Indian Act revision up to Martin now Government committed to 'accountability' The looming death of the Liberal's native governance bill does not mean the end of government efforts to increase political and financial accountability on Indian reserves. Instead, both proponents and opponents of Bill C-7 say they expect much of the legislation's aims will reappear on the agenda when Paul Martin takes over as prime minister from Jean Chretien.

"It will be the decision of the next prime minister of what to do with the bill,'' said Alastair Mullin, the communications director for Indian Affairs Minister Bob Nault.

"But this minister and this government remain committed to accountability measures.''

NDP native affairs critic Pat Martin is also looking forward to fixing what was wrong with the legislation even as he celebrates the death of Bill C-7.

"It is reasonable to say those same issues will come back in a much more acceptable package,'' said the Winnipeg Centre MP.

"No one in Indian country is opposed to accountability and transparency.''

Martin said it was the way the act was created, rather than its content, which was objectionable. First Nations leaders were strongly critical of the act because they felt there had been little input from native people.

Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, is also said to be eager to bring his ideas to the table in reworking of the bill under a Paul Martin-led Liberal government.

"This goes back to the belief that any legislation affecting aboriginals, has to be First Nations led, First Nations driven and natives need to be at the table,'' said an AFN source.

"While it is unfortunate that so much time, energy and resources have been spent on the proposed Bill C-7, we now have an historic opportunity to embark on a new process for change, to begin a new dialogue between First Nations and Canada based on partnership and mutual respect for aboriginal and treaty rights,'' Fontaine said in a statement on the end of C-7.

Over the weekend, Nault publicly admitted what had long been expected -- his landmark attempt to overhaul the Indian Act will run out of time to be passed during Chretien's last legislative session expected to end within three weeks.

Nault's bill had faced fierce opposition during the spring sitting of parliament and is now stalled in the Commons.

The legislation, first introduced with great fanfare last year, would introduce major changes to the 1876 Indian Act such as expanding fiscal accountability, requiring band election codes and extending protection of the Canadian Human Rights Act to reserves.

However, it appeared to be put on life support last spring during the Liberal leadership race when Martin said he wouldn't implement it in its present form if he became prime minister.