CAP Praises Harper Cabinet Shuffle
Chuck Strahl "a strong choice" for Indian Affairs Minister
(Ottawa, ON - August 15, 2007) The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) applauded Prime Minister Harper’s cabinet shuffle announced in Ottawa yesterday, and expressed its confidence in the appointment of the Honourable Chuck Strahl to the position of Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians.
National Chief Patrick Brazeau was also quick to acknowledge the considerable efforts and success of the former Indian Affairs Minister, the Honourable Jim Prentice. “Minister Prentice is a man of integrity, honour and honesty. We have shared a warm and collaborative relationship, one that will not end with Mr. Prentice’s move to the Industry portfolio,” said National Chief Brazeau.
Chief Brazeau added, “I’ve met with Minister Strahl in the past and was impressed by his vigour, his competence and his straightforward attitude. Minister Strahl can count on my support and collaboration as we continue to deliver on the government’s commitments to Canada’s Aboriginal peoples.”
The National Chief added: “As regional minister for British Columbia, Mr. Strahl is also representative of a province with the country’s second largest Aboriginal population, eighty per cent of whom live off-reserve. He knows of the needs of off-reserve and urban Aboriginal peoples. We intend on ensuring that in his capacity as the new Indian Affairs Minister, he carries forward the collaborative efforts already underway between the Congress, Minister Prentice and the Harper government,” affirmed Chief Brazeau.
“There remains a great deal to be done in delivering upon Prime Minister Harper’s commitments to the Aboriginal community,” said the National Chief. “There are promises to fix the fiscal imbalance between on- and off-reserve programs and services, and to address the issue of jurisdiction for off-reserve Aboriginal programming,” added Chief Brazeau.
The National Chief added: “The Premiers and I agree that together we need to act to overcome issues of jurisdiction and responsibility for off-reserve. Minister Strahl will be pivotal in making this happen. We’re eager to meet with him, roll up our sleeves and get working to bring about real change for real people in real need. Canada’s off-reserve Aboriginal peoples deserve no less.”
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For further information, please contact:
Al Fleming
Director
Public Affairs
613-747-6022 (office)
613-867-8696 (mobile)
al@abo-peoples.org
