The Métis National Council Board of Governors did spend the morning of the 30th engaged in discussion with a number of federal Ministers who will join the Prime Minister and the Métis Nation at the Summit. Treasury Board President Brison, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Bennett, Health Minister Philpot and Employment and Workforce Development Minister Hajdu put forward their thoughts on key Summit issues as did Métis Nation leaders.
The Crown–Métis Nation Summit will be the first of the three permanent forums to which the Prime Minister committed on December 15th, 2016. These will include annual meetings with the Prime Minister and semi-annual meetings with key Ministers to monitor progress on key issues.
President Chartier expressed the condolences of the Métis Nation for the Muslim community in Quebec City:
“Coming as it did a year after the devastating shootings in the Métis community of La Loche, the tragedy in Quebec resonates strongly with the Métis Nation”, said Chartier. “While the atmosphere was sombre this morning, I did appreciate the determination of the federal Ministers to work with us on and advance an understanding of our key issues. This bodes well for the upcoming Summit with the Prime Minister.”
Later in the day, President Audrey Poitras of the Métis Nation of Alberta and Minister Bennett signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Advancing Reconciliation. This agreement will set the stage for an exploratory table that will launch the process promised by the Trudeau government during the last federal election to address Métis rights protected by s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, recognize Métis self-government, and resolve outstanding Métis claims against the Crown.
