N.W.T. gov’t joins court challenge of federal law central to Inuvialuit family legislation – CBC

Dec 08, 2022

IRC Chair Duane Smith says the challenge came as a complete reversal of co-operation until then

The N.W.T. government has joined a Supreme Court of Canada legal challenge of federal legislation it once appeared to support.

Bill C-92, or the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, gives Indigenous governments the right to manage their own child and family services. It was passed in 2020 and it paved the way for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) to establish its own laws in 2021 to govern the care of beneficiary children.

At the time, N.W.T. Premier Caroline Cochrane praised the IRC’s move as a “big step forward in ensuring decisions are made in the best interests of Inuvialuit children, youth and families.”

The Supreme Court of Canada is now hearing arguments in a case brought forward by the Quebec government challenging Bill C-92. The N.W.T. government has joined the case as an intervener. In court documents, its lawyers claim Bill C-92 infringes upon its rights under the Northwest Territories Act.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/n-w-t-gov-t-joins-court-challenge-of-federal-law-central-to-inuvialuit-family-legislation-1.6678338