In August 2024 a federal judge openly criticised Canada for dragging its feet on a 1997 land‑deal with Manitoba First Nations, calling the delays “disheartening” and a breach of the Crown’s promise of reconciliation.

The Manitoba Framework Agreement, signed in 1997 by the province, the federal government and the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee, was meant to fix historic land shortfalls for First Nations covered by Treaties 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10. The deal recognises that about 445,000 hectares are still owed to 21 eligible First Nations, and only just over half of that area had been turned into reserve land by March of last year.

In her Aug. 21 decision, Federal Court Justice Julie Blackhawk said Canada’s continued postponement cannot be justified by a vague “duty to consult.” She dismissed the government’s claim that the Committee must first finish the agreement’s dispute‑resolution process, and ruled that the 1997 agreement applies prospectively, not retroactively.

A 2023 negotiated settlement that would have paid $3.5 billion in compensation and amended the agreement “evaporated,” according to the Committee. In 2025 the government announced a $210 million advance payment, but the Committee said it will appeal the court’s ruling.

The judge’s criticism matters because it exposes how unfulfilled treaty promises erode trust, showing that genuine reconciliation requires the Crown to honour land commitments, not hide behind procedural excuses.