Bill S-2

Bill S-2 is a federal act concerning new registration entitlements under the Indian Act.

In Anishinabek News

• October 2025: The bill was introduced to address registration issues related to enfranchisement following the Nicholas v. Canada (Attorney General) court case. Critics argue the bill is insufficient because it fails to eliminate the second-generation cut-off rule for Indian status. Advocates called on the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples to amend the bill to end sex- and race-based discrimination.
• November 2025: The bill received amendments from a senate committee in 2025 intended to end the second-generation cut-off for status registration. The proposed changes to the bill would allow status Indians to pass their rights on to their children under a one-parent rule.
• December 2025: Bill S-2 contains amendments intended to restore the one-parent rule for registration and eliminate the second-generation cut-off. The legislation must pass through the House of Commons before the proposed changes to the Indian Act can become law. The Anishinabek Nation viewed the progress of Bill S-2 as a significant step toward ending over forty years of legislated discrimination.
• February 2026: The bill received its first reading on December 10, 2025, and aims to restore status eligibility for enfranchised First Nations people. Critics argue the bill fails to address the second-generation cut-off and does not fully recognize First Nation autonomy in determining citizenship. The legislation is expected to move to a second reading before being referred to the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.
• April 2026: This bill is part of the ongoing ramifications of how the Canadian state defines 'Indian'.
• April 2026: The Anishinabek Nation expressed its expectation that this legislation will be passed under the leadership of Mark Carney. The proposed act includes amendments suggested by the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples.
• April 2026: The bill is the subject of study by the Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Peoples. Jeannette Corbiere Lavell is scheduled to provide testimony regarding this bill on behalf of the Indian Act Sex Discrimination Working Group.
• June 2026: The legislation concerns new registration entitlements under the Indian Act. The Anishinabek Nation provided a position on this bill to a parliamentary committee to ensure it aligns with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
• August 2026: The Anishinabek Nation provides information on this legislation in relation to citizenship and belonging.
• August 2026: Marsha Smoke provided an update on this legislation during the E'Dbendaagzijig Naaknigewin Conference. Justin Thompson discussed legal resources and challenges related to Senate amendments to this bill.