Publication

This summary report relates to a symposium held in Ottawa on 8-9 November 2012. Section 35 of the Constitution Act gave official recognition to existing Aboriginal and treaty rights in Canada. The purpose of the symposium was to discuss the successes and failings of Section 35 in its first 30 years of operation. Participants also discussed the next steps in terms of law and public policy reform. The report concludes by arguing that Aboriginal rights are likely to remain a fundamental and controversial issue.