Hold off Election, CAP National Chief Dorey Urges
OTTAWA, May 17, 2005 -- The national chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is calling on the federal political parties to hold off forcing an election in the coming weeks and months.
Dwight Dorey, who heads the national organization that advocates for the Aboriginal peoples living away from First Nations reserves in urban, rural and remote areas throughout Canada, is concerned that an election call will shelve many critical initiatives that are currently underway.
“For example,” said chief Dorey, “we have been working with the federal government and the provinces and territories for more than a year on policy and program ideas to radically transform the relationship between Aboriginal peoples and Canada.”
The aim of this Canada/Aboriginal Roundtable process is to significantly improve the life chances of and opportunities for Aboriginal peoples in this country, that for far too long have been seriously lagging behind those of other Canadians. We have come too far in the past year to have that jeopardized in any way,” he said.
Following on the heels of the roundtable, a policy retreat is scheduled for the end of May where the five national Aboriginal leaders will meet with Prime Minister Martin and the Cabinet Committee on Aboriginal Affairs to identify key priority areas to be dealt with at a proposed First Ministers/Aboriginal leaders meeting this fall, likely in November.
“We could be finally on the verge of what might be considered an historic breakthrough for Aboriginal peoples that could go completely down the drain with yet another election in the space of less than a year,” the national chief added.
Chief Dorey said the recently announced $1 billion package for survivors of Canada’s residential schools system also could be at risk.
“Too much is at stake – for Aboriginal peoples, and for Canada – to have that happen.”
- 30 -
For further information, please contact:
Al Fleming
Director
Public Affairs
613-747-6022 (office)
613-867-8696 (mobile)
al@abo-peoples.org
