The committee process for a testy piece of legislation that would recognize M茅tis governments in three provinces has been extended until at least February.

House of Commons committee hearings about Bill C-53 have seen 65 witnesses testify and 274 briefs submitted that argue vigorously either for or against the legislation, which M茅tis leaders say would set the stage for treaties on internal matters such as child welfare.

Some First Nations groups are also opposed to the bill, which would recognize M茅tis governments in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan, urging MPs to vote against it because they say it could erode their own rights.

But it has support from the bodies that would be the direct beneficiaries of the bill and wider groups including the M茅tis National Council.

Members of Parliament have most recently been arguing over the finer points of the bill during meetings devoted to clause-by-clause deliberation SA国际影视传媒� seven of them so far, featuring hours of debate.

That process is set to resume after the House returns from a winter break at the end of the month.

One sticking point has been whether the bill should use the term SA国际影视传媒淚ndigenous governing bodySA国际影视传媒� in reference to the recognition that organizations would be authorized to act on behalf of M茅tis, and that this affirms their inherent right to self-government as affirmed by the Constitution.

The term is included in the original wording of the legislation but is not defined. It has been used and specifically defined in other bills governing child welfare and a new national council for reconciliation.

M茅tis groups covered under the legislation said that failing to include the term would water down the intent of the bill and its benefits.

But some politicians, including Conservative and NDP MPs, expressed worries that its inclusion could affect other M茅tis groups in the same provinces that may not want to be governed by the bodies included in the legislation.

M茅tis Nation of Ontario president Margaret Froh says M茅tis people have been fighting for their rights for generations, and the passage of the bill would help recognize that.

But the delays have been SA国际影视传媒渄isheartening,SA国际影视传媒� she said in a recent interview.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur leaders have fought and died for recognition of M茅tis self-determination, and weSA国际影视传媒檙e finally in a place now where we have the opportunity to move forward.SA国际影视传媒�

The M茅tis National Council unanimously passed a resolution last month calling on politicians to pass the legislation without delay.

Chiefs express concerns

The scale of the committee study is SA国际影视传媒渦nprecedentedSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渟ets a new, negative standard for all future Indigenous self-government legislation to be subjected to,SA国际影视传媒� said the resolution, which Froh brought forward.

SA国际影视传媒淭he legislative process being dragged out has resulted in the amplification of toxic falsehoods, misinformation and painful lateral violence that has negatively impacted M茅tis youth and Elders.SA国际影视传媒�

First Nations leaders, especially in Ontario, have raised concerns at the committee and in public statements about what they see as the consequences of the billSA国际影视传媒檚 passage.

The Chiefs of Ontario, an organization that represents about 130 First Nations in that province, has stressed that chiefs are worried about the M茅tis Nation of OntarioSA国际影视传媒檚 inclusion in the legislation.

Their concerns are mainly focused on six new communities the M茅tis Nation of Ontario and the province recognized in 2017, which they say have no historical basis to exist.

The Assembly of First Nations, which represents some 630 First Nations across Canada, and the Chiefs of Ontario have both called for the bill to be withdrawn altogether,saying future agreements could erode their rights SA国际影视传媒� an assertion the M茅tis groups and federal government have disputed.

At a committee hearing in November, a high-ranking federal official testified that Ottawa has not verified the legitimacy of the disputed M茅tis communities or the wider memberships of the provincial organization, explaining that the government isnSA国际影视传媒檛 required to do so.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey arenSA国际影视传媒檛 doing their homework to make sure that they are hearing from the right people,SA国际影视传媒� NDP MP Lori Idlout said shortly after.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd I can understand why First Nations in Ontario would be greatly concerned about whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒楾hey stand on their ownSA国际影视传媒�

One of the most scathing critiques of the legislation and the M茅tis Nation of Ontario was penned by Darryl Leroux, a professor of political studies at the University of Ottawa.

In his six-page briefing submitted to the committee, Leroux explained how his research SA国际影视传媒� often in partnership with First Nations SA国际影视传媒� has continuously failed to prove the existence of the six disputed communities.

But Froh insists they do. She said in a recent interview that itSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渦nfortunateSA国际影视传媒� some are building a narrative that M茅tis only exist around the Red River in Manitoba.

SA国际影视传媒淭he position that some are putting forward fails to recognize the incredible and beautiful M茅tis stories of many other communities SA国际影视传媒� some of which have a connection to Red River, but some donSA国际影视传媒檛,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey stand on their own, and they are to be respected on their own.SA国际影视传媒�

Jason Madden, a M茅tis citizen and barrister and solicitor, testified before the committee in November that SA国际影视传媒渏ust because someone makes a drive-by statement that M茅tis communities donSA国际影视传媒檛 exist or cannot exist without their permission doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 make it so.SA国际影视传媒�

The conflicts around Bill C-53 extend to M茅tis communities themselves, most prominently in Alberta, where the Fort McKay M茅tis Nation has argued the legislation could SA国际影视传媒渢ake overSA国际影视传媒� Alberta M茅tis communities.

SA国际影视传媒淚n its present form, Bill C-53 is a threat to M茅tis communities in Alberta and represents a massive step backward and not forward toward reconciliation. It threatens to unilaterally assimilate all M茅tis and M茅tis communities under an organization that lacks the consent of the governed,SA国际影视传媒� said president Ronald Quintal.

In a November hearing, Quintal urged the committee to limit the recognition granted to the M茅tis Nation of Alberta under the legislation, or to reject the bill altogether.

The M茅tis Nation of Alberta has also launched ads on X, formerly known as Twitter, urging citizens and supporters to write to their MPs about why they should support the legislation.

SA国际影视传媒淣ot many of them have returned calls, which is very frustrating,SA国际影视传媒� M茅tis Nation of Alberta president Andrea Sandmaier said in a recent interview.

SA国际影视传媒擝y Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press