Specific Claims Tribunal

This page contains information about the Specific Claims Tribunal (SCT) and decisions rendered by the SCT. In the box below, you can filter the SCT decisions by the year the decision was published, as well as by key words in the title and/or in the first three pages of the document. If you would like to search keywords in the title and/or document text of all the documents on this website visit the advanced search function on the homepage.

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* the earliest decision was published in 2011.

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The Specific Claims Tribunal Act came into force on October 17, 2008. The purpose of this Act is to create an independent tribunal that will help the government address the specific claims of First Nations, and reduce the backlog of claims that have yet to be resolved. Where a claim has been rejected or is not accepted for negotiation by the government within three years, or where a settlement has not been reached within three years of negotiation, the First Nation bringing the claim may opt to file a claim with the Tribunal instead. This Tribunal, unlike the now-defunct Indian Claims Commission, has the power to make binding decisions on the Government of Canada, subject to judicial review.

The Tribunal, however, is limited by the types of claims it can hear. The tribunal has the power to award up to $150 million per claim. Therefore, the tribunal will not hear claims that exceed this amount. Furthermore, there are several explicit exceptions found in the Act with respect to the types of specific claims that the tribunal will hear. For example, claims based on treaty rights relating to activities of an “ongoing and variable nature” will not be heard by the tribunal. This exception excludes claims such as harvesting rights.

Tribunal FAQ:

Specific Claims Tribunal Commentary:

In spite of being introduced into legislation in 2008, the tribunal has been delayed in its operations due to pending review of its rules and procedures by the Department of Justice. Finally, in June 2011, it was announced that the Rules of Practice and Procedure had been officially put into force, and the tribunal is now open for the filing of Specific Claims. Below is an overview of the progress the Tribunal has made along with rules and procedures and claimes filed to the Tribunal.

1. Administrative Matters of the Specific Claims Tribunal

1.1. Specific Claims Tribunal Progress

1.2. Specific Claims Tribunal Reports

1.3 Tribunal and Advisory Committee

2. Rules of Practice and Procedure for the Specific Claims Tribunal

2.1. Rules of Procedure

2.2. Development of Rules of Practice and Procedure

2.3. Commentary on the Specific Claims Tribunal Rules of Practice and Procedure

3. Filing a Claim with the Specific Claims Tribunal

3.1. Filing a Claim

3.2. Claims Filed

1. Administrative Matters of the Specific Claims Tribunal

1.1. Specific Claims Tribunal Progress

1.2. Specific Claims Tribunal Reports

1.3 Tribunal and Advisory Committee

2. Rules of Practice and Procedure for the Specific Claims Tribunal

2.1. Rules of Procedure

2.2. Development of Rules of Practice and Procedure

2.3. Commentary on the Specific Claims Tribunal Rules of Practice and Procedure

3. Filing a Claim with the Specific Claims Tribunal

The Specific Claims Tribunal started receiving claims in June 2011. Below are documents for filing specific claims, as well as claims that have been filed with the tribunal to date. This site will be updated as frequently as possible but may not always be up-to-date. Please visit the “Current Claims” section of the Specific Claims Tribunal website for a more up-to-date list.

3.1. Filing a Claim

3.2. Claims Filed

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2017

2016

2015

2014

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2012

2011

Source:Registry of the Specific Claims Tribunal Canada government website.