OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney says a process to review the Indian Act won’t necessarily lead to the controversial legislation’s termination. The Indian Act gives Ottawa sweeping powers over First Nations communities and people, including the authority to determine who qualifies for recognition and what reserves can and can’t do. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew called for the repeal of the Indian Act during a rare meeting of federal, provincial and First Nations leaders in Ottawa on Monday. Carney, who said he was open to reforming or abolishing the act on Monday, says today that Ottawa’s process to determine the legislation’s future has no “fixed conclusion.” He says the federal government will work with First Nations and the provinces to review the Indian Act and suggest possible replacements for it. While most First Nations chiefs agree the legislation is outdated and restrictive, there is little consensus on whether it should be repealed and replaced. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2026.
