Comprehensive Claims
The reform of Canada’s Comprehensive Claims Policy (CCP) is currently a focal point for AFN advocacy and was advanced as a priority at the Crown-First Nations Gathering held on January 24th, 2012, in Ottawa.
AFN had conducted three regional discussion forums on CCP reform during the Fall / Winter of 2011. These forums served to underscore key concerns as experienced by First Nations seeking a resolution of their comprehensive claims. A roll-up report is now available on this website in French and English.
AFN developed a statement on this issue with its CCP Working Group for the Crown-First Nations Gathering, which included timelines for joint AFN-Canada engagement:
- Convene a senior table with 3 representatives each from AFN and Canada to oversee reform discussions (by February 29, 2012);
- Establish a joint working group to set‐out issues for a proposed joint framework for CCP reform (by March 31, 2012);
- Based on confirmation of a joint framework, develop recommendations for CCP reform for presentation to the senior table (by June 2012);
- Confirmation of reform proposal by AFN and Canada (by July 2012).
This statement also underscored that rights and recognition are a critical part of advancing First Nations interests and that extinguishment is not acceptable option moving forward.
In its efforts to move on the outcomes from the Crown-First Nations Gathering, the AFN convened a follow-up meeting of its CCP Working Group, and engaged in a preliminary joint meeting with officials from Aboriginal Affairs and North Development Canada (AANDC) and Minister Duncan’s office in late April.
The National Chief has followed up from this meeting and formal plans for engagement are expected to be announced in the near future.
