C-21 (45-1) - Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty Act
Chamber
commons
Stage
1st Reading
Introduced
Feb 12, 2026
Progress
This bill gives legal force to the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty signed in November 2024.
Key Changes
- Gives the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty the full force of Canadian law
- Confirms the treaty is protected under Sections 25 and 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982
- Establishes that the treaty overrides conflicting federal laws
- Gives legal effect to a tax treatment agreement related to the treaty (while clarifying it is not part of the treaty itself)
- Requires Canadian courts to take judicial notice of Red River Métis laws and allows Federal Court review of MMF administrative decisions
- Amends the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act to recognize the Manitoba Métis Federation as an Indigenous government
Gotchas
- The treaty prevails over all other federal laws in cases of conflict, which is a significant legal hierarchy provision not common in ordinary legislation.
- The tax treatment agreement is given legal force but is explicitly excluded from constitutional treaty protections under Sections 25 and 35, meaning it has a different and potentially weaker legal status.
- Actions and decisions made by the MMF before the treaty came into force are retroactively deemed valid if they would have been valid under the treaty, which could affect past governance decisions.
- Red River Métis laws are not classified as 'statutory instruments,' meaning they are not subject to the same federal oversight and review processes that apply to most government regulations.
- A coordinating amendment links this bill to Bill C-10 (Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation Act), meaning the Red River Métis treaty would fall under that oversight framework if both bills pass.
Who's Affected
- Red River Métis people and Manitoba Métis Federation members
- Manitoba Métis Federation as a governing body
- Government of Canada and federal institutions
- Federal courts (which must now recognize Red River Métis laws)
- Canadians subject to any Red River Métis laws or governance decisions
Vibes
0 responses
Gotchas
- The treaty prevails over all other federal laws in cases of conflict, which is a significant legal hierarchy provision not common in ordinary legislation.
- The tax treatment agreement is given legal force but is explicitly excluded from constitutional treaty protections under Sections 25 and 35, meaning it has a different and potentially weaker legal status.
- Actions and decisions made by the MMF before the treaty came into force are retroactively deemed valid if they would have been valid under the treaty, which could affect past governance decisions.
- Red River Métis laws are not classified as 'statutory instruments,' meaning they are not subject to the same federal oversight and review processes that apply to most government regulations.
- A coordinating amendment links this bill to Bill C-10 (Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation Act), meaning the Red River Métis treaty would fall under that oversight framework if both bills pass.
Summary
Bill C-21 ratifies and implements a treaty between the Government of Canada and the Red River Métis, represented by the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF). The treaty, signed on November 30, 2024, recognizes the Red River Métis' inherent right to self-government under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. By passing this bill, Parliament gives the treaty the full force of Canadian law. The bill confirms that the Red River Métis can create and enforce their own laws (called Red River Métis laws), and that Canadian courts must take official notice of those laws. It also establishes that if the treaty conflicts with any other federal law, the treaty takes priority. A separate tax treatment agreement related to the treaty is also given legal effect, though it is not considered part of the treaty itself. This legislation is part of Canada's broader commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It affects the Manitoba Métis Federation and its members, and makes small amendments to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act to recognize the MMF as a recognized Indigenous government body.
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Vibes
0 responses