Media Release
Ontario Regional Chief Charles Fox calls for Federal Government to terminate First Nations Governance Act and launch ‘a new beginning’ between First Nations and Canada

THUNDER BAY (March 18, 2003): Ontario Regional Chief Charles will recommend to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs that it advocate withdrawing Bill C-7, the First Nations Governance Act (FNGA) when he leads off its day of hearings in Thunder Bay at 8 am on Thursday, March 20.

Fox will tell the Committee that the FNGA is so flawed that no amount of tinkering can make it right. Instead, he will suggest that the bill be scrapped and a new relationship between First Nations and Canada be launched, one that reflects “mutual respect between the two”.

Fox believes that if the two sides sat down together, not only governance but a host of other issues — health care, employment and equity for First Nations — can be addressed effectively and agreements which all parties can support be achieved.

The House of Commons Standing Committee is touring the country to receive deputations with regard to the FNGA. The Bill calls for major changes in how First Nations are governed and imposes direct control by the Minister of Indian Affairs on them. The Committee will go on to Toronto tomorrow.

“The FNGA is a non-starter,” said Fox. “It was generated by the federal government without First Nations involvement and goes on from there to limit our Inherent and Treaty Rights and our rights of self-government. We’ve been denied due process. For us to intervene now would be to acquiesce in our own desecration. We simply can’t do it.”

Fox will also attack the bill because it gives the federal government the right to micro-manage bands, telling them, directly and indirectly how to select leaders, how to run local government. how to pass laws and how to report financially. “We don’t need the federal government to tell us how to manage. Our processes are transparent and we are accountable to our members” said Fox.

The Chiefs of Ontario is the official organization of the 134 First Nations across Ontario, representing over 159,000 status Indians. It serves as their advocate as well as the organization through which the federal government interacts with the on-reserve population.

Contact: Ontario Regional Chief Charles Fox
(Office) 807-626-9339
(Cell) 807-628-6085