Summary
In 1911, an amendment to the Indian Act, known as the Oliver Act (section 49a), allowed Aboriginal people living on a reserve next to a town of eight thousand or more people to be removed without consent. The act was named after Frank Oliver, the serving superintendent general of Indian Affairs. With this amendment, the federal government granted itself the ability to displace Indigenous people on sought-after land for Euro-Canadian settlement. Both Indigenous groups and government opponents claimed that this was inappropriate and an abuse of power.
Implications
Parliament was aware that the Oliver Act would cause a breach in treaty rights, but proceeded with the amendment. This showed that the Canadian Government was unconcerned with following law that they had set themselves, and that Indigenous peoples rights were low priority compared to Euro-Canadian settler desires.
Sources
CP, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1906, Vol. 111, p. 2359-69: An Act respecting the Expropriation of Lands (52 Vic, cap. 13, sec. 1: The Expropriation Act), sec. 1.
Sub Event
Oliver Act - Section 49a
Resources
Date
1911-00-00
Theme(s)