History

A Brief History of Specific claims Prior to the Passage
of Bill C-30:
The Specific Claims Tribunal Act

Bill C-30, the Specific Claims Tribunal Act (SCTA), was first introduced in the House of Commons on November 27, 2007.  It was passed by the House on May 13th, adopted by the Senate on June 12, 2008 and received Royal Assent on June 18, 2008.  The SCTA came into force on October 17, 2008.

The SCTA radically changed the current specific claims process by establishing an independent tribunal comprised of superior court judges with the authority to make binding decisions on the validity of claims and compensation awards, to a prescribed maximum of $150 million per claim.

PRIOR to 1973
From 1927 to 1951, the Indian Act prohibited the use of band funds to sue the government.  As a result, claims by First Nations that Canada was failing to respect its commitments were largely ignored.

In 1947, a Senate/House of Commons joint committee created to examine the Indian Act recommended the establishment of a “Claims Commission” to “inquire into the terms of all Indian treaties . . . and to appraise and settle in a just and equitable manner any claims or grievances arising thereunder.”

In 1959-1961, the joint committee also recommended that an Indian Claims Commission investigate British Columbia and Oka land grievances.

Bill C-123, introduced by the Liberals in 1969 was the first legislative response to these recommendations.  It suggested the creation of a five member Commission with authority to make binding decisions and award monetary damages with no prescribed limit.  The Bill died on the Order Paper and was not revived.

1973-1990
Beginning with the Calder decision, the Supreme Court of Canada released several decisions that would have a significant effect on the development of aboriginal law in general and specific claims in particular.

In Calder, the Supreme Court affirmed the principle that the historic occupation of land by aboriginal peoples gave rise to legal rights that survived European settlement.  This decision was the catalyst for the Federal Government review of how claims were being addressed.  A policy framework for the assessment and negotiation of claims based on aboriginal title (“comprehensive claims”) and claims arising from treaties and takings of reserve lands (“specific claims”) was developed.

In 1974, the Office of Native Claims (ONC) was established within the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (DIAND).  The Specific Claims Branch of the ONC had the dual role of reviewing claims arising from the failure of the government to discharge its lawful obligations and to represent the government in negotiations.

The conflict of interest inherent in the process raised calls for the creation of an independent, impartial body.  In 1982, the federal government issued Outstanding Business: A Native Claims Policy-Specific Claims. Under the policy the ONC continued to evaluate claims, referred to the Department of Justice for legal advice and provided for ministerial acceptance or rejection of claims.

First Nations continued to criticize the process as lacking impartiality objecting that Canada’s control of the claims process represented a serious conflict of interest.
In 1983, the Penner Report on Indian Self-Government recommended that the 1982 claims resolution model be replaced with an independent body and that the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the government devise a joint legislative policy.

1991-2002
1986 saw the specific claims of the Mohawks of Kanesatake rejected, followed by the events of the summer of 1990 sparked by the dispute with the Town of Oka over the development of lands subject to the Mohawk claim.  These events renewed the call for reforms culminating in Prime Minister Mulroney announcing the creation of a joint AFN-DIAND working group to develop an independent claims policy and the interim creation of a “Specific Land Claims Commission” as an independent dispute resolution mechanism.

The Indian Specific Claims Commission (ICC)
The ICC was established as a temporary independent advisory body consisting of six commissioners authorized to review specific claims rejected by the government and to issue non-binding decisions.
A review of the recommendations made by the ICC from 1991-2009 indicates a consistent call for the establishment of a new independent body.  In its Annual report, 2002-2003, the Commissioner recommended:

• The new body must be independent.  True independence resides in a body that is self-governing and not dependent on an outside body, such as the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development or the Minister, for its validity.

• The new body must have the authority to make binding decisions.

• The new body must constitute a viable alternative to litigation for the parties involved.  It must be seen by all parties as cost-efficient, expeditious and final.

The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP)
In its 1996 Final Report RCAP recommended a complete re-structuring of how Aboriginal claims should be handled.  Specifically, the report urged the establishment by federal statute of an independent tribunal to replace the ICC with authority to adjudicate specific claims and issue binding orders.

Joint AFN-Canada Working Groups and Bill C-6
Two joint working groups (1992 and 1996) also called for legislation to create an independent body to adjudicate the specific claims of First Nations.

In 2002, Bill C-6, The Specific Claims Resolution Act was introduced in the House of Commons proposing to establish a new administrative body consisting of a Commission to negotiate and resolve specific claims and a Tribunal to make binding decisions on both the validity of claims and compensations awards to a prescribed maximum of $10 million per claim.  The Bill did not receive AFN support and, although passed by the House and Senate and receiving Royal Assent in November 2003, it was never
proclaimed in force.

Specific Claims Action Plan and The Specific Claims Tribunal Act
On June 12, 2007, the Prime Minister and the AFN Grand Chief jointly announced a plan to reform the specific claims system.  The most significant proposed reform called for the creation of a tribunal staffed with impartial judges with the authority to make final binding awards on the issues of validity and compensation.

Legislation was drafted reflecting this new initiative resulting in the creation of Bill C-30, the SCTA, which received Royal Assent in June 2008.