Manitoba Metis Federation

Thursday, 05 January 2006

Liberals: Clear Choice for Metis People in this Federal Election
Winnipeg, MB (January 5th, 2006) Today, Metis leadership from Ontario west held a press conference in Winnipeg to inform and encourage Metis Nation citizens to get out and vote for the Liberal Party in the upcoming federal election.

As Metis, we must get out and vote on January 23rd in order to protect our rights and the country weve helped to build. When it comes to Metis issues, the Liberal Party has a proven track record, the policy positions and the best vision for Canada that respects diversity, rights and the Metis Nation," said Clement Chartier, President of the Metis National Council.

Just days after the election was called, the Metis Nation sent a questionnaire to all federal parties asking for their positions and policies on priority issues for the Metis people. Only the Liberals and NDP responded. (see letters and chart summary at www.metisnation.ca)

Based on the responses and Prime Minister Paul Martin's record on Metis issues, the Metis National Council Board of Governors passed a unanimous motion to inform and encourage Metis citizens to vote for the Liberal Party on January 23rd.

President Chartier said, We are extremely concerned about the future of our people and communities if Stephen Harper, Thomas Flanagan's prote'ge', became the next Prime Minister of Canada. Mr. Harper has never met with the leadership of the Metis Nation; he never bothered to provide a formal written response to our questionnaire; nor does his party have any printed policies on the Metis! In fact, the Conservative Party's policy declarations on Aboriginal issues do not even include the word Metis.

Equally troubling is the Conservative Party's complete disregard for Metis rights even in light of the Supreme Court of Canada's unanimous decision in R. v. Powley (Sept. 2003). And President Chartier added, Canadians should fear a government that would ignore its constitutional duties, regardless of who might be the objects of those duties.

David Chartrand, President of the Manitoba Metis Federation and Metis Nation Minister responsible for Social Development stated, Metis families and communities need to understand what is at stake in this important election. At the First Ministers Meeting on Aboriginal Issues, Prime Minister Martin committed his government to Metis-specific child care, health supports and housing. Rest assured, if Stephen Harper becomes the next Prime Minister, all of that would be lost. The Conservative Party's silence foreshadows what our future would be like under a Conservative reign.

At the press conference, the Metis National Council also released a Metis Electoral Study which identifies 33 ridings in Ontario and western Canada where the Metis vote will play a significant role. In 15 of the 33 ridings the Metis vote alone could determine the outcome of who will win those seats. (see the study at www.metisnation.ca)

President Chartier added, We will be targeting key ridings in order to help the Liberal Party form the next government. To do that, we need to ensure our people are fully informed and that we encourage them to get out January 23rd and exercise their democratic right to vote for the future of our people and Canada.

The Metis Nation's leadership was also encouraged by the record number of Metis Nation citizens running as candidates for the Liberal Party in this election and endorsed the campaigns of Ray St. Germain (Winnipeg-Centre), Dominic LaPlante (Battleford-Lloyd Minister), Brad Enge (Edmonton-Spruce Grove) and Keith Henry (Pitt Meadows-Maple Ride Mission).

We also encourage all of Canada's minority groups to mobilize their people in order to protect the rights we have all fought for over the years. For example, the Metis Nation has always had a strong affinity and attachment to Quebec. We are calling on our Quebecois brothers and sisters to join with us, in the spirit of Riel, in order to protect the Canada we love and the rights we so cherish.

President Chartier concluded, If, as the Conservative Party would have it, governments can ignore the constitutional rights of Aboriginal people today, they might equally be able to ignore the constitutional rights of others tomorrow. You have an interest in seeing to it that governments recognize, respect, and protect the rights of Metis, for you may be the Metis of tomorrow.