Speaking Notes
for the Honourable Andy Scott, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and Federal Interlocutor
for Métis and Non-Status Indians
on the occasion of The Assembly
of First Nation Annual General Assembly
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
July 22, 2004.
Check against delivery
Good afternoon, elders, national chief Fontaine, members of the executive,
chiefs, my colleague Ethel and colleague Shawn Murphy, honored guests,
I'm pleased to be here with you in the traditional territory of the Mi'kmaq
people (ph.). Je tiens à remercier l'Assemblée des premières
nations et le chef national Phil Fontaine de m'offrir l'occasion de vous
adresser à cette assemblée. J'aimerais également
adresser mes félicitations à l'occasion du 25e anniversaire
de cette assemblée générale.
I know national Chief Fontaine and I have had the pleasure of working
with him in the past. I know him as a man of conviction, possessing that
rare combination of vision and practical good sense. He is unfailing in
his support of his people and I look forward to our continued relationship.
As someone born and raised in New Brunswick, I'm particularly pleased
that my first major public appearance as the minister of Indian Affairs
and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-status
Indians is in Atlantic Canada, and while I always feel at home in this
part of the country, I could not have been made to feel more welcome by
the people here at the assembly. I thank you for your hospitality. I trust
that you will understand if I am brief in my remarks. As a new minister,
my first duty is to listen.
As a minister two days into the job, it would have been very easy for
me to decline this invitation but I accepted knowing that I could not
have a better introduction to First Nations issues than to be with you
at this assembly, and although my remarks will be brief, I wanted to share
with you my initial thoughts in the task before us and my approach to
the responsibilities that have been entrusted to me as minister.
First I am honored to have been called by the prime minister to serve
in cabinet as minister entrusted with this important portfolio, one that
speaks to both the history and the future of Canada. Prime Minister Martin
has a deep commitment to aboriginal issues and he has made these issues
front and center of the government's agenda. I would like to say from
the onset that I do have responsibilities both as minister for Indian
Affairs and Northern Development and as Federal Interlocutor for Metis
and Non-status Indians. I realize that the three aboriginal groups recognized
by our constitution each have their own unique backgrounds, cultures,
traditions and place within the fabric of Canada.
There are of course issues of common concern, but this bringing together
of responsibilities at the ministerial level does in no way dilute the
relationship between the government of Canada and First Nations people.
As demonstrated by the Canadian Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable in April,
we saw how the government is capable of dealing with and responding the
fundamental issues faced by all aboriginal people in Canada while at the
same time recognizing the unique circumstances of First Nations, Inuit
and Metis.
The prime minister has said that Canadians expect this government to
do better. Your chief has challenged us to do better. It must take the
necessary steps to improve Canada's prosperity and all people's standards
of living. The summons could not be more clear. This is a government focused
on results and my commitment, and I was challenged to offer this commitment,
and my commitment before you is to work in good faith with you and other
partners on a shared goal of realizing positive and lasting change in
the lives of First Nations people across Canada.
I'm new to the portfolio but I'm no stranger to the commitments the government
of Canada and the AFN have made to each other to advance the concerns
of First Nations. I know that under the leadership of the prime minister,
there have been significant advances in the relationship with First Nations
people and I'm here to say that though we are in a new parliament and
with a minority government, we will continue to build our relationship
with First Nations people based on inclusion and cooperation.
I say to you that my priority is to work with you and partner such as
the provinces and territories, aboriginal organizations, the private sector,
the voluntary sector and others to close the lingering and unacceptable,
intolerable gap in living conditions between first nations and other Canadians.
I regard this as a matter of the highest national importance, a defining
challenge of our times. We have come to realize that building the kind
of future that we want requires the active participation of partners including
other levels of government, aboriginal organizations, the private sector
and all those who have a stake in a better future for First Nations, and
under the leadership of the prime minister, the government has made a
strengthened relationship with First Nations, the foundation for greater
cooperation in areas of shared concern.
The government's new relationship with First Nations is founded on the
belief that the answers to the long-standing issues facing First Nations
are not housed exclusively in one department or minister's office or in
provincial or territorial capitals. Our new relationship means that we
will work together to find shared solutions, whether they come from Ottawa
or from any first nation community in Canada. The point is we will develop
these solutions wherever they may originate, working together in partnership
to turn them into real and lasting results.
We know that there are First Nations successes across Canada. We need
to tap into those ideas and make them part of a wider dialogue that respects
and encourages broad participation of First Nations in the affairs that
affect their lives. This spirit was evident at the roundtable in which
— an event which brought First Nations expertise in a variety of
sectors together with governments and aboriginal leadership in a shared
venture to realize a common vision. The roundtable of April 19th was a
watershed event, one which I was pleased to attend and though we have
a new ministry in a minority government, the issues brought forward at
the roundtable press us on with undiminished urgency. The roundtable launched
a new approach for strengthened relationships and marked an era of change.
A clear and unmistakable message emerged from the gathering. We would
not let whatever differences we have stand in the way of progress on fundamental
issues facing First Nations. The stakes are too high to let another generation
wait for results. All the participants agreed that the status quo can
no longer be endured and that we need a concentrated effort by all in
building a better future for First Nations people.
Your organization is fundamental to the success we desire. We have an
ambitious agenda ahead, based on the premise that First Nations should
have more control over your lives and communities. We also know there
is much more that we can do and we must do together to make a real difference
in the lives of First Nations people. There is much work ahead. The challenges
are considerable, but so is our determination to succeed.
I'm a new minister in a new job, but you have my commitment that I will
work with you as a partner in good faith. I have absolute respect for
the vital role that the AFN plays in the lives of First Nations people,
indeed in the life of Canada. I'm pleased and honored to be with you in
your 25th annual general assembly and with your permission, Chief, I would
like to sit in the audience after lunch to listen at least for a while
to part of the deliberations.
Generations that will follow us will look on this time in Canada and
this leadership for how we responded to the new spirit of cooperation
that was there for all to see at the roundtable. I say with the deepest
sincerity and conviction: we will not let them down. Thank you. Merci
beaucoup.
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