NWT MP chosen for federal indigenous caucus
Michael McLeod says board will play advisory role
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Monday, June 27, 2016
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Youth suicide, chronic housing problems and land claims resolution are just three of the issues Northwest Territories MP Michael McLeod says he will be discussing as a member of the newly formed Indigenous Liberal Caucus.
The caucus, which is made up of nine MPs including Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, was announced on June 21.
McLeod said while the caucus holds no official powers, it will serve as both a communications channel and an advisory board on aboriginal issues.
"We act as a communication link between departments, ministers, MPs, whoever is advocating on or wanting to know about issues that affect aboriginal people," he said.
The board, which is made up entirely of Liberal MPs, will also serve as a watchdog for Liberal campaign promises when it comes to aboriginal issues.
"The message that we want to send is that we are working together and we are trying to make sure that our government maintains to the commitment that we stated in our platform," McLeod said. "That it is a priority for all of us."
The party's platform included taking steps to repair the federal government's relationship with aboriginal people, such as finalizing land claims agreements and allowing aboriginal communities greater access to resource revenues.
As MP for the NWT, McLeod said finalizing land claims is a primary issue.
"We're very much interested in getting land claims concluded," he said.
Another key issue is housing, McLeod said.
Forty-two per cent of households in "non-market communities" - communities other than Yellowknife, Inuvik, Hay River, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson and Norman Wells - were considered to be in core need in 2012, according to a Northwest Territories Housing Report released that year.
"Housing for aboriginal people is a huge issue in my riding," McLeod said.
Another major issue is the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which the federal government launched in December.
"We do have a number of murdered and missing women in the North," McLeod said. "Families are going to be impacted by the inquiry, so we're going to have a lot of things that we discuss and bring to the table for the Indigenous Caucus to engage in."
Ensuring the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action report are followed is also key, McLeod said.
"The Truth and Reconciliation recommendations are a big issue for us in the Northwest Territories," he said.
The caucus has already started meeting and McLeod said they plan to meet weekly when parliament is in session.
"While we're sitting, we want to be able to meet once a week," he said.
Caucus members will also communicate throughout the summer.
McLeod said the caucus has also discussed creating a larger body that would include all MPs and senators with aboriginal constituencies.
In the meantime, McLeod said he is pleased the caucus is now up and running.
"There are a lot of exciting things that are moving forward and we want to be able to communicate that to our members," he said.
"In my case, half of my constituents are aboriginal, so it's really important."
