1764 Treaty of Niagara Covenant Chain Wampum

PARLIAMENT GETS IT The Constitution Act, Canada, Section 35 (1),1982. The existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and a rmed. THE CIVIL SERVICE GETS IT Aboriginal A airs and Northern Development website, 2013. "The Government of Canada recognizes the inherent right of self-government as an existing Aboriginal right under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. Four women from Saskatchewan (lndigenous and non-Indigenous) decided that they could no longer stay silent in the face of what is a legislative attack on First Nation people and the lands and waters across the country. Together, Sylvia McAdam, Jess Gordon, Nina Wilson and Sheelah Mclean started organizing 'teach-ins' in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert to start bringing awareness to BiII C-45, says McAdam. THE COURT GETS IT The Supreme Court of Canada, Council of the Haida Nation v. British Columbia, 2004. The government's duty to consult with Aboriginal peoples and accommodate their interests is grounded in the honour of the Crown. THE REST OF THE WORLD GETS IT United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2010. Indigenous peoples, in exercising their right to self-determination, have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to their internal and local a airs. BUT STEPHEN HARPER STILL DOESNT GET IT Globe and Mail, Nov. 26, 2012 (Bill C-45) will have an impact on laws that are not normally found in these money bills such as changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act, the Fisheries Act, the Environmental Assessment Act, the Indian Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. IS HE QUALIFIED TO BE CANADAS PRIME MINISTER? Call, FAX, or e-mail your MP today and tell him what you think.

"Bill C-45 is not just about a budget, it is a direct attack on First Nations lands and on the bodies of water we all share from across this country." Bill C-45 a ects all Canadians. Idle No More calls on all people to join in a revolution which honours and ful lls Indigenous sovereignty which protects the land and water. Colonization continues through attacks to Indigenous rights and damage to the land and water. We must repair these violations, live the spirit and intent of the treaty relationship, work towards justice in action, and protect Mother Earth.

The Conservative government is pushing through hundreds of pages of major legislative changes without consulting Canadians. The latest budget Bill C-45 is being criticized by the opposition parties, environmental, scienti c and Aboriginal groups. Many of these legislative changes will have a drastic impact on Canadians and should not be rushed through Parliament without time for careful consideration, public scrutiny and debate.

consent" of all Indigenous peoples exercising their right of self-determination.

New changes to the Fisheries Act build on changes in the spring omnibus legislation which further undermines Canada's ecology and removes legal barriers to oil, pipeline and other developers. Four former sheries ministers as well as countless scientists have publicly opposed these amendments. Currently resource developers have to receive authorization under the Act when their projects damage lakes, rivers or other sh habitat. They must also specify the corrective action. Under these new changes, the developer will no longer be responsible for xing the environmental and habitat damage they cause.

Fisheries Act

The Navigable Waters Protection Act will be amended to reduce its scope to less than one per cent of Canadian waters. The new law will restrict federal oversight to the three oceans that border Canada and to a mere 97 lakes and 62 rivers. The traditional territories of Aboriginal peoples will be at the greatest risk of environmental exploitation as the law was designed to provide quick development access to resource extraction industries, a great number of which operate on First Nations land.

The Navigable Waters Protection Act

collective agreements before the expiry date of the previous agreement. Changes to the Canada Revenue Agency Act will put the CRA back under the authority of Treasury Board who will oversee CRA's negotiating mandate as well as certain terms and conditions of employment. This change contradicts the speci c reasons why the CRA was created and approved by Parliament a better way of doing business for Canadians and creating a more bene cial labour relationship.

The amendments to the Indian Act are clearly designed to give the Ministry of Aboriginal A airs access over First Nations' lands and undue in uence on vulnerable communities. The key amendment to the Act gives the government authority to determine the surrender of any portion of any First Nation territory at any given time. This clause is in direct contravention of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which calls for the "free, prior and informed

Indian Act

Bill C-45 contains amendments to the Canada Grain Act that will remove regulations that protect independent grain producers, increase selfregulation, and decrease inspections. The changes will also jeopardize the quality of Canada's internal and external grain supply by removing the requirement for inward inspection a process put in place to ensure producers are paid for the quality and quantity of their grain and not cheated by international grain companies. These amendments threaten the livelihood of independent producers while further protecting the rights of the global conglomerates.

Canada Grain Act

Unilateral amendments to public sector pension plans include increasing the normal retirement age from 60 to 65 for new hires beginning in 2013. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) rejects this bill because it is an attack on younger generations who make up the majority of new hires in the public service. The increase in the retirement age will generate a two-tier system, creating inequities between young and older workers in the public service, forcing younger workers to retire at an older age. The public service pension plan is sustainable and there is no reason to penalize young workers. PSAC calls on the government to focus on strengthening pensions for all Canadians instead of weakening pension plans and retirement security for Canadians dedicated to public service.

Public Sector pensions

The Canada Revenue Agency was created in 1999 as a separate, independent employer from Treasury Board. Over time, the CRA and the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) have worked hard to develop a harmonious working relationship, allowing the negotiation of two consecutive

CRA Act

From the website of the Public Service Alliance of Canada: http://www.psac-afpc.com/news/2012/ issues/20121030-e.shtml