Last Updated on September 4, 2019
Winnipeg, MB – The Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) is calling on the PC Party of Manitoba to remove a misleading news release it published as part of its’ 2019 provincial election campaign.
“Once again, Brian Pallister is showing his disdain for the founders of this province he wants to represent,” said MMF President David Chartrand. “The Métis vote cannot be bought, and for Pallister to insinuate that, is insulting and malicious.”
On September 2nd, the PC Party of Manitoba published a news release on its’ website entitled: Kinew & NDP pledge $70 million ‘hush money’ pact with MMF. The release was in response to Wab Kinew promising, if elected, to reinstate legally binding agreements between the MMF and Manitoba Hydro including the Turning the Page Agreement. That initiative assured the MMF would be adequately consulted for Manitoba Hydro Projects that impact Métis Citizens and traditional lands. It also promised a payment of $67.5 million dollar to the Métis Nation, ensuring replacement for the lack of access to lands that are rightfully available to Métis Citizens for the next 50 years.
“The original agreement was falsely described and wrongly dismissed by Pallister as nothing more than hush money and calling the Métis Nation a special interest group,” added President Chartrand. “I cannot believe he would have the audacity to keep using this insulting talking point as part of his campaign. Mr. Kinew is simply the first leader to do the right thing, by promising to honour legally binding agreements with the Métis People.”
The NDP are the first provincial party to commit to the reinstatement of the Turning the Page Agreement and the Manitoba to Minnesota Transmission Project (MMTP) Agreement. Recently the MMF mailed out questions to the leaders of the political parties to see where they stand on issues that directly affect Métis Citizens including the impacts related to hydro projects.
“Acknowledging agreements and respecting the inherent rights of the Métis People are not up for negotiation,” said President Chartrand. “Obviously Pallister has no interest in reconciliation even though I have publicly extended an olive branch. This news release shows he is not a leader and that the people of Manitoba will be the ones who end up paying for his reckless behavior. Pallister needs to know, that if he continues to insult and dismiss Métis Citizens, I will never back down and will continue to fight for the rights of the people I represent. He is now willfully misleading Manitobans and treading into potentially dangerous legal waters.”
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The Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) is the official democratic and self-governing political representative for the Métis Nation’s Manitoba Métis Community. The Manitoba Métis are Canada’s Negotiating Partner in Confederation and the Founders of the Province of Manitoba.
For media information, please contact:
Al Foster
Director – Communications
Manitoba Metis Federation
Office: (204) 586-8474 x324
Cell: (204) 806-4752
Email: al.foster@mmf.mb.ca
www.mmf.mb.ca
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