Liberals Welcome Canadians For a New Partnership

September 4, 2014

RIMOUSKI, QC, AND VANCOUVER, BC – The Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the formation of Canadians for a New Partnership:

“We welcome the launch of Canadians For a New Partnership, aimed at improving the relationship between Indigenous communities and the federal government.

“There is an immediate and critical need for a partnership that addresses urgent issues in a manner which respects inherent and Treaty rights. Canadians For a New Partnership and all those involved should be commended for seeking reconciliation and recognising that a different approach is required.

“It was a Liberal government that engaged in a meaningful, consultative process with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis during the 2004 Kelowna Accord negotiations. This process produced a new agreement that would have addressed critical issues, but it was promptly discarded by the Conservatives when they came into office.

“For years now, the federal government has failed in its duty to partner with Indigenous communities. Today’s initiative has emerged as the direct result of this failure to provide national leadership.”

Liberal candidate for Vancouver Granville, Jody Wilson-Raybould, continued:

“We are strongest when we work together, build partnerships, and collectively address the foremost issues we are facing as a country. We need national leadership that understands this, supports Canadians, and embraces meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples that lives beyond the life on one government.”