Federal Court orders revisions to deal between Ottawa and Métis Nation of Alberta
EDMONTON — Ottawa must make changes to a self-government deal it struck with the Métis Nation of Alberta, says a Federal Court ruling.
The ruling, released Thursday, says the deal is too broad in its definition of who it covers and it was made without consulting two other Métis groups in the province.
“The only practical remedy is to quash the offending provisions of the agreement and to remit the matter to the minister for reconsideration,” wrote Judge Sebastien Grammond.
The deal was one of three signed by Métis groups in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in February 2023 that recognized them as Indigenous governments, put them on equal constitutional standing with First Nations and opened the door to further negotiations, such as compensation for land lost.