Métis Nation of Ontario President Margaret Froh was
among the Presidents of the Métis National Council
governing members who met with Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau on June 15 for their annual meeting. Click here
to view a larger version of this image.
Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) President Margaret Froh and the Presidents of the Métis National Council governing members met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the annual Crown-Métis Summit on Parliament Hill on June 15.
The Summit was the second annual meeting of the Prime Minister, key Cabinet Ministers and the Presidents of all the Métis National Council governing members, since the signing of the Canada Métis Nation Accord last April.
The Accord sets out a permanent bilateral process that includes annual meetings with the Prime Minister, semi-annual meetings with the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Cabinet Ministers, and quarterly meetings with various Assistant Deputy Ministers and other senior officials.
During the Summit, they reviewed progress made in the last year and also confirmed priorities for the coming year. The priorities identified include: Métis veterans, education, child and family services, economic development, environment, clean growth, infrastructure and the new fiscal relationship.
“The Métis Nation of Ontario is pleased with the progress made over the past year and we look forward to advance on areas of priority that respect and address the unique needs of Métis throughout Ontario and create real positive change for families and communities,” stated MNO President Froh.
Throughout the next year, the Métis Nation will work with the federal government to advance these priorities and both parties will report back on any progress made at the next Crown-Métis Nation Summit.
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Trudeau outlined commitments made in the 2018 budget to the Métis Nation, including $500 million over 10 years to support a Métis housing strategy, $10 million in 2018-19 to support Métis Nation post-secondary education and $6 million over five years to support the Métis Nation in gathering health data and developing a health strategy.
“The next step after investment is of course implementation, which is why I’m committed to working with you to ensure that resources get to your communities,” he said.
“These meetings provide an important opportunity to hear directly from leaders of the Métis Nation about their unique needs and concerns. We will continue to work together with the Métis Nation as partners to address these needs, and strengthen the Canada-Métis Nation relationship for the benefit of our country and all Canadians,” he said in a statement.
Métis National Council President Clément Chartier, who co-chaired the meeting, Manitoba Metis Federation President David Chartrand, Métis Nation British Columbia President Clara Morin Dal Col, Métis Nation Alberta President Audrey Poitras, Métis Nation Saskatchewan President Glen McCallum and Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak President Melanie Omenhio, as well as Métis elders Angie Crerar, Oliver Boulette and Norman Fleury also attended the Summit.
Cabinet Ministers in attendance included: Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada Jane Philpott, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health Ginette C. Petitpas Taylor and Minister of Veterans Affairs Seamus O’Regan.
Posted: June 22, 2018