Trudeau outlines five-point plan to Chiefs

December 8, 2015

Amidst applause, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fleshed out his campaign promises in a five-point plan he presented at the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly this morning.

"It is time for a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations peoples, one that understands that the constitutionally guaranteed rights of First Nations in Canada are not an inconvenience but a sacred obligation," he said.

Trudeau said he had directed his finance minister to lift the two per cent cap on funding for First Nations programs. The cap, in place for 20 years, no longer worked with the changing demographics of First Nations communities or the rising costs of delivering programs.

"It's time for a new fiscal relationship with First Nations that gives your communities sufficient, predictable and sustained funding," he said

Trudeau also announced that his government would undertake a full review of legislation that had been “unilaterally imposed” on Indigenous people by the Harper government.

"Where measures are found to be in conflict with your rights, where they are inconsistent with the principles of good governance, or where they simply make no public policy sense, we will rescind them," he said.

In the Speech from Throne, Trudeau pledged to no longer deliver omnibus bills. Omnibus bills 38 and 45 resulted in mass demonstrations and rallies by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and were, in part, responsible for giving life and strength to the Idle No More movement.

Trudeau said that in a letter he sent to all his cabinet ministers, he told them that renewing a nation-to-nation relationship with all Indigenous peoples was a priority for him.

“This is a responsibility I take seriously and I have instructed my entire government to do the same. In the mandate letters given to my cabinet ministers, my expectations were clear. I told them that no relationship is more important to me and to Canada than the one with First Nations, Metis Nation and Inuit peoples,” he said. “Today I promise this relationship will be transformed and will be respected.”

Trudeau reiterated his pledge to make a “significant investment” in First Nations education, but went a step further saying any education reforms had to be led by First Nations.

“We will never impose solutions from the top down,” he said. “We know that this approach is wrong and we know it doesn’t work.”

Trudeau renewed his commitments to a national public inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls as well as the implementation of all 94 calls to action made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Speaking prior to Trudeau, AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde said he was both optimistic and hopeful with the new government.

“We are being heard and I believe understood like never before,” he said.

“We are opening doors in Ottawa to facilitate the work of all First Nations, on the implementation and recognition of our rights and title, treaty enforcement and implementation, and realizing self-determination for Indigenous Nations,” said Bellegarde.