Hon. Michèle Audette: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. Yesterday, Minister Anandasangaree was asked a question about Bill C-38, which seeks to amend the Indian Act. I understand that he referred the question to Minister Hajdu. In a letter dated March 2023, the minister acknowledged the Charter violations in Nicholas. No one in Canada should have their constitutional rights violated. Why, then, is discrimination against Indigenous women under the Indian Act being ignored? Can you tell us where we’re at with this bill, and when we can expect it to reach our chamber?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): I thank the senator for her question and for raising this important issue. The process of enfranchisement unfairly deprived thousands of First Nations people of their status. Although that practice ended 35 years ago, its harmful legacy remains. Following the lead of our First Nations partners, the government is working to identify and eliminate this type of registration inequality on a systemic level.

Bill C-38 is the final step in this process. It will repeal and restore the status of those who were adversely affected by enfranchisement, and it eliminate the gender discrimination that still exists in the Indian Act. The government hopes that all parties in the other place will honour their shared responsibility for reconciliation and pass this bill swiftly.

Senator Audette: First of all, Senator Gold, I must apologize because I didn’t stand up. Thank you for your answer. Could you ask your colleagues in the other place when this bill will arrive in the Senate?

Senator Gold: You don’t need to apologize. I will ask my colleagues and counterparts in the other place. Unfortunately, it’s not up to the government alone to unblock what’s been going on for the past two months or so. For the sake of Canadians, we hope the bill will arrive in the Senate soon so we can begin our work.