Métis Nation of Ontario affirms commitment to working with Minister Greg Rickford on advancement of Métis rights in Ontario
Toronto, ON (June 24, 2022) – Following the swearing-in of Premier Doug Ford’s newly announced cabinet, including returning Minister of Indigenous Affairs, The Honourable Greg Rickford, the Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario (PCMNO) is affirming the MNO’s commitment to working with this new government to strengthen the Métis Nation of Ontario’s (MNO) relationship with the Progressive Conservatives and ensure Métis rights are protected. The MNO represents the collective rights and interests of Métis families and communities within Ontario.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Ontario on a government-to-government basis to address issues of critical importance to our Citizens and ultimately make Ontario stronger,” said MNO President Margaret Froh.
“We welcome the opportunity to meet with this new Government in the coming weeks to discuss how we can work together to advance our joint priorities during the upcoming term. We would like to congratulate Minister Rickford on his renewed appointment and we look forward to moving forward together to best serve the citizens of the MNO,” said Froh.
“Our priority is advancing reconciliation through collaborative processes, as mandated by Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. This critical work includes steps undertaken by the MNO and Ontario through the MNO-ADM Working Group, which was created to arrive at a common understanding on the locations of historic rights-bearing Métis communities in Ontario.”
As a result of the MNO-ADM Working Group process, the MNO and Ontario jointly announced the recognition of seven historic Métis communities in the province. “Ontario’s collaborative work with the MNO in recognizing what our communities have always known, asserted, and fought for, Métis Section 35 rights, are the bedrock of the government-to-government relations between the MNO and Ontario and we will continue to build on that throughout this upcoming term,” said Froh.
About the MNO
In 1993, the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) was established through the will of Métis people and their communities coming together throughout Ontario to create a Métis-specific, democratic, province wide governance structure. The MNO represents and advocates on behalf of its citizens who are rights-bearing members of Métis communities that collectively hold rights, interests, and outstanding claims protected by sections 25 and 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, including, but not limited to, the right of self-government. Ontario is home to the 2003 Powley decision, in which the Supreme Court of Canada recognized the existence of the Métis right to harvest for food that is protected by Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. Powley was—and remains—the only Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) decision affirming Métis rights protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
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For more information:
Victoria Belton
Media Profile
Email: Victoria.Belton@MediaProfile.com
Mobile: (416) 997-5179
Marc St. Germain
Métis Nation of Ontario
Email: MarcS@metisnation.org
Mobile: 613-314-9402