Private Members Bill C-374 Passes Unanimously in the House of Commons
On Tuesday, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale—Langley City John Aldag’s private members bill, C-374, An Act to Amend the Historic Sites and Monuments Act (composition of the Board), passed unanimously at third reading in the House of Commons.
MP John Aldag’s bill to add Indigenous representation to the federal historic sites board passes through House of Commons unanimously
May 10, 2018 - Ottawa, Ontario
On Tuesday, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale—Langley City John Aldag’s private members bill, C-374, An Act to Amend the Historic Sites and Monuments Act (composition of the Board), passed unanimously at third reading in the House of Commons.
The bill, which would add much-needed Indigenous representation to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, seeks to implement Call to Action 79(1) of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. The legislation would provide for First Nations, Metis and Inuit representation on the Board.
Bill C-374 has been sent to the Senate for consideration where it has been sponsored by the former Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Senator Murray Sinclair.
While section 4(d) of the Historic Sites and Monuments Act currently provides for one representative from each province and territory, there is no formal representation of Indigenous peoples on the Board. The inclusion of Indigenous peoples on the HSMBC is necessary to continue breaking down the walls of exclusion which have historically existed between the federal government and Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Quotes
“Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples is a Canadian issue, and unanimous support for Bill C-374 is a proud reflection of this. I am honoured to have been able to bring this legislation forward to advance a small, but meaningful piece of reconciliation. The inclusion of Indigenous peoples on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada will provide a fuller view of the ways in which we commemorate historic peoples, places, and events.”
– John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City
Quick Fact
Bill C-374 received a royal recommendation dealing with remunerative aspects of the legislation. Bill C-374 is only the third private members bill to ever receive a royal recommendation.
For more information:
Kurtis Layden
Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament
613-992-0884
john.aldag.a1@parl.gc.ca
✔︎ C-374 (Composition of the Board)
Voted yea. Bill adopted.
Bill
C-374: An Act to amend the Historic Sites and Monuments Act (composition of the Board).
Third Reading.
Vote
Yea.
Rationale
I proposed and supported this legislation in order to increase Indigenous representation on the Board to allow for more input and participation by key groups.
Result
Passed.
Legislation calling for Indigenous Representation on the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada to be Debated in House of Commons
Liberal MP John Aldag’s legislation, C-374, had its first hour of debate in the House of Commons on Dec. 13. The legislation is seeking to amend the Historic Sites and Monuments Act to include three new representatives on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada; one each for
the First Nations, Metis and Inuit.
December 13, 2017 – Ottawa, Ontario
Bill C-374, is the first Private Member’s Bill tabled by MP John Aldag
Liberal MP John Aldag’s legislation, C-374, had its first hour of debate in the House of Commons on Dec. 13. The legislation is seeking to amend the Historic Sites and Monuments Act to include three new representatives on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada; one each for
the First Nations, Metis and Inuit.
Aldag’s Private Member’s Bill, titled C-374, An Act to amend the Historic Sites and Monuments Act (composition of the Board), was tabled on Oct. 18. “I believe it is necessary to increasingly break down the walls of exclusion which have historically existed between the Federal Government and Indigenous peoples in Canada.” said Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City “
Currently, Section 4(d) of the Historic Sites and Monuments Act provides one representative from each province and territory, and while there is an Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Affairs Directorate, there is no formal representation of Indigenous peoples, organizations or Governments on the Board.
“It is my belief that the restriction of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada to only
recognize provinces and territories within our Canadian system is an outdated legacy of Canada’s
historic mistreatment and structural exclusion of Indigenous peoples to full acknowledgement in
Canadian society.” said Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City.
This bill is a direct result of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action Number 79-1, which calls upon the federal government to amend the Historic Sites and Monuments Act to include First Nation, Inuit, and Métis representation on the Board and its Secretariat.
Learn more - https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&billId=9155473&View=0
Stakeholder Statement
“The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is an eager supporter of Bill C-374. As stated by Senator Murray Sinclair at the closing event of the Truth and Reconciliation, the TRC has described the mountain, the calls to action issued by the TRC represent the path to the top. The Calls to Action represent the synthesis of one of the largest engagement sessions with indigenous peoples in the history of the country. We must understand these calls as the articulation of the collective voices of thousands upon thousands of Survivors, families and communities across the Country.
Central in the work of reconciliation is this is the recognition that Canada, as a nation, has not accurately or effectively portrayed the perspectives of indigenous peoples in the telling of our collective history. So long as this continues, Canadians and visitors to this country will be prevented from knowing not only who we were, but will be denied an understanding of what we can become.
Including indigenous perspectives and histories in commemorating national historic sites is paramount. Ensuring there is a clear strategy to commemorate and honour community perspectives on the residential schools is in our national interest.
Through these collective steps, we have the potential to tell a much more accurate, richer and honest story of who we are and where we are going.
For these, and many other reasons, we offer our full support for this bill and encourage all
parliamentarians to do the same.”- The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
For more information:
Kurtis Layden
Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament
613-992-0884
john.aldag.a1@parl.gc.ca
MP John Aldag Tables Legislation Calling for Indigenous Representation on the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada
Today, Liberal MP John Aldag introduced legislation in the House of Commons seeking to amend the Historic Sites and Monuments Act to include three new representatives on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada; one each for the First Nations, Metis and Inuit.
This is MP John Aldag's first Private Member's Bill
October 25, 2017 - Ottawa, Ontario
Today, Liberal MP John Aldag introduced legislation in the House of Commons seeking to amend the Historic Sites and Monuments Act to include three new representatives on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada; one each for the First Nations, Metis and Inuit.
Aldag’s Private Member’s Bill is titled C-374, An Act to amend the Historic Sites and Monuments Act (composition of the Board).
“I believe it is necessary to increasingly break down the walls of exclusion which have historically existed between the Federal Government and Indigenous peoples in
Canada.”
- John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City
Currently, Section 4(d) of the Historic Sites and Monuments Act provides one representative from
each province and territory, and while there is an Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Affairs Directorate, there is no formal representation of Indigenous peoples, organizations or Governments on the Board.
“It is my belief that the restriction of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada to only recognize provinces and territories within our Canadian system is an outdated legacy of Canada’s historic mistreatment and structural exclusion of Indigenous peoples to full acknowledgement in Canadian society.”
- John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City
This bill is a direct result of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action Number 79-1,
which calls upon the federal government to amend the Historic Sites and Monuments Act to include First Nation, Inuit, and Métis representation on the Board and its Secretariat.
Learn more: https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&billId=9155473&View=0
Stakeholder Statement
“The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is an eager supporter of Bill C-374. As stated by
Senator Murray Sinclair at the closing event of the Truth and Reconciliation, the TRC has described the mountain, the calls to action issued by the TRC represent the path to the top. The Calls to Action represent the synthesis of one of the largest engagement sessions with indigenous peoples in the history of the country. We must understand these calls as the articulation of the collective voices of thousands upon thousands of Survivors, families and communities across the Country.
Central in the work of reconciliation is this is the recognition that Canada, as a nation, has not
accurately or effectively portrayed the perspectives of indigenous peoples in the telling of our
collective history. So long as this continues, Canadians and visitors to this country will be prevented from knowing not only who we were, but will be denied an understanding of what we can become.
Including indigenous perspectives and histories in commemorating national historic sites is
paramount. Ensuring there is a clear strategy to commemorate and honour community perspectives on the residential schools is in our national interest.
Through these collective steps, we have the potential to tell a much more accurate, richer and honest story of who we are and where we are going.
For these, and many other reasons, we offer our full support for this bill and encourage all
parliamentarians to do the same.”
- The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
For more information:
Gunraj Gill
Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament
778-389-6353
john.aldag.a1@parl.gc.ca