Liberal Party Responses to MNC Election Campaign Questions:
In the event your party should form the government, will it:
Reconciliation
support a nation-to-nation, government-to-government relationship with the Métis Nation?
Yes. A re-elected Liberal government will continue to support a nation-to-nation, government-to-government relationship with the Métis Nation.
adopt a distinctions-based approach to Indigenous policies and programs i.e. Métis Nation specific rather than pan-Indigenous?
Yes. Over the past four years, we have committed to and delivered a distinctions-based approach to programing and funding, whether on housing, post-secondary education, skills and employment training, or early learning and child care.
A re-elected Liberal government would continue this approach, including on the co-development of distinctions-based Indigenous Health legislation, the co-development of distinctions-based community infrastructure plans to address critical infrastructure needs in Métis communities by 2030, and a co-developed, distinctions-based national action plan to implement the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice.
conclude self-government and claims settlement agreements with Métis Nation governments?
Yes. A re-elected Liberal government will prioritize work to conclude self-government agreements with the Métis Nation, as well as claims settlements, including the conclusion of a agreement with the Manitoba Métis Federation on their land claim.
continue the Permanent Bilateral Mechanism under the terms of the Canada-Métis Nation Accord?
Yes. A re-elected Liberal government will continue to make progress on Métis Nation priorities, meeting regularly through the Canada- Métis Accord, and annual Crown-Métis Nation Summits.
introduce legislation to provide Métis Nation control of the development and delivery of Métis Nation health and well-being services?
Yes. A re-elected Liberal government will co-develop distinctions-based Indigenous Health legislation – backed with the investments needed to deliver this care – and the development and delivery of services for the Métis Nation. We would work in close collaboration with the Métis National Council to co-develop this legislation and the investments associated with it.
commit to substantive, long-term and flexible funding that supports a holistic approach to health and wellbeing?
Yes.
Family and Child Services
ensure that adequate resourcing for Métis Nation governments is provided so they may exercise jurisdiction under An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families?
Yes. A re-elected Liberal government we will ensure that the Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Children, Youth and Families is fully implemented in partnership with the Métis Nation. We will also move forward with long-term, predictable, and sufficient funding to support the full implementation of the Act.
Michif Language
provide adequate resourcing for Métis Nation governments and institutions so they can exercise the right to preserve and promote Michif under the Indigenous Languages Act?
Yes. A re-elected Liberal government will work in partnership with the Métis Nation to ensure that the Indigenous Languages Act is fully implemented, in order to preserve, promote, and revitalize Michif and other Indigenous languages in Canada, supported with long-term, predictable, and sufficient funding.
Economic Development
increase federal procurement from Métis Nation businesses?
Across the country, Indigenous-led businesses are helping to create jobs, build strong communities, and make real progress on the important work of economic reconciliation. But there is more we can do to ensure their success. To create more opportunities for these businesses to succeed and grow, we will move forward with a new target to have at least five percent of federal contracts awarded to businesses led by Indigenous Peoples.
ensure revenue sharing and/or equity participation of Métis Nation governments and communities in major projects within areas of federal jurisdiction?
Yes. We will work with the Métis Nation to establishing a new national benefits-sharing framework to ensure that Métis Nation communities directly benefit from major resource projects.
support Métis Nation communities and businesses to fully participate in the development of clean energy and sustainable technologies and in clean growth economic opportunities?
Yes. Our plan to reach Net Zero by 2030 must be developed in full partnership with the Métis Nation, to ensure it reflects the priorities and unique interests of Métis communities across the country, including participation in the development of clean energy and sustainable technologies, and clean growth opportunities.
ensure access of all Métis communities to high speed internet comparable to the rest of Canada?
Yes. To address the infrastructure deficit in Indigenous communities, we will co-develop and invest in distinctions-based community infrastructure plans, and will move forward with addressing critical infrastructure needs – such as housing, high-speed internet, health facilities, and treatment centres in Métis communities by 2030. We will also move forward with new investments to support the ongoing operation and maintenance of this infrastructure.
Education
provide support for Métis Nation governments to engage with the provinces around the issue of K-12 education for Métis students?
Yes. As stated in the Canada- Métis Nation Accord, Canada is committed to working with the Métis Nation on K-12 education outcomes for Métis students.
support the expansion of Métis Nation educational institutions?
Yes. Through Budget 2018 our government invested $325 million over five years, and $67 million per year ongoing in the Métis Nation stream of the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program, which supports employment services, skills development and job training. Building on the significant investments already made to support Métis Nation priorities in the areas of housing, skills and training, early learning and child care, and governance capacity, Budget 2019 continued this progress by including $362 million over 10 years to support a Métis Nation-led post-secondary education strategy.
A re-elected Liberal government will remain committed to these long-term, predictable and sustainable investments in Métis Nation education and will continue to work with the Métis Nation to make further investments in your priorities.
Inter-governmental
host a First Ministers Meeting on the priorities of the three Indigenous peoples and a summit with the Premiers of the western provinces and Métis Nation leadership?
Yes. We will host a First Ministers Meeting on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis priorities, and continue to advance meaningful inclusion of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners in federal and inter-governmental decision-making processes that have an impact on Indigenous rights and interests.