April 18, 2020, Ottawa, ON
Métis National Council National Spokesperson David Chartrand welcomes the Prime Minister’s announcement today of up to $306.8 million in funding to help small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses, and to support Aboriginal Financial Institutions that offer financing to these businesses.
“The Prime Minister has responded quickly and on a distinctions-basis which he knows is essential if Métis people are not to be left out,” said Chartrand. “I am indeed pleased that Métis Nation businesses will have access to desperately needed capital to get through the COVID crisis and our Métis capital corporations will be included in the administration of this crucial financial support.”
Of all Indigenous peoples, the Métis people have the highest self-employment rate and the Métis capital corporations play a central role in providing Métis entrepreneurs with financing to start up and expand their businesses.
“The Métis National Council has been working with all the Métis capital corporations across our homeland to press the case with federal ministers and the House of Commons Finance Committee for the type of support the Prime Minister announced today,” said Chartrand. “It will be essential for us to deploy the capital as quickly as possible in view of the critical situation our entrepreneurs find themselves in now.”
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For more information contact:
Ke Ning
Métis National Council
c: 613-297-5193
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