OTTAWA, December 11, 2009 - The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the appointment of Mr. Justice Harry Slade of the Supreme Court of British Columbia as Chairperson of the Specific Claims Tribunal. This appointment is effective immediately.
The Government of Canada is taking action to speed up the resolution of specific claims to provide justice to First Nation claimants and certainty for all Canadians. Canada's Specific Claims Action Plan has fundamentally altered the way specific claims are handled, bringing greater fairness, speed and transparency to the process. This action plan is delivering concrete results.
The creation of the Specific Claims Tribunal is key to this revitalized approach. The Tribunal is an independent body with the power to make binding decisions to resolve specific claims. It provides an alternative to the courts for First Nations when other options fail.
Canada and the Assembly of First Nations jointly developed the legislation to establish the Tribunal. This legislation is called the Specific Claims Tribunal Act. It came into force on October 16, 2008.
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Ref.:
Pamela Stephens
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621
Media Relations
Department of Justice
613-957-4207
Ref.:
Michelle Yao
Press Secretary
Office of the Hon. Chuck Strahl
(819) 997-0002
Media Relations
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
(819) 953-1160
