Bill to implement UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples clears Senate | CBC News

A landmark piece of federal legislation aimed at harmonizing Canada's laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has passed third reading in the Senate, paving the way for the bill to be enshrined into law before a possible federal election.

The passage of this bill in the upper chamber means it will soon receive royal assent — something National Chief Perry Bellegarde of the Assembly of First Nations said marks an important milestone for First Nations, Indigenous Peoples and all Canadians on the path toward reconciliation.

"Canada must now take all measures necessary to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples," Bellegarde said in a series of tweets reacting to the Senate vote.

The next step, Bellegarde said, is for Canada to prepare an action plan to implement the legislation, which is mandated in the bill.

The Liberals turned Saganash's bill into a government bill last year and have been championing it as a way to create laws and policies that are co-developed at their outset with Indigenous rights holders, rather than consulting after the fact on laws and initiatives that could affect them.

The UN declaration, which Canada endorsed in 2010, affirms the rights of Indigenous Peoples to self-determination and to their language, culture and traditional lands.

It also spells out the need for free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) from Indigenous Peoples on anything that infringes on their lands or rights.

"What we're trying to do is treat FPIC as a process, which I think is true to the wording in the declaration itself, and really put the onus on non-Indigenous governments, non-Indigenous resource developers, private industry, whoever — to meaningfully consult with Indigenous Peoples in whatever context is appropriate.".