b'Centre of Excellence for Matrimonial Real Property (COEMRP)SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTDear Members, Colleagues and Partners: This was a five-year Minsters commitment which was The Centre of Excellence for Matrimonial Real Propertyextended for an additional three years and will end has successfully completed its mandate and will beMarch 31, 2021. closing operations effective March 31 st , 2021. COEMRP SuccessesCongratulations to the past and present staff of CentreThe Centre has contributed greatly to supporting of Excellence for Matrimonial Real Property for theirFirst Nations law-making and rights and protections outstanding commitment and dedication in carrying outunder the Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial the mandate.Interests or Rights Act (FHRMIRA). Background in the establishment: Since inception, the Centre provided the following outstanding services:In 2013 the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Developed 4 effective toolkitsAssociation (NALMA) responded to an Indigenous Provided training to 306 First Nations across Services Canada (ISC) call for proposal for theCanadaestablishment of a COEMRP. Supported 14 First Nations who have The purpose of the Centre was to operate at armsenacted their own law under FHRMIRA in the length from the Government of Canada, and providedevelopment and implementation of their services such as: MRP laws Guiding First Nations who are opting to MRP Special Project Fund had 66 First develop their own MRP laws Nations access funding for implementationProviding information on the protections andactivities of FHRMIRArights available to individuals and families National mail distribution to over 6,000 First living on reserve Nations and partners Assisting with implementing the provisional Development of an interactive and resourceful federal rules COEMRP website Providing research on alternative dispute Hosted 3 MRP national conferencesresolution mechanismsHosted 8 national engagement sessions Responded on average to 150 referrals The NALMA proposal was reviewed by an AssessmentannuallyCommittee comprised of representatives from:Built an astonishing library of resources andISC, tools The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Status of Women Canada, and Moving forward with Matrimonial Real Property (MRP)Public Safety Canada SupportThe Assessment Committee provided aEffective April 1 st , 2021, the Centres support services recommendation to the Minister of ISC. will transition into NALMA operations and will be Based on NALMAs extensive experience andnormalized into the NALMA mandate until March 31 st , connection to reserve land issues, on November 14 th ,2023.2013, Minster Bernard Valcourt officially announcedThe Centres resources will remain on the COEMRP NALMA as the host of the Centre of Excellence forwebsite until June 2021, thereafter they will be moved Matrimonial Real Property.onto the NALMA website at www.nalma.ca.For more information, please contact Kathy McCue, NALMA MRP Program Specialist at kmccue@nalma.ca or (705) 927-5224.'