The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) welcomes investments promised in the 2019 federal budget that will provide greater support to Métis education, language and culture, and economic development, as well as long awaited recognition of Second World War Métis veterans.
The investments focus on advancing reconciliation with Indigenous people to help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. Métis-specific investments include:
- $362 million was promised over 10 years to support a Métis Nation-led post-secondary education strategy to focus on financial assistance for Métis students
- To kick start the implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act, $333.7 million will be invested over the next five years to support Indigenous language revitalization projects, including Michif
- Starting in 2019-2020, $50 million will be invested over five years to enrich the funding for Métis Capital Corporations. The funds will go to support the start-up, development and expansion of small and medium-sized Métis enterprises
- An additional $100 million will be available to establish an Indigenous Growth Fund to encourage investments in Indigenous-led businesses by Indigenous financial bodies, including Métis Capital Corporations
- Budget 2019 also proposed to invest $30 million to recognize the contributions made by Métis veterans during the Second World War and to commemorate the sacrifices and triumphs of all Métis veterans
“This kind of investment — along with the commitments made over the past year in areas like housing, early learning and child care, employment and skills training — will help us make real progress in improving socio-economic outcomes for Métis and advance reconciliation between Canada and the Métis Nation. These commitments from Canada to advance reconciliation will change the lives of Métis children, families and communities across Ontario,” said MNO President Margaret Froh. “We will continue to work with the federal government to realize our shared vision of a true renewed relationship, to move forward in the spirit of cooperation and partnership, for the benefit of the entire country.”
The signing of the 2017 Canada-Métis Nation Accord set up a permanent bilateral process that marked the beginning of a new relationship based on recognition, rights and respect. The 2019 Budget is informed by this new relationship and builds on significant investments already made to support Métis Nation governing members in advancing priority policy areas such as housing, skills and training, early learning and child care, and governance.
Click here to read the 2019 federal budget.
Posted: March 20, 2019