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A Statement to the Legislature by the Honourable Brad Duguid on the Meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and Leaders of the National Aboriginal Organizations

Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario

October 28, 2009

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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in this House to welcome, to Ontario, the federal Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the leaders of the five national Aboriginal organizations, and the ministers of Aboriginal affairs from each of the provinces and territories. This group includes the Premiers of Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories.

This occasion marks the first time since the Kelowna Accord meeting in 2005 that Aboriginal issues will be brought to the table for discussion among national, provincial, territorial and Aboriginal leaders.

This represents the dramatic shift in leadership on Aboriginal issues taking place nationally. The provinces, territories and the national Aboriginal organizations are now seizing the leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker. This summer, Premier Dalton McGuinty, his fellow Premiers, and Aboriginal leaders met prior to the Council of the Federation to discuss how to address issues facing Aboriginal people in Canada.

The Premiers of Canada's 10 provinces and three territories agreed to direct their respective Ministers responsible for Aboriginal Affairs to form a working group.

This working group includes the participation and support of the Assembly of First Nations, Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit (ta-per-EET) Kanatami (kan-uh-TOM-ee), Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and the Native Women's Association of Canada.

Together, this working group will determine how the federal government, provinces and territories, and Aboriginal organizations can work more effectively to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people.

A revitalized Federal-Provincial-Territorial and Aboriginal – or – "FPTA" process will help everyone work together to ensure that Aboriginal issues maintain a high national profile.

An FPTA process will allow us to work collaboratively on mutual goals and will enable the federal government, provinces, territories and Aboriginal organizations to complement one another's policies, programs and areas of expertise.

Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to be able to say that our Premier was one of the first leaders to call for a First Minister's Meeting on Aboriginal issues, as have other Premiers across the country.

Other provincial Premiers have also been asserting themselves on Aboriginal issues demonstrating how critical these challenges are. Through this new national process, we intend to follow-up on their direction and work towards a future First Minister's conference.

We will also be addressing two broad quality-of-life priorities during tomorrow's meeting: Lifelong learning — specifically, education and skills-development — and economic development.

Mr. Speaker, as a government, and as a civil society, we have a moral obligation to address the wrongs of the past and focus on making improvements in the future.

We need to continue addressing Aboriginal issues because it's the right thing to do.

Given the state of the global economy, addressing such apparent and pressing issues affecting Aboriginal people has now become an economic and social imperative.

Ontario needs to be at our best if we are going to compete in the global economy.

Aboriginal people, particularly, Aboriginal youth are the fastest growing segment of our population.

They are our future.

Aboriginal people have demonstrated remarkable resilience, knowledge and expertise throughout the ages.

This combination of indigenous knowledge, experience and foresight will continue to bring us valuable ideas, helping to build our economies throughout Canada, now and in the future.

Stronger Aboriginal communities mean a stronger Ontario and a stronger Canada.

Mr. Speaker. This new Aboriginal Affairs Working Group and new FPTA process can be a tangible means of addressing the socio-economic gap, improving social conditions and enabling sustainable economies for Aboriginal people in this province.

Again, I welcome my counterparts from the provinces and territories, my federal counterpart, and the leaders of the five national Aboriginal organizations. I look forward to a productive meeting tomorrow and a first step toward a better future for Aboriginal people and all Canadians.

Thank you.

Compendium

A meeting of federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for Aboriginal affairs and leaders of the national Aboriginal organizations is being held in Toronto on October 29, 2009.

Provincial and territorial Premiers requested the meeting be organized to launch a ministerial working group. The group will focus on tangible, concrete and results-oriented action in the areas of education and skills training, and economic development. The discussion is intended to serve as the foundation for a possible First Ministers Meeting on Aboriginal issues.

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