Work with the Métis Nation to advance reconciliation and renew the relationship.

What success looks like

A renewed relationship with the Métis Nation based on the principles of reconciliation.

Government's narrative on progress

In April 2017, the Prime Minister and the Métis Nation signed the Canada-Métis Nation Accord in establishing a permanent bilateral mechanism to co-develop policy on shared priorities. The Canada Métis Nation Accord reflects Canada’s commitment to work with the Métis Nation to fulfill the vision of self-determination. In October 2017 and March 2018, the President of the Métis National Council (MNC) and its Governing Members’ Presidents met with federal Ministers to discuss progress and strategic direction for first year Accord priorities. In June 2018, the Prime Minister met with the President of the Métis National Council and the Governing Members’ Presidents at the annual Crown-Métis Nation Summit. Together, they reviewed progress made during the first year of the Accord and confirmed priorities for 2019. The priorities identified during the meeting included education, health, Métis veterans, the new fiscal relationship, child and family services, economic development, environment, clean growth, and infrastructure. For example, a Memorandum of Understanding on the Development of a Canada-Métis Nation Child and Family Services Accord has been co-developed and signed on December 13, 2018, with the Métis National Council to guide the development of a ten-year Accord. Progress in these priority areas was confirmed in Budget 2018, which invested $500 million over 10 years to support a Métis Nation housing strategy, $10 million in 2018–2019 to support Métis Nation post-secondary education, and $6 million over five years to support the Métis Nation in gathering health data and developing a health strategy. Furthermore, Budget 2018 also proposes to invest $325 million in the Métis Nation stream of the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program, which supports employment services, skills development and job training. Sub-Accords between Canada and the Métis Nation have been signing in some of these areas including: Indigenous Skills Employment and Training in June 2018, housing in July 2018, and Indigenous Early Learning and Childcare in March 2018. Further funding for Permanent Bilateral Mechanism priority areas was announced in Budget 2019. Specifically: $362 million over 10 years to support a Métis Nation-led post-secondary education strategy; $30 million to recognize the contribution of Métis veterans to the country’s Second World War efforts and to commemorate the sacrifices and achievements of all Métis veterans; $50 million over five years to enhance the funding of the Métis Capital Corporations to support the start-up and expansion of Métis small and medium-sized enterprises, and up to $100 million to establish an Indigenous Growth Fund to further encourage investments in Indigenous-led businesses by Aboriginal Financial Institutions, including Métis Capital Corporations. In addition, support for a distinctions-based approach to Indigenous language revitalization projects was also announced with $333.7 million over five years to preserve, promote and revitalize Indigenous languages, including Michif, the traditional language spoken by Métis Peoples. Canada has engaged in Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination discussions with each of the governing members of the Métis National Council as well as the Métis Settlements General Council (MSGC). Canada has signed Framework Agreements with the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) (November 2016), Métis Nation of Alberta (November 2017), Métis Nation of Ontario (December 2017), the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (July 2018), the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan (February 2018)Métis Nation British Columbia (July 2018), and the Métis Settlements General Council (December 2018). Additionally, Canada is negotiating with the Manitoba Métis Federation (June 2018) to develop an agreement to recognize the Manitoba Métis Federation’s legal status, role and jurisdiction as a Métis government and will support the Manitoba Métis Federation’s transition from its current corporate structure to a self-governing Métis government. Canada and the Manitoba Métis Federation have concluded an Interim Fiscal Financing Agreement to transfer $153.4 million dollars to support an Incremental Reconciliation Plan over five years between the parties (December 2018). Other agreements signed include a Consultation Agreement between Canada and the Métis Nation of Alberta (July 2018). In 2018, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations held seven distinct engagement sessions with Métis groups to listen to ideas in order to make the recognition and implementation of rights the basis for all relations between Indigenous peoples and the federal government. Métis representatives also attended the two technical engagement sessions held by senior officials. In 2019, Canada will continue to engage with Métis groups to replace the outdated Comprehensive Land Claims Policy and the Inherent Right Policy.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.