Ref. #2-3340
TORONTO, ONTARIO (April 28, 2010) - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, today met for the second time with a working group composed of Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and national Aboriginal leaders. The previous meeting took place on October 29, 2009.
"I am pleased to have been able to attend these meetings and to see the progress since the last meeting in October," said Minister Strahl. "The priorities identified by the working group – education, economic development, and preventing violence against Aboriginal women – align closely with the federal government's priorities in these areas."
Minister Strahl added that he was pleased to see that all members of the working group, including National Aboriginal Organizations, are proposing to work with the federal government on the implementation of the Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development as a means to increase economic opportunities for Aboriginal people.
The partnerships approach the federal government has established over the last couple of years is already yielding tangible, concrete results. The federal government now has tripartite arrangements on education with First Nations organizations and provinces in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, as well as an Inuit Education Accord and a protocol agreement with the Métis National Council.
"The health and safety of First Nation communities is a priority and we are taking real, concrete action that makes a positive difference. That is why our Government announced, in our Jobs and Growth Budget, $10 million to address the disturbingly high number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women through concrete actions in law enforcement and in the justice system," said Minister Strahl. "It is in this spirit that our government also has tripartite frameworks with five provinces to implement a prevention-based model of child and family services covering nearly half of First Nations children in Canada," added the Minister.
The federal government has also implemented measures to ensure that Aboriginal people are well-integrated into the stimulus plan for the Canadian economy. With over $1.4 billion from Canada's Economic Action Plan, support is being applied to where it is needed most: skills and training; housing; and infrastructure including water, wastewater, schools, and health and police facilities. This approach, and the considerable progress achieved to date, are highlighted through quarterly reports to Canadians and in particular in a report entitled "Implementing Canada's Economic Action Plan: Impacts for Aboriginal and Northern Communities".
Minister's Office
Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl
Press Secretary
819-997-0002
Media Relations
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
819-953-1160
