Submitted by: Clint Calder, MNO Sunset Country Métis Council President
The MNO Sunset Country Métis Council meet with
Minister Bennett. (L-R) John George, Senator; Sarah
Marusyk, Youth Representative/Secretary; Karen
Chowhan, Councillor; Clint Calder, President; Wade Nelson,
Councillor; Don Rusnak, MP for Thunder Bay–Rainy River;
and Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern
Affairs. Click here to view a larger version.
On August 18, 2016, the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Sunset Country Métis Council (SCMC) welcomed the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, to their office in Fort Frances. Also in attendance were Don Rusnak, MP for Thunder Bay–Rainy River, and Monique Doiron, Director of Governance, Individual Affairs and Government Relations at Indigenous and Northern Affairs.
Clint Calder, MNO SCMC President, relayed to Minister Bennett the community’s excitement in having a new government that was so committed to reconciliation. He mentioned the hope that they can build off of the Daniels’ decision and the Isaac report and start working on the details of a new relationship with the federal government. Minister Bennett was very receptive and said that she looks forward to working with the MNO.
Other topics discussed during the meeting included, Treaty 3 (Half-Breed Adhesion), Post-secondary education funding, health benefits, tax benefits and harvesting. President Calder stressed the importance of these issues and the need for them to be addressed as soon as possible.
Published on: August 19, 2016