Indigenous Issues in Canada: How our History Shapes the Debate about the Future

Canada Australia Public Policy Initiative
Public Lecture

Michael Wernick is the Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet. He served as Deputy Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) between 2006 and 2014.

Since 2006 Mr. Wernick has assisted four Ministers in advancing the Canadian Government’s Aboriginal Affairs agenda. Highlights of his tenure at AANDC include the passage of 18 pieces of legislation, as well as parts of five Budget Implementation Acts; the approval and ongoing implementation of the Indian Residential Schools settlement; conclusion of several modern treaties and new self-government arrangements; creation of the Specific Claims Tribunal; rapid expansion of the First Nations Land Management Act; deep structural reforms to child and family services, income assistance, and water/wastewater; extending human rights protections and matrimonial property protection to reserves; and an initiative to reform on-reserve education.

This is a free event and open to the general public. To secure a seat in the theatre, please register your attendance at www.eventbrite.com.au.

If you cannot attend on the day, you can access the lecture via a webcast at http://livestream.ssc.gov.au/dpmc/february2015

Online viewers can contribute to the conversation by submitting questions and comments on the day through the Livechat facility.