Aboriginal Groups Ready To Work With Tory Majority
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 15:29
Aboriginal leaders are reacting to the Conservatives’ election victory yesterday.
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations says it is well-positioned to work with the Conservatives’ new majority government.
FSIN Chief Guy Lonechild says a majority government means Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his cabinet have the power to make positive change in the lives of First Nation people.
Lonechild also says, with the re-election of Indian Affairs Minister John Duncan, he and Duncan can continue their work on providing new investments addressing education and economic outcomes of First Nations people.
The president of the Metis Nation – Saskatchewan says the MN-S will work with any party in power.
Robert Doucette says letters of congratulations have already been sent out to the province’s MPs and he hopes to soon meet with the Tories’ Saskatchewan caucus.
Doucette says it is important those in the majority government understand the issues facing Metis people.
He says there is always room for improvement and that can only happen through dialogue.
Doucette also says he is confident the MN-S will have a good working relationship with the new federal government.
The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says he will be contacting the Prime Minister and members of his cabinet to “set out a forward-looking agenda for real change and progress”.
Specifically, Shawn Atleo says the AFN hopes to build on a previous Harper commitment for a First Nations – Crown Gathering, as well as moving forward immediately on the priority of ensuring fairness and equity in First Nations education.
Atleo says First Nations will continue to advance their plans to transform the relationship between First Nations and all Canadians, and to move away from the Indian Act.
Atleo is also offering his congratulations to the seven Aboriginal candidates that were elected as Members of Parliament yesterday.
That number includes Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River MP Rob Clarke, who was re-elected after defeating NDP rival Lawrence Joseph by 789 votes.
The incumbent finished with 10,504 votes compared to Joseph’s 9,715 votes.
Liberal Gabe Lafond and Green Party candidate George Morin were well back with 1,144 and 562 votes, respectively.
Clarke says he knew it would be a tight race as soon as the NDP and Liberals announced their candidates in northern Saskatchewan last year.