Stiles and Mamakwa hold Indigenous Affairs Minister to account at committee

QUEEN’S PARK – Marit Stiles, Ontario NDP Leader and Deputy Leader Sol Mamakwa pushed for answers and accountability from Minister Greg Rickford today at committee hearings on the Estimates of the Indigenous Affairs ministry:

“The Government of Ontario’s relationship with First Nations has never been at a more critical point,” said Stiles. “I have serious questions about this Minister’s priorities. The people of Grassy Narrows have been waiting for justice for decades. People are still suffering and this Minister refuses to take responsibility to provide justice, answers, and a plan for the people of Grassy Narrows. Today, we tried to get the answers that the people of Grassy Narrows are demanding – but Ford’s Minister isn’t providing them.”

“It has been 8 years since the findings of the inquest into the deaths of Seven First Nations Youth were released,” said Mamakwa. “These were preventable deaths. They deserved to live a full life. We cannot accept these losses anymore. The inquest made that clear. And for eight years after this inquest, Ontario has failed to fulfill six of these key recommendations that could have prevented further tragedies. The families of the Seven Fallen Feathers are still waiting for answers.”

BACKGROUND:

• 90 per cent of the Grassy Narrows population is experiencing symptoms of mercury poisoning, an issue that is being exacerbated by the release of effluent into the Wabigoon River
• The Ministry refuses to share how much is being spent to fight Grassy Narrows in court
• The province has still not completed the recommendations made eight years ago following the Seven Fallen Feathers inquest, and refuses to answer questions on which recommendations have not been completed yet and how much budget is allocated for it