Reaction to a wholesale Cabinet shuffle by Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which included the removal of two ministers integral to the national Indigenous agenda, demonstrates a divide of perspectives between First Nations and Métis in Ontario.
“We just get hopefully on the thinking that we're getting somewhere and now we're right back to page one again,” an upset Hare told Windspeaker.com on Wednesday. Froh says Bill C-53 only pertains to the internal workings of the three Métis governments and does not deal with land, harvesting or any land-related rights. As such, she says, it does not impact the rights of First Nations.Both Anandasangaree and Virani were elected as Members of Parliament in Toronto in 2015.
“I see committed to community and again bringing forward a very strong foundation in law, in human rights as well as that understanding of the importance of reconciliation. I think that those are going to be skills and experience and knowledge that is going to serve him well in his new role as minister of Justice and Attorney General,” said Froh.
“We're talking about policing. We're trying to get laws, policing laws and getting our policing back on track,” said Hare. “I just met with two or three times in the last month and look where we are again. It’s disappointing.” “The first thing I'm going to hear again…is they’ll say, ‘I don't know First Nation issues. I know very little, so let me take it back.’ When they take it back, how long? How long is that?” said Hare.
“These are two of the most important Cabinet portfolios…for leading the government engagement with First Nation, Métis and Inuit people on a variety of policy and legislative issues… Indigenous issues,” said King. King sees the changes in Cabinet as a departure from Trudeau’s first-term election promise of having a significant relationship with Indigenous peoples.
She points to the demonstrations that began at the Brady landfill site, when Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson announced her government would not be going forward with a search of the Prairie Green landfill where the bodies of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and Buffalo Woman are believed to be located.