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For Immediate Release
April 8, 2008

News Release

Improving Quality of life for Métis People aim of Historic Talks

McGuinty Government and Métis to work together on New Framework Agreement

Métis Nation of Ontario President, Tony Belcourt (right), and Ontario Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Michael Bryant, at Queen's Park.

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NEWS
Improving the quality of life for Métis people in Ontario is the aim of historic talks announced today by Michael Bryant, Ontario Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, and Tony Belcourt, President of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO).

The new proposed Framework Agreement will also serve to further strengthen the relationship between the Métis Nation of Ontario and the Government of Ontario and make the engagement process more effective.

To support these discussions the Government of Ontario announced new funding of $200,000 toward development of the framework agreement.

QUOTES
"Today marks a watershed in the history of the Métis Nation and Ontario," said MNO President, Tony Belcourt. "It signals the beginning of a new era in which our relationship will now be based on respect of the Métis Nation, the recognition of the Métis consistent with our existing constitutional rights as one of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, and the appropriate working relationship that will flow from this respect and recognition."

"Improving the quality of life for Métis people in Ontario is the aim of this historic path on which we are setting out together,” said Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Michael Bryant. “This next step in discussions truly reflects the social and political growth in the relationship between the Métis Nation of Ontario and the Government of Ontario.”

QUICK FACTS
The Métis are one of the “Aboriginal peoples” named in Canada’s Constitution, the Constitution Act, 1982. 

Ontario currently provides the Métis Nation of Ontario with more than $5 million in annual funding for programs and services.

LEARN MORE
ontario.ca/maa

www.metisnation.org/

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Greg Crone, Minister’s Office, 416-314-2529

Merike Nurming, Communications Branch, 416-326-4079

Katelin Peltier, MNO Communications Manager, 613-859-7130