Manitoba Premier and Prime Minister discuss abolishing the Indian Act

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Prime Minister Mark Carney have signaled openness to abolishing the Indian Act. During a meeting in Ottawa with premiers and chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations, Kinew described the legislation as “outdated, racist, and patriarchal,” arguing that Canada should move away from race-based identification.

Prime Minister Carney expressed openness to the proposal, labeling the Act racist and stating that the federal government will work with provinces and First Nations to consider potential replacements. While the federal review has no fixed conclusion, the move represents a significant shift in the discussion regarding Indigenous governance and legal status.

The Frontier Centre for Public Policy, which has advocated for the abolition of the Act for nearly three decades, welcomed the development. The think tank argues that the current system perpetuates inequality by governing First Nations life through ancestry-based legal status and has historically restricted economic opportunities for reserve residents.