A Special Statement from the Métis Nation of Ontario on the Election of Prime Minister Mark Carney

Press Release

April 29, 2025

Ottawa – As the democratically elected, federally and provincially recognized government of Métis citizens and communities in Ontario, the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberal Party of Canada on forming Canada’s next federal government.

For generations, Métis communities from Ontario-westward have played a pivotal role in building this country by guiding the fur trade, farming river lots, raising families, and establishing vibrant communities. Our communities did so while fighting for our rightful place as an Indigenous people within Canada and standing our ground through eras of exclusion and denial.

In 1993, Métis citizens and communities established the MNO as a Métis-specific government to represent Métis interests in Ontario. In 2003, Métis rights in Ontario were unanimously affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada in R v. Powley. And in 2023, Canada formally recognized the MNO as the Métis government representing Métis people and communities in Ontario.

With the election of a new federal government, it is time to write the next chapter — together.

The MNO is calling on Prime Minister Carney and his government to:

Advance the government-to-government relationship with the MNO through the continued implementation of the 2019 and 2023 Métis Self-Government Agreements which affirm our jurisdiction over internal Métis governance, citizenship, elections, and child and family services in Ontario;
Address outstanding historic Métis claims and broken promises made to the Métis communities from Ontario-westward;
Improve access to culturally relevant health care, addictions treatment, and mental health services for Métis citizens;
Expand investment in housing, education, infrastructure, and economic development to ensure Métis families and communities can thrive; and
Commit to the meaningful co-development and co-design of federal policy and programs that affect Métis people — ensuring Métis-specific solutions rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.

These priorities align with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan, and build on the strong foundation of partnership between the MNO and the Government of Canada. The MNO looks forward to working with Prime Minister Carney and his Cabinet in the spirit of respect, recognition, and reconciliation.

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