(Montreal) Canada’s premiers kicked off their annual three-day conference on Monday by meeting with Indigenous leaders on issues including housing, child protection and reconciliation.
David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation, reported that premiers have been listening to discussions about ways to build more affordable housing. Mr. Chartrand pointed out that the federation had recently financed 800 housing units for only 11 million.
“They said to me: how can you do that? It’s simple, we took out mortgages, we paid the down payment for a mortgage,” Chartrand said of a program to support federation members.
PHOTO JOHN WOODS, THE CANADIAN PRESS
David Chartrand, President of the Manitoba Metis Federation
“They bought it because they all have jobs. All they needed was a little respite. »
Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse said governments need to act urgently on several issues, including child welfare and missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
“All of these issues impact on our safety and dignity as individuals and our collective rights as nations,” she said in a written statement after the meeting.
The meeting with Indigenous leaders came ahead of a two-day meeting where the premiers will discuss health care, economic development and other issues among themselves.
They will discuss how to use the $46 billion in new health care funding that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered in February, in return for provinces and territories committing to targeted reforms.
All provinces except Quebec accepted the funding offer, but none presented plans on the targets and timelines they will use to turn the new funds into corrective action for health programs. Canadian public.
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, who hosted the meeting, said the money was welcome, but it only represented about 2% of health budgets.
“It’s not enough, but we recognize what they have given us so far and we thank them,” said Mr.me Stefanson.
The President-Elect of the Canadian Medical Association, Dr.r Kathleen Ross, said health care must remain at the top of the First Ministers’ agenda at the meeting.
She added that not much has changed in recent months when it comes to understaffed hospitals, closed emergency rooms and large backlogs.
The premiers will also address economic issues and affordability during their meeting, which takes place while Trudeau is in Eastern Europe to discuss defense issues.