OTTAWA– Liberal critic for Aboriginal Affairs Dr. Carolyn Bennett made the following statement today on the Crown – First Nations Gathering:
“Since coming into office six years ago, the Prime Minister has imposed an incremental, unilateral approach to the relationship with First Nations.
The Crown-First Nations Gathering today was made necessary because this approach has failed to make significant progress on the urgent needs of First Nations communities, has fractured the relationship with First Nations and has damaged the trust of First Nations people.
I have seen firsthand the dire conditions in which First Nations are living, in Attawapiskat and elsewhere across the country, where the need for essential services, including education, clean running water, safe affordable housing and community infrastructure remains critical.
What is needed now is not more of the same but a real commitment from the Prime Minister to change course and begin to work in a nation to nation partnership with First Nations to remove the systemic barriers to progress.”
