Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict Releases a Statement About the Prime Minister’s Resignation and First Nations Priorities

Press Release

January 8th, 2025

(Toronto, Ont. – January, 8, 2025) Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict has issued the following statement on the Prime Minister’s resignation and future priorities for First Nations in Ontario:

“On behalf of the Chiefs of Ontario, I would like to thank the Prime Minister for his public service. His commitment to advancing reconciliation has helped change the national conversation between First Nations and Canada.

The decision to progue Parliament does not alter the conviction or priorities of First Nations. When the House of Commons resumes on March 24th, we urge the new Liberal Party leadership to work collaboratively with opposition parties to advance key priorities for First Nations, including:

Enacting the First Nations Clean Drinking Water Act (Bill C-61)
Addressing longstanding concerns regarding the carbon tax
Ensuring essential service designation for First Nations police
Finalizing the Agreement regarding the long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) Program
Advancing health legislation
Reforming the Additions to Reserve (ATR) and Specific Claims Policy
Implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) legislation
Fulfill commitments under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action and the National Inquiry into the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ (MMIWG2S+) Calls for Justice
Ensuring ongoing funding and support for Indian Residential School (IRS) survivor and their families

We also expect the next Prime Minister to commit to working in good faith with First Nations to address these priorities and ensure meaningful progress on reconciliation.

We wish the outgoing Prime Minister and his family well in their future endeavors and look forward to building a strong and collaborative relationship with the new leadership.”

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The Chiefs of Ontario supports all First Nations in Ontario as they assert their sovereignty, jurisdiction, and their chosen expression of nationhood. Follow Chiefs of Ontario on Facebook, X, Instagram, or LinkedIn @ChiefsOfOntario

Media Contact:
Isak Vaillancourt
Communications Manager
Chiefs of Ontario
Telephone: 416-819-8184
Email: isak.vaillancourt@coo.org

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