Gloria Galloway Ottawa — From Friday's Globe and Mail
A quarter century after aboriginal women won the right to remain status Indians when they marry non-aboriginal men, new legislation proposes that their grandchildren also be entitled to the designation. The changes suggested by the federal government Thursday would add about 45,000 people to the Indian Register and have native leaders fearing that Ottawa would not help reserves with the costs of a sudden influx of people. There is disagreement within the native community over who should have status, and many bands have their own membership codes to determine who is entitled to live in their jurisdiction. The government also does not yet know what the actual cost would be, because there is no way of predicting how many people would apply and what benefits they would want.
Like other status Indians, the people who gained status would be entitled to such benefits as tax exemptions if they live and work on reserves, extended health coverage, and the potential for special post-secondary financial assistance.
The legislation, which marks the first time the Indian Act has been opened in 25 years, comes after a 2009 ruling by the British Columbia Court of Appeal that the act discriminates between men and women. The government was given until April 6 of this year to make it right.
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