l-r: Andres Filella (MNA),Alisha Kaba (MNO), Manon Soulard (MMF), Kathy Hodgson-Smith (MNC), Dawn Pritchard (MNC), Marshall Birch (MMF), President Clément Chartier, Chris Gall (MNBC), Thomas McCallum (Métis Elder), Minister Catherine McKenna, Ryan Carriere (MNS), Mervin Tex Bouvier (MNS), Jocelyn Gosselin (MNA), Gary Bigger (MNBC), President Melanie Omeniho (Women of the Métis Nation)
Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna and MNC President Chartier met with federal officials and member of the Métis Nation environment committee in Ottawa today to develop a joint work plan for tackling climate change.
The senior-level table being established by the Minister and Métis Nation President results from the Joint Statement of Prime Minister Trudeau and President Chartier on the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change on December 9, 2016. The Framework builds on the Paris Agreement where UN member states agreed that they should, when taking action to address climate change, recognize and respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Government of Canada’s approach to engagement includes its commitment to renewing its nation-to-nation, government-to-government relationship with the Métis Nation. The senior-level table enables inclusive and meaningful engagement of the Métis Nation to inform action on the implementation of the Framework.
Following opening remarks by Minister McKenna and President Chartier, senior officials sat down to two days of discussion on priorities for joint work. These include innovation and clean technology, traditional knowledge protection, climate change adaptation, and mitigation of climate change effects.
Under the process set out in the Joint Statement, Canada and the Métis Nation commit to work together in a collaborative manner to identify meaningful outcomes, and pursue shared goals and commitments. The Canada-Métis Nation Table on Clean Growth and Climate Change will develop terms of reference and annual work plans for their operation, and will have the ability to form technical working groups that will report to the table as required. Representatives at the table agree to share relevant information and jointly produce proposals, options, and recommendations.
