NLIS 4
November 28, 2005
(Executive Council)
The following statement was issued
today by Premier Danny Williams. It was also read in the House of
Assembly:
I rise today to inform my colleagues of the outcome of the First
Ministers Meeting on Aboriginal Peoples that was held in Kelowna,
British Columbia last week. I was accompanied by my Deputy Premier
and Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Tom Rideout.
We were pleased to be joined by Aboriginal leaders from this
province including William Andersen III, Ben Michel, Anastasia Qupee,
Mary Ann Nui and Chief Mi'sel Joe, among others.
These meetings represented an historic occasion, as provincial and
territorial leaders gathered with the Prime Minister and leaders of
the First Nations, Inuit and Metis people of Canada.
Working together with our counterparts throughout the country, we
accomplished great things for the Aboriginal people of Canada
including a firm and unequivocal commitment from everyone involved
to work collectively to improve the lives of Aboriginal people.
They key outcome of the meeting was a commitment of funding from the
federal government of $5.1 billion over a five-year period.
This funding represents a clear recognition that the serious gaps
that continue to exist between Aboriginal and non-aboriginal people
in Canada are no longer acceptable.
Included in the funding is: $1.8 billion for education; $1.315
billion for health care; $1.6 billion for housing and
infrastructure; $200 million for economic opportunities; and $170
million for relationships and accountability.
In addition to the funding, there was also a clear acknowledgement
that monitoring of progress and accountability must occur on a go
forward basis.
I am very proud to say that outcomes were achieved by consensus
between the premiers, the Prime Minister and Aboriginal leaders.
Despite competing needs around that table, at the end of the day
there were no dissenting voices.
Rather, there was an overwhelming desire by all to work together to
address the critical issues facing Aboriginal people. In fact, the
comment was made several times that never had such cooperation
occurred at the First Ministers� table.
I want to say how impressed I was with the presentations of the
Aboriginal leaders, both leading up to and during the meeting.
My ministers and I met with Aboriginal leaders from our province a
few weeks ago, including a special meeting with representatives from
Aboriginal woman�s groups.
They clearly and passionately articulated for us the challenges they
face daily. And they also expressed their hope for the future and
the opportunities that exist in their communities.
In particular, issues facing Aboriginal women were brought to the
forefront at these meetings and progress made in assisting
Aboriginal women face the challenges the deal with every day of
their lives.
I also took the opportunity to make representation to the federal
government for funding on two fronts for the Aboriginal people of
this province.
First of all, I requested assistance in establishing a centre of
excellence in Labrador for ethical and professional research on the
root causes and best approaches to dealing with social challenges
like addictions, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, violence and suicide.
Secondly, I requested federal assistance to establish a long-term
therapeutic foster home in Labrador for at risk children, whereby
young people who need help can be referred for assessment,
counseling, substance abuse treatment or long-term care. This would
allow Labrador youth to get help in an environment closer to their
own cultural background.
I am hopeful that we will have a positive response from the federal
government on these two requests.
The challenge is now ours to ensure that the FMM is not just another
meeting with billions of dollars in drive-by funding. We must all
work together to ensure that this money is used to improve the lives
of all Aboriginal people in this country, especially for the
children and youth.
The needs are great, however, the FMM demonstrated this country�s
willingness to allocate resources where they are needed, and I am
confident that over the course of time we will build upon the
successes of last week.
On Thursday, the Nunatsiavut Government will officially be formed,
and I look forward to that ceremony which is another step on the
journey to a brighter future for Aboriginal people in Newfoundland
and Labrador and Canada.
2005 11 28
1:45 p.m. |