The position of Ontario’s political parties on Métis issues: The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) wrote the leaders of each of Ontario’s four principal political parties and provided each with 15 questions pertaining to Métis issues in order to provide MNO citizens with more information prior to the provincial election. To date, the Liberal, New Democratic and Green Parties have provided responses and we are waiting for responses from the Progressive Conservative Party. The chart that follows shows the questions asked and provides the response from each party to date. If further responses or clarifications are provided prior to the election the chart will be updated accordingly. Please note that the New Democratic response did not correlate directly to the questions but rather came in the form of a letter. As a result, the MNO had to match the relevant sections of the letter with the questions that were posed. Very minor editing was done to a few questions to adjust them to this format but nothing that in anyway changed the intent or meaning of the responses. Will your party commit to working directly with the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and its governing 1. institutions on a government-to-government basis on issues that directly impact Ontario Métis? The Ontario Liberals are committed The MNO will be a partner No response to date. The Green Party of Ontario honours to strengthening relationships and to an NDP government in all indigenous rights in this province. working with Métis communities matters pertaining to Métis The GPO supports the right of in Ontario, building on a strong people in Ontario. Indigenous peoples to determine foundation for meaningful and develop priorities and reconciliation, and in recognition strategies for exercising their of the distinct, shared history rights. We also recognize that most and relationship between Métis Indigenous people in Ontario live communities and the Crown. off-reserve and in urban areas, and We are supportive of the Métis recognize the unique needs of Nation of Ontario’s efforts to build Indigenous communities. We are a stronger relationship with the committed to working directly with federal government and look the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) LIBERAL NDP PC GREEN forward to working in partnership and its governing institutions on a with the Métis Nation of Ontario government to government basis. and the federal government to address mutually agreed upon priorities. The tripartite Framework Agreement signed on December 11, 2017, sets out a process for developing a government-to-government relationship with Canada and Ontario, and recognizing the Métis Nation of Ontario as a Métis government. We remain supportive of participating in these discussions and arrangements in the spirit of reconciliation. Will your party establish a process at the Cabinet level to deal directly with the 2. Métis Nation of Ontario leadership on Métis priorities across Ministries? We recognize Métis priorities exist As part of our commitment to No response to date. The Green Party of Ontario will across ministries, and Cabinet true reconciliation with Métis and work with NMO to establish a ministers will continue to engage other Indigenous peoples, we will process at the Cabinet level to with MNO on those priorities. establish a process at the Cabinet ensure Métis priorities are taken level to ensure that the issues of into account across Ministries. Métis are reflected across ministries. 3. Will your party engage the MNO to provide Métis cultural competency to Cabinet? Yes, and we know this has been No specific response. No response to date. The Green Party of Ontario will discussed at previous meetings. engage the MNO in establishing Staff underwent training this past cultural competency training year, and we will continue to requirements on Indigenous issues improve cultural competency for Cabinet, as well as all public- within government. facing professionals (including LIBERAL NDP PC GREEN doctors, dentists, teachers, nurses, corrections officers, and child and social welfare workers). This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti- racism; and a course in the history and legacy of Residential Schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, and Indigenous teachings and practices. Will your party commit to working in collaboration with the MNO to co-develop 4. and co-design policy and programs that will benefit Ontario Métis? We will continue to work in We believe that true reconciliation No response to date. We are committed to work in collaboration with MNO on policy begins from the recognition of collaboration with the MNO to and programs that benefit “nothing about us without us” co-design policy and programs to Ontario Métis. to guide us in our relationships ensure they meet the needs of the with Indigenous peoples. We are Métis people in Ontario. also committed to the principle of government-to-government collaboration between Métis people and Ontario. 5. Will your party support a biennial leadership summit between MNO and Ontario? Yes. [We] will support a biennial No response to date. Yes, the Green Party of leadership summit between MNO Ontario supports a biennial and Ontario. leadership summit between MNO and Ontario. LIBERAL NDP PC GREEN Will your party commit to implementing funding agreements that support 6. reliable and flexible funding for the Métis Nation of Ontario? We recognize how important We are committed to renew No response to date. We recognize program predictable and secure funding is relationships as well as explore implementation relies solely on and we will continue to with MNO further government-to-government stable fundings. The Green Party on programs and services delivered agreements through dialogue and of Ontario will commit to funding by MNO. engagement with our partners agreements that support the work [including the MNO]. of MNO. Will your party work directly with the MNO to establish funding mechanisms and identify 7. new areas of funding support to enable our Métis self-governing institutions to enhance the existing programs and services delivered by MNO to Ontarians? We will work with MNO to We are committed to renew No response to date. The Green Party of Ontario will identify ways to improve programs relationships as well as explore work directly with the MNO to and services delivered by MNO further government-to-government establish funding mechanisms that to Ontarians. agreements through dialogue and would enhance program delivery engagement with our partners by MNO to Ontarians. We believe [including the MNO]. the funding mechanism must enable the Métis self-governing institutions so that the program delivered will benefit Ontarians. Will your party commit to continued investments in the Family Wellbeing Program 8. funded through the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and will your party commit to enhance MNO’s healing and wellness programs and services? Yes, we support this An NDP government is No response to date. The Green Party of Ontario ongoing program. committed to honouring all recognizes the unique needs of existing governance framework Indigenous people in child and agreements, Memorandum family services and will continue of Understandings, programming to support the Family Wellbeing – such as the Journey Together Program. We are also committed to LIBERAL NDP PC GREEN program – and funding agreements support MNO’s healing and with Indigenous partners. That wellness programs and services. includes with the Métis Nation We are also committed to renew these relationships as well as explore further government-to-government agreements through dialogue and engagement with our partners. Will your party support measurable and strategic investments in Métis 9. educational, training and skills development programming? We have a demonstrated New Democrats are committed to No response to date. We support measurable and strategic commitment to education, increasing access to educational investments in Métis educational, training, and skill development and employment opportunities training and skills development. In and will continue to work with for Métis and other Indigenous particular, we support increases to MNO in these areas. youth. As part of our $180 billion Indigenous Student Bursary funding commitment to public infrastructure to keep pace with rising Indigenous funding, we will ensure that population and enrolment, and Community Benefit Agreements remove citizenship and eligibility provide greater opportunities for requirements that create barriers equity-seeking groups, including based on arbitrary geographical Métis youth, into the skilled trades. boundaries. We plan to increase the number of Indigenous health care and education professionals being licensed for practice, and support their retention within Indigenous communities. Will your party commit to working with the MNO to address needs, gaps and explore Métis specific 10. approaches in the areas of child and family services, housing, health care and justice? Yes, we have been and will remain Yes. The Green Party of Ontario open to working with MNO to has included in our vision specific address the issues mentioned in engagement and implementation the question. plans that address the unique needs of Indigenous people in LIBERAL NDP PC GREEN child and family services, such as Ontario’s Early Years and Child Care Framework. We support the Ontario Indigenous Children and Youth Strategy, whose aim is to enable First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities to have a holistic, culturally-based and community-driven approach to children and youth services. Ensure that Indigenous control is embedded as a core principle. 11. Will your party commit to work with MNO to ensure our Métis communities will benefit from resource revenue sharing? We are proud to have completed No response to date. The Green Party of Ontario supports some resource revenue sharing the rights of Métis communities to agreements and are open to determine and develop priorities and discussions with more communities, strategies for the development or use including the Métis.