MNO President Margaret Froh attending the Crown-Métis Nation Summit on April 14. (Left to right) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett, President Froh, Treasury Board President Scott Brison, Vice-President of the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan Gerald Morin and Minister of Justice and Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould. Click here to view larger picture).
During the morning of Thursday, April 13, 2017, Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) President Margaret Froh attended the inaugural meeting of the Crown – Métis Nation Summit — a permanent bilateral process between Métis Nation leaders, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of his cabinet. During the meeting, President Froh and the leaders of Métis Nation governments signed the Canada-Métis Nation Accord.
“I was honoured, on behalf of the Métis Nation of Ontario, to participate today in the first ever Crown-Metis Nation Summit and sign the Canada-Métis Nation Accord on behalf of Ontario Métis,” stated President Froh. “This Accord sets up a permanent bilateral process that marks the beginning of a new relationship between the Crown and the Métis Nation based on recognition, rights and respect. We look forward, under the Prime Minister’s leadership, for the doors of the federal government to finally open so we can begin to move forward in the spirit of cooperation and partnership. We will work with the federal government to realize our shared vision of a renewed relationship with the Métis Peoples of Canada, for the benefit of all Canadians.”
The permanent bilateral process established in the Canada-Métis Nation Accord includes annual meetings with the Prime Minister, semi-annual meetings with the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and key Cabinet Ministers, and quarterly meetings with various Assistant Deputy Ministers and other senior officials on joint issues of concern to the Métis Nation.
“This kind of accountability and access will significantly advance reconciliation between Canada and the Métis Nation,” predicted President Froh. “The MNO will use these new mechanisms and our exploratory discussions process with the federal government to strengthen our role in improving the lives of Métis people in Ontario. We will continue to work to support Métis community health and well-being; creating opportunity for our Métis children and youth to be the best they can be; protecting and promoting the Métis Way of Life and the environment; advancing the self-sufficiency and sustainability of our nation; and stimulating economic development for our citizens. At the heart of everything that we do are our MNO citizens, families and communities,” said President Froh.
The Ministers who participated in the Crown-Métis Nation Summit were each selected based on the roles their Ministries play in advancing the immediate priorities of reconciliation through a nation-to-nation, government-to-government relationship with the Métis Nation.
Canada was represented by:
* Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister
* Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
* Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of Canada
* Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board
* Honourable Jane Philpot, Minister of Health
* Honourable Patricia Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
* Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Posted: April 14, 2017