Liberal cabinet shuffle does not change realities for Indigenous peoples

NDP Critic for Crown-Indigenous Relations, Lori Idlout made the following statement about the appointment of the new minister:

“This Liberal government has broken far too many promises to Inuit, First Nations and Métis. This Liberal government campaigned on the importance of its relationships with Indigenous peoples. During this Trudeau government, changes were incremental. Another restart on the Crown-Indigenous Relations portfolio must see changes towards improvements.

I welcome the new minister to this role. I am hopeful that the considerable amount of work that must be done will be carried forward.

After eight years of Justin Trudeau, life has not gotten easier for Indigenous communities. Progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action has been slow, and the Liberals are nowhere to be found on the genocide against Indigenous women in Canada. Indigenous peoples continue to have to fight for their basic human rights through the court system. Harmonizing Canada’s laws with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been slow, and the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous peoples continues to be denied.

Indigenous communities across the country know all too well that the day-to-day lives of Indigenous peoples have not improved under this government. The housing crisis continues to get worse in Indigenous communities, the infrastructure gap continues to widen, food and resources become more expensive and scarce, and many communities are being lost to the devastating impacts of climate change.

Minister Anandasangaree has a monumental task ahead of him. I have seen his passion and sense of justice required for First Nations, Inuit and Métis.”