MNBC included in $2.8 billion Métis Nation federal budget ask

(March 2, 2021) Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) President Clara Morin Dal Col is pleased to announce that her work at the national level on behalf of MNBC Citizens has resulted in MNBC being included in the $2.8 billion ask that the Métis Nation leadership has submitted to the federal government in advance of the next federal budget. The multi-billion dollar ask for funding over ten years was submitted to the federal finance minister by the Métis Nation’s Finance Minister David Chartrand. The federal budget is expected to be announced later this month.

Because of the very strong working relationship that President Morin Dal Col has with President Chartrand of the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) and President Clément Chartier of the Métis National Council (MNC), the interests and needs of Métis citizens in British Columbia have always been reflected in budget proposals to the federal government. Working with both Presidents Chartrand and Chartier, President Morin Dal Col played a key role in 2019 securing an unprecedented $2.4 billion in federal funding for the Métis Nation. MNBC and its Citizens are benefiting greatly from a share of those dollars in the essential areas of housing, early learning and child development, and economic development. Those funds will continue to flow to MNBC through to 2029.

The latest $2.8 billion ask in the upcoming budget includes funding for MNBC, MMF, Northwestern Ontario and the Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI) in Saskatchewan. If approved by the federal government, MNBC will receive hundreds of millions of dollars over the next ten years for numerous initiatives related to health, education, youth, and justice. An important budget item for MNBC is $285 million to assist in the costs of assuming jurisdiction for Métis children in care. Significant funding to implement the Métis Nation Economic Development Strategy and to address the importance of the environment and climate change is also included in the submission.

President Morin Dal Col said, “The support that MNBC has received at the national level from Presidents Chartier and Chartrand has already brought millions of dollars in new funding for MNBC. Continuing that partnership with them is important because it brings big benefits for MNBC Citizens.”

Actions of nine Board Directors on January 18, 2021 effectively removed President Morin Dal Col from office. The President is seeking to have the Supreme Court of British Columbia nullify the actions of the nine Board Directors. President Morin Dal Col has maintained that the actions of the nine Board Directors amount to a thinly disguised attempt to overturn the results of MNBC’s election of just five months ago, in which she was re-elected by a significant margin by MNBC Citizens.

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For further information:

Contact President Clara Morin Dal Col

Email: cmdalcol@gmail.com