The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Nick McGrath, Minister Responsible for Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs:

Aboriginal Affairs Working Group Focusing on Key Priorities for Aboriginal Communities

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to recognize the progress being made on priority issues facing Aboriginal communities throughout our country. I was honoured to participate in the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group Conference held last week in Manitoba, and I am pleased to share highlights and outcomes from this conference.

The Aboriginal Affairs Working Group comprises Ministers of Aboriginal Affairs from all provinces and territories and leaders from five National Aboriginal Organizations: the Assembly of First Nations, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Métis National Council, and the Native Women's Association of Canada. Our group was joined by the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

Mr. Speaker, Aboriginal leaders and my colleagues across the country all expressed the importance of federal engagement and a mutual commitment to a renewed and strengthened relationship in order to improve the lives of all Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

Many important issues were discussed during the conference and presentations were made on the progress taking place around such issues as Aboriginal education, economic development, disaster mitigation, housing, and ending violence against Aboriginal women and girls.

Mr. Speaker, we discussed options to reduce barriers to education and increase opportunities for all Aboriginal students. We received a progress report on efforts to bolster economic development and improve housing for all Aboriginal peoples on and off reserve. We unanimously agreed that Aboriginal housing both on and off reserve stand as a separate committee of the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group.

As a group, we acknowledged that Parliament has agreed to re-appoint a Special Committee on the Matter of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada. In addition, ministers supported the National Aboriginal Organizations’ call on the Federal Government to hold a national public inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls.

Mr. Speaker, the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group will continue to promote coordination and collaboration on key priority issues to further support and ensure a stronger future for Aboriginal communities across the country. I look forward to participating in the next Aboriginal Affairs Working Group meeting scheduled for April 2014.

2013 11 25                                     1:45 p.m.