The president of the Metis National Council is among Canada’s Indigenous leaders applauding the election of the Trudeau government and the new line-up of ministers who will be in cabinet.
Clem Chartier says there has not been much progress over the last 10 years. He is hoping to make up for lost time.
“You know we have lost 10 years under the Harper government,” he says. “I now have hope.”
Some of that hope involves a long-standing dispute over compensation for students who attended the Ile a la Crosse boarding school.
It has been the subject of court battles for years, with the Harper government refusing to pay.
Chartier says it is too early to speculate if that will change, but he says what will not change is the fight for fairness on behalf of the Metis students who attended the school.
“Well, I believe our opportunity is much better, there was a commitment that they would look at the issue,” he says. “I think we have a much better chance now of addressing that issue and that is one of the first things I will do.”
Chartier also welcomes the appointment of two Aboriginal members to the Trudeau cabinet, as well as the name change for the department from Aboriginal Affairs to Indigenous Affairs.