The announcement of the Fund responds to one of the key recommendations from the Ipperwash Inquiry Report, which stressed the need for the Ontario Government to strengthen its relationships with First Nations and the Métis people in the province. As well, the Fund will focus on strengthening the capacity of First Nation and Métis communities to fully participate and benefit from Ontario’s economy, through meaningful consultation and participation in land, resources and development initiatives throughout Ontario.

At today’s announcement at Queen’s Park, MNO President Lipinski said, “The Métis Nation looks forward to this Fund being used to build and enhance the capacity of the Métis Nation of Ontario and our communities in order to more effectively engage and work with the Ontario Government and industry. By working together, we can create a stronger and more prosperous Ontario, which benefits the Métis people and all Ontarians.

President Lipinski also highlighted the significance of the Fund for MNO Chartered Community Councils. “The MNO’s new leadership has made increasing support to and enhancing the capacity of the MNO’s Chartered Community Councils a priority. As a part of our ongoing discussions with the Ontario Government, we have stressed the need for the Fund to have a Métis-specific allocation and to be community-based in order to ensure our communities can more effectively engage with government and industry on important land, resources and development initiatives that have the potential to affect Métis rights, interests and way of life.”

“I am pleased to see that today’s announcement reflects the MNO’s priorities. I am also pleased to see that the Fund’s consultation and accommodation focus will only be accessible to rights-bearing Aboriginal communities, namely, First Nations and Métis communities. This will ensure the democratic and legitimate representatives of the Aboriginal peoples in Ontario will benefit from the Fund’s investment toward meaningful consultation.”

Over the next few months, the MNO and the Ontario Government will continue to meet at the political and technical levels to finalize the terms of the Fund. As well, the MNO will continue to consult Métis citizens on the terms of the Fund and will be holding a special meeting to discuss the Fund in the Fall of 2008, which will bring together representatives from all of the MNO Chartered Community Councils as well as Senators, Métis Women, Veterans and Métis Youth. This special meeting will be held in conjunction with the MNO Annual General Assembly, which was recently postponed until the Fall of 2008.

France Picotte, MNO Chair, added, “The second purpose of the Fund: to enhance Aboriginal skills development and business partnerships will also benefit our citizens, Métis businesses and our communities. A priority for the MNO will be to increase the number of Métis students pursuing careers in the energy and mining sectors in Ontario as well as ensure Métis businesses and communities fully benefit from growing sectors in Ontario’s economy.”

President Lipinski concluded, “Today’s announcement only strengthens the extremely positive relationship that continues to grow between the MNO and the McGuinty Government, through the hard work and efforts of Minister Bryant. The Fund builds on the MNO’s ongoing work on the Crown’s duty to consult and accommodate Metis rights as well as the recently announced negotiations between the MNO and Ontario Government on arriving at an Ontario-Métis Nation Framework. On behalf of the Métis Nation, I am proud to be a part of today’s announcement.”

The Métis are a distinct Aboriginal people with a unique culture, language and heritage, and with an ancestral Homeland that centers around Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, parts of the Northwest Territories, as well as the northwestern United States. The Métis played an instrumental role in the shaping of Canada, and work tirelessly to share their culture, music, traditions and knowledge of the environment with their fellow Canadians. Today, the Métis live, work, raise their families and pay taxes in communities all across Canada.