Northern Saskatchewan Member of Parliament Rob Clarke is responding to some recent criticism.
Earlier this week, Clarke spoke at the FSIN assembly in Nipawin about his private member’s bill to reform the Indian Act.
The federation panned the speech, comparing his bill to the infamous White Paper of 1969.
However, Clarke takes issue with that.
In a press release, he says that while the White Paper proposed rejection of land claims, his bill doesn’t.
Clarke also says consultation of the bill will be extensive through the committee process.
Furthermore, he says the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs must report to the House of Commons Committee before January 31st of each year.
Clarke says he plans to spend a large part of his summer talking to grassroots members and leaders of First Nations communities.