OTTAWA, Sept. 21, 2017 /CNW/ - The President of the Métis National Council and its Governing Members' Presidents ("the Leaders"), along with federal cabinet Ministers with responsibilities for priorities identified in the Canada-Métis Nation Accord today issued the following joint communiqué highlighting outcomes from their first ministerial-level meeting under the Permanent Bilateral Mechanism:
Today's meeting provided an opportunity for the Leaders of the Métis Nation to meet with key federal Ministers to discuss progress in advancing and implementing the priorities of the Canada-Métis Nation Accord. The Leaders and Ministers reaffirmed the value of the Permanent Bilateral Mechanism process and their ongoing commitment to undertaking joint work and policy co-development in the priority areas set out in the Accord.
The Leaders welcomed the considerable work that has been undertaken to date toward a renewed government-to-government relationship based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership. The Leaders also agreed that the Government of Canada investment in permanent governance capacity for the Metis Nation in Budget 2017 was a step forward in advancing this relationship, and noted the ongoing commitment from all sides toward concrete deliverables for the Métis Nation.
Discussions in today's meeting focused on ensuring future federal government initiatives are informed by Métis Nation perspectives and priorities as Ministers prepare their proposals for considerations as part of Budget 2018, and that the parties respect the spirit of co-development outlined in the Canada-Métis Nation Accord.
Building on the priorities outlined in the Accord, the Leaders and Ministers agreed that early learning and child care (ELCC), housing, and skills and employment training are the three areas in need of urgent action and investment.
Ministers recognize the considerable work the Métis Nation has undertaken which has enabled it to provide its recommendations to Canada for next steps in these three areas. The Métis Nation provided Canada with proposals and draft companion accords in all three areas, and the Leaders and Ministers had a detailed discussion on their implications.
The Ministers and Leaders discussed draft accords in the areas of Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training (ASETS), ELCC and housing and instructed officials to continue work in advancing these documents with the goal of finalizing accords once both parties have completed their respective approval processes.
The Ministers and Leaders agreed that the documents presented today, which will form part of the ongoing co-development processes, will provide frameworks for concluding regionally-based arrangements or agreements with the Governing Members in the priority areas. They also had an opportunity to discuss other priority areas, including Métis veterans, education, health, new fiscal relations, as well as economic development.
The Leaders agreed on the critical importance of getting this process right in order to ensure progress on reconciliation between Canada and the Métis Nation.
This joint communiqué has been signed by the Métis Nation Leaders and federal cabinet Ministers in Ottawa, on September 21, 2017
This statement is also available on the Internet at www.aandc.gc.ca.
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SOURCE Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
media may contact: Sabrina Williams, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, 613-697-8316; INAC Media Relations, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, 819-953-1160
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