MNC President Clément Chartier Congratulates the New Prime Minister on Historic Victory, Applauds Liberal Plan to Advance Reconciliation for the Métis Nation

OTTAWA, Oct. 20, 2015 /CNW/ - Métis National Council (MNC) President Clément Chartier congratulated newly-elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and expressed his optimism for moving ahead on the Liberal plan for Métis Nation reconciliation.

"Early in the campaign, the Liberals came out with a plan based on a renewed Nation-to-Nation relationship with the Métis Nation to further Métis self-government." said President Chartier. " It was an integral part of the Liberal Party's platform and is bold and comprehensive."

The Liberal plan for Advancing and Achieving Reconciliation with the Métis Nation commits a Liberal government to a negotiations process with the Manitoba Métis Federation to settle the outstanding land claim of the Manitoba Metis community and to establish a federal claims process to address Métis rights protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act 1982. It also identifies specific investments to be made in Métis Nation skills development and economic development institutions.

"I am full of hope today", said President Chartier. "After a lost 10 years, the Metis Nation now has an opportunity to engage with the new government on a nation to nation, government to government, distinctions based approach in the pursuit of Metis rights, recognition and self-determination. As the last remaining participant in the historic 2005 Kelowna Accord still in office, I look forward to the re-engagement of the Metis Nation in the fulfilment of the commitments agreed to therein. I was impressed by the depth of Justin Trudeau's commitments during the campaign and am confident that as Prime Minister, he will press forward with us to achieve real change."

Background

For a copy of the Liberal Party plan for reconciliation with the Métis Nation, please visit:

https://www.liberal.ca/files/2015/09/Advancing-and-achieving-reconciliation-for-the-Metis-people.pdf

The MNC represents the Métis Nation in Canada at the national and international levels. The Métis Nation's homeland includes the 3 Prairie Provinces and extends into Ontario, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and the northern United States. There are approximately 350,000 – 400,000 Métis Nation citizens in Canada, roughly a quarter of all Aboriginal peoples in the country.

SOURCE Métis National Council

Ke Ning, Métis National Council, c: [phone], e: [email protected]