Election Questions from the Manitoba Metis Federation to Federal Parties.
- RECONCILIATION
The Manitoba Metis Federation believes that when the Crown and the Métis Nation’s Manitoba Metis Community have dialogue, renew or build relationships, negotiate rather than litigate, and find creative and mutually agreeable solutions, they can collectively advance the constitutionally mandated process of the core values to Reconciliation.
On November 15, 2016, the Manitoba Metis Federation and the Government of Canada signed a Framework Agreement for Advancing Reconciliation to establish a formal negotiation process to jointly develop a renewed Nation-to-Nation, Government-to-Government relationship between the Crown and the Manitoba Métis Community. The negotiations between the Manitoba Metis Federation and Canada under the Framework Agreement are active and ongoing.
Through this agreement, how will your Government commit to working on a Nation-to-Nation, Government-to-Government basis with the Métis to advance reconciliation, implement resources into communities and renew the relationship through co-operation, respect for Métis rights, and ending the status quo?
If elected, what action plan with concreate objectives will your party make to uphold the core values of reconciliation as they specifically relate to the Manitoba Métis experience?
Would this action plan include a legislative framework for reconciliation?
- ECONOMIC
The Manitoba Métis are continuing the path to economic and social development and building strategic relationships. The Manitoba Métis has seen significant investments and advances in portfolios such as Housing, Economic Development, Health, Employment and Training. Forging significant headway toward the redress of historic wrongs and the self-determination of the Métis Nation.
If your party forms government, describe how you would work in partnership with the Métis Nation. What supports will you offer to assist us in closing the economic gap between the Manitoba Métis and other Canadians achieve our rightful place as partners in Confederation and further, contributing as economic partners in growth?
- HEALTH AND WELLNESS
The Manitoba Metis Federation recognizes a gap within the health care system and Métis life circumstances which have produced a burden of illnesses (such as diabetes, heart disease and shorter life expectancy) and an ongoing struggle for the Métis community to obtain medications. The Daniels Decision observes a clear obligation that the government owes to the Métis. The Manitoba Metis Federation has taken a leadership role and administered its first prescription drug program (PDP) under Métis Health Benefits effective November 16, 2017.
If elected, will your government collaborate with the Manitoba Métis Government to ensure the support, success and expansion of a Métis specific program to enhance our Manitoba Metis Federation-initiated Métis Health Benefits, including medications initiated to address and solve the historic and continued health care crisis facing Métis Citizens?
- CHILD WELFARE
The over-representation of Métis in Child and Family Services system has been called a “humanitarian crisis” (Government of Canada) and is deeply rooted in inter-generational trauma and colonial practices and policies. Studies show that children in care have poorer outcomes and are at greater risk, of homelessness, addictions, and involvement in the justice system. Systems must change to improve the path for Métis children and families.
If your government is elected, will you implement Bill C-92 and in what ways would you work with the Manitoba Metis Federation to transcend old and flawed models, reform frameworks for child and family services, and support Métis families and their ability to stay together and flourish?
- LANGUAGE
Languages connect us to cultural history of identity and belonging. The Métis are well known as speakers of many languages. In addition to others the Métis spoke our own language Michif. According the UNESCO Atlas of the Worlds Languages a third of the world’s languages are considered endangered and have fewer than 1,000 speakers left, including Michif which is critically endangered.
If elected, what supports would your government contribute to the Manitoba Metis Federation community for a distinctions-based approach to Indigenous language revitalization projects that will preserve, promote and revitalize Michif, the traditional language spoken by the Métis?
- MMWIG INQUIRY AND IMPLEMENTATION
The final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls reports the history of colonization has further generated a hierarchy of identity, resulting in conflicts within the Métis community and drawing attention away from the ongoing marginalization that Métis women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people face. The Manitoba Metis Federation is working with the RCMP and Winnipeg Police to find information on unsolved murdered cases, which includes a $10,000 open reward that would lead to conviction or even the recovery of missing bodies to assist in the closure and of healing for Métis families and communities.
If elected, what type of resources will your government allocate to take the urgent measures that are required as described in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and how will you work with the Manitoba Metis Federation to implement Métis-specific options?
- CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPTATION
Evidence-based perspectives and scientists from around the world have warned that global warming will have widespread economic, environmental and health impacts. The Manitoba Métis have a vital connection to our lands and waters and are committed to participating in a sustainable future to ensure our traditional social and economic Métis rights are protected. The Métis are critical in making meaningful and effective adaptation and mitigation decisions for current and future generations, and to help Canadian society move from risk to resilience.
If elected, what is your government’s climate change strategy to incorporate the Manitoba Métis through their MMF Government to take preventive steps and strengthen our economy?
What specific investment will your government make in our Métis community to mitigate and adapt to climate change?
- EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The Canada-Métis Nation Post-Secondary Education Sub-Accord seeks to prioritize Métis Nation students and was designed to counteract the deep-rooted injustices which have prevented Métis Youth from pursuing equal opportunities in post-secondary education.
How will your government support the MMF to help our Métis students attain their education and career goals?
If elected, will your government commit to keeping the 10 year investment for a Métis Nation stream of ASET funding?
- CONSULTATION AND ACCOMMODATION
The duty to Consult and Accommodate with the Manitoba Métis is a Section 35 Constitutional requirement before decision-making is done by governments. Consistent with Resolution #8, The Manitoba Metis Federation is the first contact and facilitator of Manitoba Metis Consultation.
If elected, what will your government do to ensure full and proper consultation and accommodation of the Manitoba Metis Community includes effective offset or compensation measures regarding the development of crown land?
What will your government do to ensure proponents undertaking major resource development will fully, properly, and meaningfully engage and promote the participation of the Manitoba Metis Federation?
- LAND CLAIMS
In March 2013, the Supreme Court recognized the obligations to the Métis people enshrined in the Manitoba Act: “The unfinished business of reconciliation of the Métis people with Canadian sovereignty is a matter of national and constitutional import.”
As the representative of Manitoba’s Métis Community, the Manitoba Metis Federation’s objective is to negotiate with Canada to reach a land claims agreement that will address this outstanding constitutional grievance.
If you were to become Prime Minister, will you commit to negotiating with MMF to Settle the 2013 land claim decision by the Supreme Court?
If elected, what can you commit to the thousands and thousands of Metis across western Canada that would change their lives and make them feel apart of confederation?
- CITIZENSHIP
A major topic of concern for the Metis Nation is the concept of Metis identity and verification of Metis Citizenship. Many people have come forward in recent years and have used the term Metis to identify themselves, these individuals or organizations are not accepted by the Manitoba Metis Government because they are not apart of the only and historic Metis Nation. These false claims open a floodgate of hundreds of thousands of people trying to identify as a Métis, with a significant cost to the Federal Government, cultural appropriation and damaging the representation of Metis rights.
How will your government mitigate the recognition of individuals and groups who falsely claim Métis ancestry?