Merasty’s Motion Passes In House Of Commons
Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 14:29
A motion introduced by Gary Merasty in the House of Commons regarding the Kelowna Accord was passed yesterday.
The motion from the Member of Parliament for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River called on the Conservative government to immediately implement the $5.1-billion agreement.
The vote passed 160 to 113. The Conservatives voted against the motion.
Merasty says with the passing of this vote, Parliament is “rejecting the backward step that the Conservatives have taken on Aboriginal affairs”.
Merasty says the Tories now “have no choice” but to respond to the will of Parliament and implement the accord.
Former Prime Minister Paul Martin’s private members’ bill also passed a vote last week, successfully passing the second reading. It will now be reviewed in the Aboriginal Affairs Committee.