Bill 96, abandonment of cultural security in health and refusal to recognize systemic racism: the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) describes the results of the CAQ government as “historically disappointing”.
“Anything that really touches on the governance capacity of our communities is exactly where the government [Legault] does not want to surrender,” said the Chief of the AFNQL, Ghislain Picard, in an interview with To have to. According to him, the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) “marks a break with previous governments” in terms of relations with First Nations.
The government of François Legault “remains extremely resistant to any process that will address the issue of territory and resources”, maintains Ghislain Picard. The First Nations are limited by a “very very conservative” territorial definition of the CAQ, he raises. “If communities want to be sustainable, they must have access to resources and territory to also develop,” says the chief.
The tour of the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Ian Lafrenière, in all the communities of Quebec only serves to “polish the image of the Government of Quebec”, according to Ghislain Picard. “But at the same time we are eliminating what we consider to be the important issues,” he laments.
Among the crucial issues, Ghislain Picard deplores the abandonment of the promise to include the notion of cultural security in the Act respecting health services and social services. The Legault government was however committed to it after Joyce Echaquan, an Atikamekw mother, died in September 2020 at the Joliette hospital, under the insults of the nursing staff.
“We can see that the dust has finally settled quickly, says Mr. Picard. All of this had as a backdrop the refusal to recognize systemic racism when it is recognized everywhere else. »
“Four years of missed appointments”
At the end of May, the AFNQL described the adoption of Bill 96 as a “great step backwards”. The First Nations of Quebec said they feared the repercussions on their communities and denounced “major linguistic injustices”.
Minister Lafrenière then affirmed that it was necessary “to listen” to the Aboriginal communities and that there was no “wall to wall solution” possible. However, Mr. Picard said he had “no communication” with the Government of Quebec about Bill 96 since its adoption.
Mr. Picard also maintains that since the unanimous adoption in 2019 of the motion recognizing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, there is no longer any question of it.
“How do you expect us to engage in a highly political process when we have before us a government that systematically refuses to address issues considered fundamental by the First Nations? asks Ghislain Picard. The CAQ government constitutes “four years of missed appointments”, estimates the chief.
Without saying more, Mr. Picard maintained that the AFNQL would make sure “to be heard over the next few months and during the election campaign”.