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RCMP Law Change Could Impact Indigenous Law Enforcement

An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act

Summary

  • Defines "First Nation law" in the RCMP Act to include Indian Act bylaws, land management laws under the Framework Agreement, and laws under self‑government agreements.
  • Explicitly adds prevention of offences against First Nation laws to RCMP peace officer duties.
  • Authorizes RCMP to execute warrants issued under First Nation laws, alongside federal and provincial warrants.
  • Clarifies jurisdiction and closes enforcement gaps across federal, provincial, and First Nation legal regimes.

Builder Assessment

Vote Yes

Overall, the bill modestly aligns with Build Canada’s tenets by strengthening rule of law and self‑government through clear RCMP authority to enforce First Nation laws. Its economic impact is indirect but positive via reduced jurisdictional friction and improved investment certainty on First Nation lands.

  • Aligns with efficiency and investment by clarifying enforcement roles and reducing legal ambiguity.
  • Neutral on taxes, exports, and large-scale prosperity; scope is narrow but constructive.
  • To strengthen alignment: add service standards/KPIs for enforcement timeliness; require MOUs and interoperable data-sharing with First Nation and provincial police; include cost-neutral implementation and training provisions; mandate public reporting; and pair with complementary measures that expedite permitting and project approvals on First Nation lands.

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Principles Analysis

Canada should aim to be the world's most prosperous country.

Primarily a law-enforcement/jurisdictional clarification with indirect economic effects; any contribution to national wealth is mediated through improved legal certainty.

Promote economic freedom, ambition, and breaking from bureaucratic inertia (reduce red tape).

Reduces bureaucratic ambiguity by clearly empowering RCMP to enforce First Nation laws, supporting self-government and a more predictable rule-of-law environment.

Drive national productivity and global competitiveness.

May modestly lower delays and compliance risk on First Nation lands, but it introduces no direct productivity or competitiveness measures.

Grow exports of Canadian products and resources.

No direct export provisions; any positive effect would be indirect via smoother project execution on First Nation lands.

Encourage investment, innovation, and resource development.

Clear enforcement authority can reduce legal uncertainty and project risk for investors partnering with First Nations on land and resource projects.

Deliver better public services at lower cost (government efficiency).

Clarifies roles and can streamline enforcement across jurisdictions, potentially reducing duplication and service gaps; cost impact depends on implementation and training.

Reform taxes to incentivize work, risk-taking, and innovation.

No tax policy changes.

Focus on large-scale prosperity, not incrementalism.

A narrow, technical amendment that supports governance; it is not a transformational economic measure.

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PartySenate
StatusAt second reading in the Senate
Last updatedJun 3, 2025
TopicsLegal, Indigenous Affairs
Parliament45