Indigenous Affairs suspends portions of controversial law aimed at band councils – APTN

December 18, 2015

OTTAWA – The federal government will no longer go after communities that have not complied with the First Nations Financial Transparency Act says Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett.

“Today, I directed my department to cease all discretionary compliance measures related to the First Nations Financial Transparency Act and to reinstate funding withheld from First Nations under these measures,” said Bennett in a statement Friday.

The controversial act, brought in by the former Conservative government, forced First Nation communities to submit all financial records annually. Several First Nations didn’t comply and the government took them to court.

All court actions were suspended Friday, as well.

Read More: http://aptn.ca/news/2015/12/18/indigenous-affairs-suspends-portions-of-controversial-law-aimed-at-band-councils/