🍁 civid v1

Overview

Bill S-250 would amend the Department of Justice Act to expand the statement the Minister of Justice must table for government bills. It was at first reading on June 18, 2026.

Main changes

• For every bill introduced or presented in either house by a minister or other Crown representative, the minister would have to table a statement in the house where the bill originates.
• The statement would continue to address potential effects on Charter rights and freedoms. It would also have to address:
  • Potential effects on Indigenous rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
  • Whether the bill is consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
• If the statement identifies potential effects on section 35 rights, it must include either a detailed summary of consultations with the Indigenous peoples holding those rights or an indication that no such consultations were undertaken.

Who it affects

The requirements would apply to the Minister of Justice and government bills in either house. They concern the rights of Indigenous peoples as defined in section 35(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982.

The preamble says an Indigenous Rights Statement is a transparency mechanism and does not relieve the federal government of its duty to consult.

Coming into force

The Act would come into force one year after royal assent.