Theme Co-Leads

Bobby Clark, Nisga’a Lisims Government 

Dr. Martin Papillon, Université de Montréal

Overview

A treaty is more than a contract or a legal document. It establishes what is hopefully the foundations for a new and lasting relationship between partners. This theme looks at treaty implementation from the perspective of relations between treaty signatories and other governing authorities.

Creating and maintaining ongoing and positive relationships with federal, provincial and territorial governments post-treaty ratification has been one of the most significant challenges facing treaty signatories.

Not only are treaties often viewed and interpreted differently by the signatories, their respective resources may also differ considerably. Adding to the challenge is the fact that there are many organisational actors involved in treaty implementation.

Theme objectives

  • This theme will take stock of IGR under modern treaties, with a focus on the principles that are/should be governing these relationships as well as the legal and political challenges, lessons learned, best practices and potential improvements to intergovernmental relations between treaty partners.

  • The research produced under this theme will document and contribute to our understanding of the principled and practical challenges in establishing government to government relations between treaty partners and how theses relations can evolve and adapt to changing circumstances.

  • The research outcomes should help LCAC members and other treaty partners develop concrete approaches and strategies to improve intergovernmental relations.

Initial theme research questions/topics
 

  • The underlying principle of treaty federalism: what does it mean and how can it inform relations between treaty partners?
  • Intergovernmental best practices: a mapping exercise of existing approaches and structures to facilitate intergovernmental relations under modern treaties
  • Treaty implementation committees and plans: do they work?
  • What role for provinces and territories in treaty implementation?
  • Jurisdictional overlaps between treaties: challenges and opportunities
  • Relationships with municipalities in treaty implementation
  • A comparative study of citizenship, membership rules and access to treaty benefits
  • Studies comparing intergovernmental relations in specific sectors (education, land management, etc.)

Research Assistants

Chloé Doucet, MA Student, Université de Montréal 

Gavin Furrey, MA Student, Université de Montréal 

Projects