Indigenous engagement approach: Cannabis Act legislative review

Current status: Closed

Opened on September 22, 2022 and closed on January 15, 2023.

Health Canada is committed to a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect, truth, co-operation and partnership. First Nations, Inuit and Métis perspectives will be critical to inform the work of the Expert Panel, and in shaping findings or recommendations resulting from the review.

As an initial step in the engagement process, Health Canada published a paper, Summary from engagement with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples: The Cannabis Act and its impacts. The paper aimed to summarize and confirm what has been shared with Health Canada by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples regarding cannabis since the period prior to the coming into force of the Cannabis Act.

Who was the focus of this engagement?

Health Canada sought feedback from:

• First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples or communities
• National and regional Indigenous organizations
• First Nations, Inuit and Métis cannabis industry representatives
• Indigenous licence holders and applicants
• First Nations, Inuit and Métis cannabis consumers

Key questions for discussion

This paper aimed to summarize and confirm what has been shared with Health Canada by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples regarding the impact of the Cannabis Act. First Nations, Inuit and Métis were invited to provide feedback to the questions in the paper and to share their insights and perspectives in response to the paper, including:

• validation of First Nations, Inuit and Métis priorities, interests and concerns
• sources of information and evidence to inform the legislative review
• approaches for engaging and consulting First Nations, Inuit and Métis for the next phase of the legislative review

What we heard

This consultation received comments from 33 respondents. Health Canada shared the comments with the independent expert panel of the legislative review of the Cannabis Act. It will help inform future engagements with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Health Canada won't make the findings public to protect the anonymity of those who provided input.

Related information

The Government of Canada recognizes First Nations, Inuit and Métis as distinct, rights-bearing communities with their own histories, cultures and interests. Accordingly, the Expert Panel will adopt a distinctions-based approach to conducting a review of the impacts of the Cannabis Act on First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and communities.

Health Canada will continue to engage with interested First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders and organizations to share information about the legislative review and to gather input on how they would like to work with the Panel throughout the review process. This information will be provided to the Expert Panel for its consideration as it undertakes its own engagement strategy with First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

• Cannabis
• Cannabis Act
• Cannabis Regulations
• Cannabis-related resources for First Nations, Inuit and Métis

Contact us

For inquiries about Indigenous engagement associated with the legislative review of the Cannabis Act, contact:

Cannabis Act Legislative Review Secretariat
Health Canada
Address locator 0302I
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9
Email: legreview-examenleg@hc-sc.gc.ca