Engagement Process

An engagement process was held from January 2008 to March 2010 to seek the views of Aboriginal groups and communities, provinces, territories and industry on the development of a federal policy approach on consultation and accommodation.

These interactive sessions were a critical element of the Action Plan, aiming to enable the legal duty to consult to be fulfilled in a more consistent, coherent and efficient way across the federal government.

The engagement process included the participation of over 68 First Nation, Métis and Inuit groups. Key policy issues were also discussed during various provincial and territorial sessions as well as during 17 sessions with industry associations and representatives.

During these sessions, the Government of Canada sought input on the following key questions:

1. What elements are required to ensure meaningful consultation with Aboriginal groups that will lead to the parties being able to have informed discussion and make informed decisions?
2. How can the federal government ensure that the identified elements to a successful consultation process between the Crown and Aboriginal peoples are present in a legal duty to consult federal policy approach?
3. What are the required steps to ensure that all relevant parties are identified and invited to participate in a consultation process?
4. Based on the elements identified for successful consultation, how might the relevant parties represent and conduct themselves in a consultation process?
5. When and under what conditions would a federal policy approach on the legal duty to consult begin to apply?
6. What outcomes do the parties expect as a result of a consultation process under a federal policy approach on the legal duty to consult?
7. How do you see a federal policy approach on the legal duty to consult being linked to other established federal, provincial, territorial and Aboriginal policies (consultation protocols, guidelines, frameworks, self-government agreements, land claim agreements, etc.)?

For more information about these engagement sessions, view the summary report.