Preamble

An Act to give effect to the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement and the Labrador Inuit Tax Treatment Agreement

Preamble

WHEREAS the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes and affirms the existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada;

WHEREAS the Inuit of Labrador are an aboriginal people of Canada;

WHEREAS the Inuit of Labrador claim aboriginal rights in and to the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Area, as defined in the Agreement, based on their traditional and current use and occupancy of the lands, waters and sea ice of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Area in accordance with their own customs and traditions;

WHEREAS the Inuit of Labrador, as represented by the Labrador Inuit Association, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada have negotiated the Agreement;

WHEREAS the Inuit of Labrador, by a vote held on May 26, 2004, approved the Agreement;

WHEREAS on December 6, 2004, the Legislature of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador enacted the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act to ratify the Agreement;

WHEREAS the Agreement was signed on behalf of the Inuit of Labrador, Her Majesty the Queen in right of Newfoundland and Labrador and Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada on January 22, 2005;

AND WHEREAS the Agreement requires that legislation be enacted by the Parliament of Canada in order for the Agreement to be ratified;

NOW, THEREFORE, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: