The Right Honourable , , Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations The Honourable , Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada The Honourable , Minister for Women and Gender Equality

March 27, 2019

Dear Prime Minister and Ministers,

We write to request the immediate implementation of the United Nations Human Rights Committee’s ruling on the petition of Sharon McIvor and Jacob Grismer. The Committee held that the sex-based hierarchy between s. 6(1)(a) and s. 6(1)(c), introduced by the 1985 Indian Act, and continued by the amendments of 2011 and 2017, violates the right to the equal protection of the law without discrimination based on sex, and violates the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of Indigenous culture, guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The Committee has stated that Canada is obligated to provide full reparation. This obligation includes:

 ensuring that all persons, including Sharon McIvor and Jacob Grismer, who were previously not entitled to be registered under s. 6(1)(a) solely as a result of preferential treatment accorded to Indian men over Indian women born prior to April 17, 1985 and to patrilineal descendants over matrilineal descendants, born prior to April 17, 1985 be given full 6(1)(a) status; and

 taking steps to address residual discrimination within communities that arises from sex discrimination in the Indian Act.

Because the included provisions in Bill S-3 that would eliminate the discrimination against First Nations women and their descendants, once and for all, no new legislation is needed. The discrimination that remains, and that still excludes, or provides lesser status to, approximately 270,000 First Nations women and their descendants can be erased from the Indian Act by Order in Council (s. 15(2) of Bill S-3).

We understand that meetings of Cabinet take place on Tuesdays. This means that any Tuesday, Cabinet could eliminate the sex discrimination against First Nations women and their descendants that has been on the law books for more than one hundred years.

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We urge you to wait no longer. On September 21, 2017, Prime Minister Trudeau told the United Nations General Assembly that “the world expects Canada to adhere strictly to international human rights standards … and that’s what we expect of ourselves too.” That is what we expect: that Canada will live up to its human rights obligations, and do it now.

We look forward to an immediate response.

Sincerely,

Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, C.M. Yvonne Bédard Senator Lovelace-Nicholas Sharon McIvor Dr. Lynn Gehl Jeremy Matson Dr. Pamela Palmater Dr. Cindy Blackstock Ellen Gabriel

Native Women's Association of Canada Les Femmes Autochtonnes du Québec/Quebec Native Women Native Women's Association Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action

Aboriginal Legal Services Aboriginal Women’s Action Network Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC) Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes Advancement of Women Halton (AWH) AIDS Committee Newfoundland & Labrador Amnesty International Canada Amnistie internationale Canada francophone Antigonish Women's Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association ARCH Disability Law Centre Atira Women’s Resource Society Aura Freedom International Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic. British Columbia Human Rights Clinic Canada Without Poverty Canadian Association of University Teachers Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)

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Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions Arbeitskreis Indianer Nordamerikas (AKIN) - Working Circle Indians of North America Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action Canadian Feminist Network Canadian Labour Congress Canadian Labour Congress, Women's Committee Canadian Research Institute for the Advance of Women/Institut canadien de recherches sur les femmes Canadian Women's Foundation Centre for the Study of Social and Legal Responses to Violence Child Care Now Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic Colour of Poverty Colour of Change Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA) Council of Canadians, Peterborough and Kawarthas chapter Dalhousie Legal Aid Service DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada/Reseau d'action des femmes handicapées Canada European Alliance for the Self-Determination of Indigenous Peoples Fédération des Femmes du Québec Hamilton Community Legal Clinic Harmony House Internationales Komitee fȕr die Indigen Amerikas (Incomindios) Ingamo Family Homes Inc. Interim Place International Women’s Rights Project Justice for Girls l'Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne (AFFC) Ligue des droits et libertés Leeds and Grenville Interval House Les Femmes Autochtonnes du Québec/Quebec Native Women Manitoba Association of Women's Shelters (MAWS) National Association of Women and the Law/Association nationale Femmes et Droit Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) OCASI - Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants Ontario Native Women's Association Oxfam Canada Persons Against Non-State Torture Peterborough Health Coalition Planetary Association for Clean Energy Planned Parenthood Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Health Centre Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) BC Region Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale Regroupement québécois des centres d'aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel (RQCALACS) Single Mothers Alliance

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South West Region Women's Law Association The BC Assembly of First Nations The BC Poverty Reduction Coalition The Black Legal Action Centre The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) The Canadian Civil Liberties Association The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) The Canadian Union of Public Employees The Coalition of Child Care Advocates of B.C. The International Human Rights Program The Kawartha Truth and Reconciliation Support Group The Law Union of British Columbia The Lesbian Collective Vancouver The National Council of Women of Canada The Older Women's Network The Parent Advocacy Network for Public Education The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) The Social Rights Advocacy Centre The South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO) The United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Unified Veterans of Manitoba Unifor United Steelworkers Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter VOICES - Calgary’s Coalition of Two-Spirit and Racialized LGBTQIA+ Voices-Voix Coalition WAVAW Rape Crisis Centre West Coast LEAF Women's Human Rights Institute (WHRI) Women’s Legal Education & Action Fund (LEAF) Women’s Shelters Canada WomenatthecentrE YWCA Canada

Abigail Sheppard Alia Hogben Adele Perry, FRSC, Professor Alice Kristina Brown Adriane Paavo Alina Chatterjee Adrienne Hogue Alison Smiley Afsana Nochrat Alysia Brenton Aimee Cho Amanda Dale Alanah Way Amanda McKinnon Alda Facio Montejo, Expert Member of Amanda Ransome the UN Working Group on Amar Bhatia, Assistant Professor discrimination against women in law and Amber Prince, lawyer & member of practice (WGDAW) Sucker Creek Cree Nation.

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Amber-Rose Delorme Brenda Anderson, PhD. Amélie Lemieux Brenda Lamb Amy Casipullai Brian Wallace Amy Gottlieb Bridget Larocque Amy Siegel Brittany Jonsson Ana Martinez Brooke Boutang Andrea Hlady Bruce Broomhall Andrea Sobko, B.A. (Hons.), B.Ed., J.D. Bruce Porter Andrea Zitzmann Callie Archer Andrew Brook Candidate (IPK), M. Ed, BISW, BA Andrew C. Bolter Carol Joan Hall Andrew Woolford Carol Kenzie Angela Cameron Carol Lynne D'Arcangelis, Angelina Oumo Carol-Lynne D'Arcangelis Angie Marks Carole Anne Soong Anita Olsen Harper, PhD Caroline Brown Anjum Sultana, MPH Carolyn Bruyere-Farber Ann Decter Carolyn Grady Ann H. Atkinson Catherine C Cole, MA, FCMA Ann Levasseur Catherine Jeyakumar Anna Torres Catherine Wills Anne Bishop Celine Wlasichuk Anne-Marie Hogue Ceta Ramkhalawansingh Annie Altidor Chad Waterman Annie Chau Charlene Catchpole Annie Legate-Wolfe Charlene Eales Arthur Warren Chelsey Weir Ashley Milbury Cheryl Bredin Ass. Prof. Dr. Peter Schwarzbauer Cheryl Smith Assistant Professor Chris Cosby Aubrey Jean Hanson Christina Entrekin Coad Avalon Carthew Christine Chartrel Avigail Eisenberg Christine Johnston Barbara Cameron Christine Kelly Barbara Herring Christine Rossman Barbara Hoover, Hon. B.A.; B.Ed.; Christine Willes M.Ed.; LL.B. Claire Ellis Barbara Hopkins Claire McNeil Benjamin Ramirez Claire Polster Bernadette Wagner Colleen Bourns Beth Leaper, B.A., L.L.B, Connie Frey Bev LeFancois Connie Phillipson Beverley A. White Corrie Galloway Beverley Baines Courtney Klassen Bonnie Brayton Cym Gomery Bre Woligroski Cyndia Mondésir

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D. S. Boddy Dr. Lois Harder, Principal, Peter Dana Waite Lougheed Leadership College Danette Starblanket Dr. Lynn Gehl Daniela Chávez Vega Dr. Mark Ayyash, Associate Professor Darlene Hebert of Sociology Darlene Juschka Dr. Marleny Bonnycastle Dave Johnston Dr. Natalie Clark David Alper Dr. Pamela Palmater David Hitchcock Dr. Patricia Morton David Robinson Dr. Paulette Steeves Dawn-Marie Cederwall Dr. Rainey Gaywish Deb Tomlinson Dr. Rita Kaur Dhamoon Debbie Douglas Dr. Robyn Bourgeois Deborah Emes Dr. Sedef Arat-Koc Deborah Mebude Dr. Tope Adefarakan Debra Parkes, Professor and Chair in Ed File Feminist Legal Studies Eden Winkels Deena Brock Eleanor Reed Deepa Mattoo Elise Moser Denise Boyer-Payette Elizabeth A. Huyter Denise R. Montour Elizabeth Gilarowski Derek Birch Elizabeth Hodgson Diana Hooper Elizabeth Johannson Diana Rivington Elizabeth Pickett Diane Duttle Elizabeth Sheehy, LLB, LLM, LLD Diane Marshall, M.Ed, RP, RMFT (hons), F.R.S.C. Dominique Bourque Elizabeth Stone Dominique Masson Elizabeth Wolber Donald Pongracz Ellen Agger Donna Kroocmo Ellen Badone Donna Lee Ellen Gabriel Doreen Way Ellen Larsen Dorothy Boddy Ellen R. Judd, FRSC Dorothy Schwab Ellen Ridgeway Dr. Cindy Blackstock Ellen Woodsworth Dr. D. Scharie Tavcer Else Marie Knudsen Dr. David B. MacDonald Emeline Abrioux Dr. Eileen Kerwin Jones Emily Jewell Dr. Emma Cunliffe Erica J. Pinsky Dr. Ian Puppe Erika Soder Dr. Jenn Cole Erika Staring Dr. Judith A. Garber Erin Heineman Dr. Karen Lochead Erin Phillips Dr. Katherine Dunster Erin Scarr Dr. Kimberly A. Williams Estair Van Wagner Dr. Lina Sunser Esther Klein

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Feliks J. Welfeld Jennifer Lalonde Fiona Gunn Jennifer MacLachlan Former Senator Lois M Wilson Jennifer Mactaggart Frances Barrick Jeremy Matson Freya Kodar, Associate Prof. Jill Jones Geneviève Delmas Patterson Jill McNall George Mosley Jim Abel Gina Wylde Jo Hayward-Haines Ginger Mason JoAnne Stevens Glenda Doucet-Boudreau Joan Andersen Gordon Hauka Joan Riggs Gottfried Novak Joanne Hall Griane Bruyere Joanne St. Lewis Gwen E. Brodsky Joanne Walker Halena Seiferling Joeann Argue Harriett McLachlan Johanna Hart Harry Smaller Johannah May Black Heather Walkus John Andras Project Chair, HIP Heather Washburn (Honouring Indigenous Peoples) Heather Woods John Bird Heidi Burns John M Thompson Helen J. Breslauer, Ph.D. John McCausland Henry McKay John Peterson Hermine Schuring John Steckley Hester Lessard John Wood Holly Johnson Joseph Roberts Hugh Hazelton Josephine L. Savarese, Associate Ian Collier Professor Ian White Joyce Arthur Isabel Grant Joyce Thomas Jacquie Baldwin Judith L. Huddart Jamie Kass Judith Matheson Jane Arscott, Professor, Athabasca Judith Ramirez University Judy Rebick Jane Bailey, Professor Julia Wallace Jane Weeks Juliana Dalley Janelle Boisvert Julie Stoneberg Janet Miron June Kingshott, B.A., M.Ed. Janet Mosher K.L. Kivi Janice Abbott Kaitlyn Young Janice Barton Kandice Kornblum Janyce Elser-Ethier Kara Shin Jean Brathwaite Karen Hulan Jean Quinn Karen May Clark Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, C.M. Kasari Govender Jennifer J. Quick Kate Story

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Kate Wiggins Lori Barkley Katharin Cowan Lorrain Desjarlais Katherine Maas Lorraine Green Katherine Reed Lorraine Matties Kathleen A. Lahey Lorraine Mayer Kathleen Chung Luc-Anne Salm Kathleen Herbison Lucille Harper Kathleen Piovesan Lucy Ann Pisko Kathy Vance Lucy Lee Katrin MacPhee Luz-Maria Alvarez-Wilson Kay Heuer Karen Drake Lyndon George Kayla Mayer Lynell Anderson Keith Lowry Lynne Davis Kelly Dredger Mab Oloman Kelly Ferguson Maddy Macnab Ken Fraser Mag. Gawan Maringer Ken Ranney M.D Maggie Cywink Kerri Joffe Mahélie Caschetto-L. Kerry Hopkins Makere Stewart-Harawira Kiké Roach, Unifor National Chair in Manon Monastesse, MA intervention Social Justice and Democracy at sociale Ryerson Mardy Matson Kim Griffin Margaret MacPherson Kim Stanton Margaret McPhail Kristie Kornblum Margaret Slavin Lara Koerner Yeo Margot Young, Professor of Law, UBC Larry Gilbert Maria Helena Nyberg Laura Janara Marion Little Laura Neidhart Marissa Kokkoros Laura Robinson Marjorie R. Wood Laurel McBride Marv Wheale Laurie Siblock Mary Eberts Laverne Tremblay Mary Jane Mossman Leanne Hughes Mary O'Brien Leighann Burns Mary Potter Leilani Farha Mary-Lee Mulholland Lena Betker MaryAnn Lowry, BA MEd Lib Spry Matt James Linda G. Yang Matt Stringer Linda Nadeau Matthew Behrens Ontario- Muskrat Linda Silas Solidarity Coalition Linda Slavin Matthew Dutry Lindsay Lambert Matthias Neitsch Lindsey Nobess Maureen Trask Lois Fine Max Dashu Lois Moorcroft

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Me Lucie Lamarche, ph.d., Ad. E., Pat Sanagan MSRC Patricia M. Barkaskas Meg O’Mahony Patricia M. Derbyshire, MA Melainee Walker Patrick Buchanan Melanie Duncan Paul Brown Melody Schneider Paul Landry Mélissa Alig Paul R. Meinema Mical Moser Paul Shtogryn Michael Asch Paul Sylvestre, PhD Michael Creber Pauline Thompson Michael Minon Pearl Eliadis Michael Truscello Penelope Simons, PhD Michele Landsberg Peter Desjarlais Michelle Cader Peter Dunn Michelle Elliott Peter Shepherd Michelle Houle Phalandia Mondésir Michelle Jardin Philip Andrew Morin Michelle Robinson Philip Kienholz Michèle Biss Professor Alexandra Dobrowolsky Miriam J. Harris Professor Barbra Lee Miriam Lyall Professor Emerita Susan B. Boyd, Monica Urrutia F.R.S.C. Monica Vida Professor Joyce A. Green Monika Beatty Professor Kent McNeil Morgan Tunzelmann Professor Martha Jackman, LLM, LSM, Muriel Smith FRSC Murray Lumley Rachel Singleton-Polster Myrna Dawson Ramaëlle Duquette Nancy Hanlon Randi Gage Nancy J Hendry Rebecca Cook Nancy Louise Gray Renae Watchman Nancy Sermons Renee Gregoire Natalie Bomberry Renee Higa-Brown Natasha Bakht Rev. Frank Tyrrell Natasha Greenblatt Rianne Mahon, Professor Neil McGrath Rita Chudnovsky Netta Phillet Rob Bruneau Nick Aplin Robert Lattanzio Nicole Fontyn Robert Wallace Nikki Bernier-Singh Robin Buxton Potts Nikolaus K. Gehl Roger Goodeye Nisha Nath, PhD Rosemary Meier Nneka MacGregor Roy Brady Paige Cahill Ruth Chappelle Pamela Ackerman Ruth Goba Pamela Schreiner Ryoa Chung

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Sabha Hazai Stephen Wahl Samantha MacAndrew Steven Bush Samantha Pearson, Director, University Sukhpreet Sangha of Alberta Sexual Assault Centre Sunny Marriner, Project Lead-VAW Samira Raschidy Advocate Samm Medeiros Sunttka Rost Samuel Mason Susan Chen Sanda Rodgers, Professor Emerita Susan Harney Sandi Witherspoon Susan Lawrence Sandra Burt Susan Martin Sandra Cohen-Rose Suzanne DePoe Sandra Ford Suzie Dunn Sandra Lockhart Sylvia Grady Sandy Deng Tamara Gorin Sandy Greenberg Tammy Nay Sandy Loewen Ted Richmond Sandy McMullen Teresa Scassa Sara Cameron Tes Teilebrhan Sarah Lalonde The Hon. Nancy Ruth Sasha McLean Thomas Muellner Scott Simon Tiffany Goebel Selina Bavlnka-Davy Tim Clinton Senator Lovelace-Nicholas Trish Garner Seth Klein Tuula Heinonen Shannah Barros Valérie La France-Moreau Shannon Gareau Vanessa Falcon Shari Morgan Vaughn Barnett Sharon Anderson Veldon Coburn Sharon Bray Vera Dumais Sharon Gregson Veronica Campos Sharon L. Pleau Veronica DeLorme Sharon Lajoie Veronica Strong-Boag, CM, Ph.d., Sharon McIvor FRSC Shaya MacDonald Véronique De Sève, Vice- présidente de Sheila Isaac la CSN Sheila McIntyre Victoria Freeman Shelagh Day, C.M. Victoria McAuley Shelley Gavigan Vilma Leon Shelley London Hauka Vince Calderhead Sherani Sivakumar Viveca Ellis Sherry Hillman Viviane Michel, President, Les Femmes Shirley Van Nuland Autochtonnes du Quebec Sid Frankel Vrinda Narain, Faculty of Law, McGill Sonia Pouliot University Stacey Novalkowski Wayne Sumner Stephanie Sutherland Wendy Belcher

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William B Henderson Yvonne Bédard William W. Black, Professor Emeritus Yvonne Pompana, PhD, MSW Wyanne Sandler Zak Dattadeen Yasmeen Abu-Laban, Ph.D

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