EDMONTON – Alberta’s NDP government is repealing legislation that it once called a noxious throwback to the paternalism of yesteryear.
Indigenous Relations Minister Richard Feehan introduced legislation Tuesday to repeal Bill 22, the Aboriginal Consultation Levy Act.
The bill was passed almost three years ago by the former Progressive Conservative government but never proclaimed into law.
The bill would have raised money from industry to fund First Nations participation in debates over potential projects that would impact their traditional lands.
But chiefs were not consulted about the bill and the legislation gave all decision-making power to the government with no right of appeal.
Tony Alexis, the grand chief of Treaty No. 6, said the bill was similar to residential schools in that the government met behind closed doors to decide what was best for First Nations.