Following the historic “Call to Action on Education” by the Assembly of First Nations this week, Liberal MPs declared today their party’s support for the plan and outlined the steps a Liberal government would take to ensure its success.
“Learning is one of the Liberal Party’s three priorities for addressing Canada’s core challenges. That’s why Liberals share Chief Atleo’s passion for wanting to improve the lives of Canada’s First Nations Peoples through education,” said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.
“Stephen Harper doesn’t have a plan to invest in the future of Aboriginal peoples in Canada,” said Liberal Aboriginal Affairs Critic Todd Russell. “Over four years, his Conservative government has cut vital funding to First Nations University, scrapped the historic Kelowna Accord, and refused to endorse the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“The Liberal Party, on the other hand, is committed to investing in Aboriginal education in order to close the learning gap. We want to make education more accessible by increasing the participation of Aboriginal communities in the delivery of education to their children and youth. That’s why the Liberal Party of Canada has called for the full restoration of funding to First Nations University,” added Mr. Russell.
A Liberal government would lift the cap on Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) post-secondary education funding, and that includes reducing financial support gaps for all Aboriginal learners, including First Nations, Métis and the Inuit, while making investments in education more broadly.
The Liberal Party of Canada is also committed to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and continues to call on the Conservative government to fully endorse the Declaration.
“In order for Canada to provide Aboriginal learners with an education that is second to none, Canada must work in full partnership with First Nations, Métis and Inuit governments, as well as provincial and territorial governments to achieve this goal,” concluded Mr. Ignatieff. “That’s why learning is one of our three priorities for addressing Canada’s core challenges.”
The Liberal priorities for addressing Canada’s core challenges include:
- Learning – Creating the highest quality jobs through investments in skills training and innovation;
- Care – Pension reform to help with retirement savings and new support for health and homecare; and
- Canada’s global leadership – Investments in clean energy, the environment and global network agreements with China and India.
