Order In Council

The ICC was established in 1991. Its mandate is: to inquire, at the request of a First Nation, into specific claims that have been rejected by the federal government, or accepted claims where the First Nation disputes the compensation criteria being considered; and to provide mediation services on consent of the parties at any stage of the claims process.

In November 2007, the Indian Claims Commission’s mandate was amended by Order in Council to conclude the Commission’s work. The changes are as follows:

• the Commission cannot accept new claims for inquiry;
• it has been directed to cease all its activities on inquiries which have yet not reached the community session phase, or if requested to do so by the First Nation;
• it must complete all the inquiries, including the related reports, which have reached the community session phase by December 31, 2008;
• and cease all its activities, including those related to mediation, by March 31, 2009.

---------

P.C. 2007-1789

The Committee of the Privy Council, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, advises that a Commission do issue under Part I of the Inquiries Act and the Great Seal of Canada to amend the Commission issued pursuant to Order in Council P,C, 1991-1329 of July 15,1991, as amended, by adding the following paragraphs at the end of the Commission:

(iii) to not accept or undertake new inquiries into specific claims as of the day on which the Bill entitled the Specific Claims Tribunal Act is tabled in the House of Commons,

(iv) as of the day on which the Bill entitled the Specific Claims Tribunal Act is tabled in the House of Commons, to cease all activities on inquiries that are currently before the Commission, except for those inquiries for which dates for the community sessions have already been scheduled or the community sessions have been completed or final legal submissions, either written or oral, have been completed, to notify in writing the affected First Nations of the cessation of their inquiries and to return alt documents filed for the inquiries by the affected First Nations,

(v) subject to paragraph (vi), to complete, by December 31,2008, ail inquiries, including the reports related to such inquiries, that are currently before the Commission, and in respect of which dates for the community sessions have already been scheduled or community sessions have been completed or final legal submissions, either written or oral, have been completed,

(vi) to immediately cease an inquiry and not issue a report, on written request to the Commission by the claimant First Nation,

(vii) to cease, by March 31, 2009, ail their activities and all activities of the Commission, including those related to mediation, and (viii) to submit a final annual report to the Governor in Council by March 31, 2009. "