NEWS RELEASE
TONY MARTIN, MP
*************************** Layton sets vision for nation-to-nation relationship with First Nation leaders
OTTAWA – New Democrat Leader Jack Layton today set out his vision for a new relationship between the Government of Canada and Canada's First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples that would begin to address long-standing inadequacies in health care, education, and housing. "The time for idle talk is over. A renewed dialogue between the government and aboriginal Canadians must begin by recognizing the legitimacy of aboriginal governance and a commitment to a nation-to-nation exchange," said Layton. Layton made the remarks in a speech that wrapped up the New Democrats' Aboriginal Candidate Summit, held this week on Parliament Hill.
As part of an outreach strategy to aboriginal communities, candidates were in Ottawa for media, policy, and campaign training and held meetings with Members of Parliament and leaders from national aboriginal organizations.
In closing the summit, Layton highlighted four priorities that the NDP's vision will build on: forging new partnerships with nation-to-nation dialogue; fostering opportunity and prosperity with economic development in aboriginal communities; challenging discrimination; and healing past wrongs. “We will work together to leave behind the era where the only choice for aboriginal Canadians at election time was between a party that ignores you and a party that takes you for granted,” said Layton. “We’ll build an era where aboriginal Canadians take their rightful place at the forefront of federal politics, and where the New Democratic Party is the political home for aboriginal Canadians.”
This release marking the end of the NDP Aboriginal Candidate Summit today comes with a photo of Tony with five of the eight nominated Aboriginal NDP candidates in the next election.
(More Aboriginal candidates are expected) From left to right: Lawrence Joseph, Denesthe – Missinippy – Churchill River; Crissy Sinipole, Sarnia Lambton; Edith Loring-Kuhanga, Saanich Gulf Islands; Tony Martin, Tanya Cameron, Kenora; Lewis Cardinal, Edmonton Centre
*************************