Bill C-16 explained in plain English
An Act to give effect to the Governance Agreement with Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. MP vote breakdowns appear when the House of Commons publishes a recorded division export for that bill. Senate and House stage details include official debate/sitting links when LEGISinfo publishes them.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
This Act gives legal effect to the Governance Agreement with the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, making it binding and allowing the Nation to enact its own laws, while also making consequential amendments to other federal legislation.
Bill C-16, also known as the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Governance Act, gives effect to the Governance Agreement between the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and the Government of Canada. This means the agreement is approved, has the force of law, and is binding on all persons and bodies. The Act also makes changes to other federal laws to align with this agreement. It clarifies that the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation is a legal entity with the powers of a natural person and that its own laws, made under the agreement, have the force of law. Certain existing federal laws, such as the Indian Act and the Indian Oil and Gas Act, will no longer apply to the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation or its lands as specified in the agreement. The Act also makes coordinated amendments to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, and includes provisions for judicial notice and evidence of the agreement and the Nation's laws. The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench is given jurisdiction for judicial review of decision-making bodies established under the Nation's laws.
- Gives effect to and approves the Governance Agreement with the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.
- Declares the Governance Agreement to be valid and to have the force of law.
- Confirms that the Governance Agreement is binding on and can be relied upon by all persons and bodies.
- Establishes the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation as a legal entity with the capacity, rights, powers, and privileges of a natural person.
- Grants the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation the power and authority to make laws and carry out other government functions through its Oyate Government.
- Specifies that certain federal laws, including the Indian Act and the Indian Oil and Gas Act, will cease to apply to the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to the extent and in the manner provided for in the Agreement.
- Makes consequential amendments to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.
- Provides rules for taking judicial notice of the Governance Agreement and the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Laws, and for their publication and use as evidence.
- Grants jurisdiction to the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench for judicial review and injunctive relief concerning decision-making bodies established under Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Laws.
- Includes provisions for serving notice on the Attorneys General of Canada and Manitoba, and the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, when issues arise regarding the interpretation or validity of the Agreement, the Act, or the Nation's laws.
- States that the federal Crown is not liable for damages under subparagraph 3(b)(ii) of the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act in respect of a breach of duty attaching to the ownership, occupation, possession, or control of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Lands, once the Initial Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Land Law comes into effect.
- Sioux Valley Dakota Nation
- Sioux Valley Dakota Oyate Government
- Citizens of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation
- Persons and bodies dealing with the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation
- The Government of Canada
- The Government of Manitoba
- Federal government departments and agencies
- The public, in relation to access to information and privacy
- The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench
- Sioux Valley Dakota Nation has the capacity, rights, powers, and privileges of a natural person.
- Sioux Valley Dakota Nation has the power and authority to make laws.
- Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Laws made in accordance with the Agreement have the force of law.
- Federal laws inconsistent with the Agreement are superseded by the Agreement.
- Federal laws inconsistent with Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Laws are resolved according to the Agreement.
- Persons and bodies are conferred rights and privileges by Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Laws and are subject to duties and liabilities imposed by them.
- Attorneys General of Canada and Manitoba, and Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, have the right to appear and participate in proceedings where the validity of the Agreement, Act, or Nation's laws is at issue.
- Royal Assent: March 4, 2014.
- Part 16 of the Agreement is deemed to have had effect as of August 30, 2013.
- The Act, except for Section 20, comes into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
- The Act may affect royalties from oil and gas taken from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation lands, as the Indian Oil and Gas Act ceases to apply under certain conditions.
- The Act enables the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to benefit from provisions of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, which could have financial implications for the Nation.
- The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench may make orders, issue injunctions, or grant declaratory relief against decision-making bodies established under Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Laws.
- The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench may undertake judicial review of decisions made by these bodies.
- The extent to which the Indian Act and the Indian Oil and Gas Act cease to apply is dependent on the specific provisions of the Governance Agreement.
- The application of the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act amendments is subject to coordinating amendments that depend on the timing of the coming into force of this Act and other related legislation (Yale First Nation Final Agreement Act).
- The precise day the Act (except Section 20) comes into force is to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council and is not specified in the text.
- The specific provisions of the "Initial Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Land Law" that would limit the Crown's liability are not detailed in this Act.
This Act itself establishes the legal framework for the Governance Agreement and its implementation.
Source: Full Act
The agreement is approved, declared valid, has the force of law, and is binding on all persons and bodies.
Source: Section 3
The Indian Act will no longer apply to the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, its lands, or people on those lands, as specified in the Governance Agreement.
Source: Section 7(1)
This Act will no longer apply to the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, its lands, or royalties from oil and gas taken from those lands, once a Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Law addresses similar subject matters.
Source: Section 8
Consequential amendments are made to specify that the Sioux Valley Dakota Oyate Government is included in a list related to the Act.
Source: Section 18, Section 20
Consequential amendments are made to specify that the Sioux Valley Dakota Oyate Government is included in a list related to the Act.
Source: Section 19
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Laws will not be considered statutory instruments for the purposes of this Act.
Source: Section 9
The Sioux Valley Dakota Oyate Government and entities established under its laws are not considered federal institutions as defined in this Act.
Source: Section 10
Decision-making bodies established under a Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Law are not considered federal boards, commissions, or tribunals for the purposes of this Act.
Source: Section 13(1)
The federal Crown will not be liable for damages related to a breach of duty concerning Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Lands once the Initial Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Land Law comes into effect.
Source: Section 15
Regulations may be made to adapt or restrict the application of this Act or its regulations to enable the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to benefit from it.
Source: Section 17(2)
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
Official textThe official summary published alongside the bill, shown exactly as written.
Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 5 December 2013, the Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs introduced Bill C-16, An Act to give effect to the Governance Agreement with Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Governance Act) in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, the Government of Canada and the Government of Manitoba have concluded a self-government agreement. As the next steps, federal and then provincial legislation is needed to bring the agreements into effect. Bill C-16 gives effect to the Governance Agreement with Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. It also makes consequential amendments to other Acts.
This is the official summary published by the Parliament of Canada, shown verbatim. Not legal advice. PoliticalData.ca did not write or edit this text.
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Vote Summary
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Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
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