Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with First Nations leaders in a historic summit before heading to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday night.
In his opening remarks, he told the summit that the government would not be scrapping the Indian Act, which Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo described as a road block to collaboration.
Harper said aggressive action was needed to improve the living standards for Canada’s First Nations, but that the Act would be modernized rather than scrapped.
“That will be our approach, to replace elements of the Indian Act with more modern legislation and procedures, in partnership with provinces and First Nations,” he said.
Harper said it was time First Nations enjoyed the same standard of living as other Canadians.
In his opening remarks, Atleo said improvements were needed urgently and First Nations were insistent on a new and better relationship between their communities and the federal government.
“Next must come new fiscal relationships that guarantee and deliver sustainable, equitable services based on mutually agreed standards and shared responsibility,” Atleo said.
Atleo described the Act as an outdated obstacle to meaningful improvements to relations.
