indian Status under S-3 (video)
- How to apply for Indian status (video)
- How Bill S-3 has changed the Indian Act (infographic)
Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Indian Act in response to the Superior Court of Quebec decision in Descheneaux c. Canada (Procureur général)
On December 22, 2017, changes were made to the Indian Act by Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Indian Act in response to the Superior Court of Quebec decision in Descheneaux c. Canada (Procureur général) , to address known sex-based inequities in registration.
More amendments came into force on August 15, 2019, after the Government of Canada held national consultations with First Nations and Indigenous groups during the collaborative process on Indian registration, band membership and First Nation citizenship. Throughout those engagements, the Government of Canada gathered input on proposed legislative changes to the registration provisions in the Indian Act and implementation options.
Discussions also touched on broader issues relating to the Indian Act . To find out more about the issues raised during the consultations, visit Remaining inequities related to registration and membership and Getting out of the business of Indian registration.
While all known sex-based inequities in the registration provisions have now been eliminated, the Government of Canada continues to collaborate with First Nations and other partners to address the remaining inequities in registration.
This video briefly outlines the changes Bill S‑3 brought about in the registration provisions:
How S-3 changed the Indian Act
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Reporting to Parliament
Bill S-3 also required that the minister responsible for the Indian Act report to Parliament on:
- the design of the consultations
- Report to Parliament on the Design of a Collaborative Process on Indian Registration, Band Membership and First Nation Citizenship tabled on May 10, 2018
- the status of the consultations
- Report to Parliament on the Collaborative Process on Indian Registration, Band Membership and First Nation Citizenship tabled on June 12, 2019
- the implementation of the bill
- Report to Parliament on the Review of S-3 tabled on December 11, 2020
The Government of Canada's engagement with First Nations and Indigenous groups
In keeping with the commitment to reconciliation and a renewed nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples, the Government of Canada has committed to work with First Nations and other partners in making legislative changes to address registration concerns as well as broader issues.
Since the full implementation of Bill S-3, the Government of Canada has continued to engage with First Nations and Indigenous groups and address remaining inequities in registration.
The Government of Canada has also developed a national monitoring approach to identify, evaluate and assess the effects of Bill S-3. To find out more about those activities, visit Implementation of Bill S-3: Engaging on changes to registration.
Related links
- An Act to amend the Indian Act in response to the Superior Court of Quebec decision in Descheneaux c. Canada (Procureur général)
- Plain text description of Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Indian Act in response to the Superior Court of Quebec decision in Descheneaux c. Canada (Procureur général)
- Descheneaux c. Canada (Procureur général)
- Stewart Clatworthy's report: An assessment of the population impacts of select hypothetical amendments to section 6 of the Indian Act
- Report to Parliament: Gender Equity in Indian Registration Act
- Explanatory paper: Proposed amendments to the Indian Act affecting Indian registration, McIvor v. Canada, March 2010
- Estimates of demographic implications from Indian registration amendment, McIvor v. Canada, March 2010
- Discussion paper: Changes to the Indian Act affecting Indian registration and band membership, McIvor v. Canada
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