EDMONTON, AB, April 16,
2024 /CNW/ - With the largest and most successful
Indigenous-owned housing corporation in the country, the
Otipemisiwak Métis Government has been working with Canada since 1982 to address the housing needs
of Métis Albertans. Unfortunately, the needs continue to far
outweigh supply. Today's Budget includes many new housing
initiatives that will continue to aid in our joint efforts, and the
Otipemisiwak Métis Government looks forward to continuing to work
with Canada to address the housing
needs of our citizens.
We were also pleased to see Budget 2024 include important
investments in economic development through the recapitalization of
the Métis Capital Corporations. Important gaps remain, however, in
distinctions-based funding in critical areas such as health,
justice and emergency management.
Métis Albertans already know that wildfires will be a bigger
problem this year given the current conditions in Alberta. As more Métis Albertans come to the
Otipemisiwak Métis Government for support, we need additional
capacity to ensure we can address their needs. Alberta Métis
citizens are disproportionately affected by the increasing
frequency and severity of climate emergencies, and currently do not
have access to any federal funding to mitigate, prepare for,
respond to, and recover from emergencies. It is disappointing that
this was not provided for in Budget 2024.
Additionally, our ability to address the health and wellness
needs of our Métis citizens continues to be ignored. And while the
federal government committed to an Indigenous Justice Strategy and
passed the United Nations Declaration Act, without dollars
to back these up in this Budget the effort falls flat. The justice
system remains inequitable for Métis people.
An investment into the Otipemisiwak Métis Government is an
investment in Alberta and
Canada. Addressing socio-economic
disparities will reduce the strains on healthcare, policing, and
justice, and in turn reduce costs associated with those
services.
"The Otipemisiwak Métis Government needs stable and predictable
funding to be able to deliver the programs and services our
citizens need," said President Andrea
Sandmaier. "While we welcome the investments in housing and
economic development within this budget, this Budget does not
reflect the promises made by this government towards
reconciliation. The swift passing of Bill C-53, along with funding
for our programs and services would be reconciliation in
action."
The Otipemisiwak Métis Government remains optimistic about the
potential for meaningful collaboration with the Government of
Canada, including
self-determining, long-term, sustainable, and distinctions-based
funding investments that empower our Métis Government to meet the
needs of our citizens. And we look forward to the passage of our
self-government implementation legislation, Bill C-53.
SOURCE Métis Nation of Alberta