Why Consultation with NHCN?
Consulting is an important part of good governance, sound policy development, decision-making and provides opportunities to educate. In addition to good governance objectives, the federal and/or provincial government consults with Indigenous people for legal reasons.
Canada and Manitoba have statutory, contractual and common-law obligation to consult with Indigenous groups. The process leading to a decision on whether to consult includes a consideration of all of these factors and their interplay.
The set of rules associated with the duty to consult developed as a result of Supreme Court of Canada and lower court decisions over the past decade.