Ontario government ready to work towards reconciliation, Ford says

Thestar.com
June 5, 2019
Robert Benzie

Premier Doug Ford says his government is taking seriously the findings of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

After meeting Tuesday at Queen’s Park with Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the National Assembly of First Nations, Ford emphasized that “working towards reconciliation” is a priority he shares with Indigenous leaders.

“On a personal note, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the findings in the final report on missing and murdered Indigenous women,” the premier said in a statement.

“This ongoing tragedy is a national shame, and a clear call to action for every leader in this country to do more, and I reassured the chief today that we will,” he said.

“Our government is proud to work with Chief Bellegarde, and with all of our Indigenous partners, to bring prosperity to every region and every community in Ontario.”

Bellegarde, who was at Queen’s Park along with Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald, told reporters he is hopeful the issue will remain on the front-burner across the country.

“We want to stop and end violence against women and girls. That’s what it’s all about,” he said.

“I would think with the upcoming election in October all federal parties have an obligation to make this one of their key party platform planks,” the national chief said

“It’s up to us as First Nation people to make sure there’s other priorities in there,” he said, referring to the boil-water advisories and other challenges faced by Indigenous peoples.

Bellegarde added that he was encouraged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had agreed with the conclusions of the national inquiry.

“We accept their findings, including that what happened amounts to genocide,” Trudeau said in Vancouver earlier in the day.

The national chief noted that what happened to Indigenous people does qualify as a “genocide” under the United Nations conventions.

He said it’s time to “focus on the next steps for implementation of the national action strategy” for dealing with the report’s scores of recommendations.

Ontario’s Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod, who is also minister for women’s issues, said the province will work with the federal government.

“I will say this to those who may not have seen it: Standing there yesterday to watch the grandmother of Tina Fontaine, a young girl who was 15 years old when she was murdered in Manitoba, was probably one of the most poignant things I have ever seen,” said MacLeod, who was at the release of the final report Monday.

“That is why this government, under Premier Ford, is committed to ensuring that we support our Indigenous sisters,” she said.

“This is an important issue that every member of this assembly and every person in the province of Ontario should be aware of. We must stand with our Indigenous sisters and LGBTQ+ individuals as they confront systemic racism across the province and this country.”