OTTAWA, ON—Prior to the October 19 federal election which brought in the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the leaders of Canada’s three major political parties all promised to negotiate a massive settlement on a land-claim with the Manitoba Métis Federation. This is a deal that is estimated to cost the Canadian government billions of dollars. With a new government just installed in Ottawa, it remains to be seen what will transpire.
This discussion began as the result of a Supreme Court of Canada decision in 2013 that found Canada had bungled the land deal that ended the 1870 Red River Rebellion. The Liberal Party promised to spend more on economic development and training for Métis people, including increased funding for the Aboriginal Strategic Employment and Training Strategy by $50 million and spending $25 million over five years on economic-development strategies in Métis communities.
In 1870, around 7,000 Métis children were promised 1.4 million acres of land by the federal government. But this process got bogged down trying to determine what land belonged to what children.
According to the Supreme Court, “repeated mistakes and inaction that persisted for more than a decade” were the cause of thousands of Métis people not receiving the land promised to them. This was followed by a court battle between the MMF and the Canadian government that lasted 30 years.
Métis Federation president David Chartrand told the Winnipeg Free Press that the Liberals were the only party that presented them with a dollar value for the land owed to the Métis people. He did indicate that the New Democratic Party (NDP) also promised to commit to dealing with this land settlement issue.
The Conservatives appointed a special representative to review the decision and determine what steps they will take in the future.
Chartrand called Métis voters a “sleeping giant” in the federal election. It remains to be seen how this all plays out in the coming days.
