Legislation Proposed On MRP Rights On Reserves
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 15:12
The federal government is proposing legislation it says would provide immediate protections on the division of a family home on-reserve when a relationship breaks down or a spouse dies.
Because there is currently no legal safety net to prevent spouses being expelled from the home during such cases, some people — often women and children — are left in situations that lead to homelessness and poverty.
The government says the legislation will also provide protection in cases of family violence.
Indian Affairs says, if passed, First Nations citizens and their governments can develop their own matrimonial real property laws with no federal government involvement.
The government estimates there are currently 75,000 individuals without legal matrimonial real property protections.