Métis Nation President Clément Chartier and VP David Chartrand presenting Order of the Métis Nation to Prime Minister Trudeau
The third Summit of Prime Minister Trudeau with the Métis Nation since the Liberals came to power in 2015 ended with the common resolve of the Prime Minister and Métis Nation leadership to continue their co-development of policies and programs to advance self-government and socio-economic development for the Métis people.
In his opening statement, Prime Minister Trudeau said reconciliation efforts will span generations but said the government has come a long way in working with the Metis Nation on long-standing challenges, including housing and post-secondary education.
“I really want to put forward this relationship as the model of what reconciliation can be,” stated Trudeau.
President Clément Chartier applauded the dedication of the Prime Minister to fulfilling his vision of reconciliation, saying the Metis Nation has witnessed it in action working with his cabinet ministers on Métis Nation priorities under the Canada-Métis Nation Accord. He presented the Prime Minister with the Order of the Metis Nation, the highest award for people who have made a significant contribution to the Métis.
The Summit opening also included a short video of 98 year-old Paul Delorme, a veteran of the Dieppe raid in 1942, receiving the first cheque of $20,000 under the $30-million Métis Veterans Recognition Payment Agreement that was put into effect at the end of the Summit by Métis Nation Veterans Minister David Chartrand and federal Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence A. MacAulay (see video).
The Summit then reviewed progress in social and economic policy areas including child and family services, languages, health, post-secondary education, economic development and homelessness. It also looked at the new fiscal relationship between the federal government and Métis Nation governments and plans to improve data collection and track results of the many federal investments in the Métis Nation.
The Summit set Year 3 Priorities which will include: education K-12; justice and policing; youth and sports; Métis s35 rights; environment, clean growth and infrastructure; and Métis Nation 2020. It concluded with the signing of sub-accords under the Canada-Métis Nation Accord in the areas of post-secondary education, economic development, homelessness and governance funding.
Joint Crown-Métis Nation Press Release: (Download PDF: EN, FR)
(photo credit: Adam Scotti, PMO)
l-r: Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett, Métis Elder Jim Durocher, MNA President Audrey Poitras, MNO President Margaret Froh, MNBC President Clara Morin Dal Col, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, MNC President Clément Chartier, MN-S President Glen McCallum, MMF President David Chartrand, LFMO President Melanie Omeniho, Minister of Indigenous Services Seamus O’Regan
signing of the Métis Veterans Recognition Payment Agreement
l-r: MMF President David Chartrand, Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence MacAulay, MNC President Clément Chartier
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and MMF President David Chartrand
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with MMF delegation (photo credit: Adam Scotti, PMO)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with MNBC delegation (photo credit: Adam Scotti, PMO)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with MNA delegation (photo credit: Adam Scotti, PMO)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with MN-S delegation (photo credit: Adam Scotti, PMO)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with MNO delegation (photo credit: Adam Scotti, PMO)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with LFMO delegation (photo credit: Adam Scotti, PMO)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with MNC delegation (photo credit: Adam Scotti, PMO)
