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This photo was taken on the peak of beautiful Mica Mountain in the scenic Cariboo Mountain Range, which allows a great view of the distant mountains in the Clearwater area, including Raft and Trophy mountains. Many people will be out on their snowmobiles taking advantage of our South Cariboo outdoor offerings on New Year’s Day.
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Local MP a critical voice McLeod active on First Nations file for Conservatives
Gaven Crites Free Press
Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod is consistently challenging the policies of the federal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in her new role as Indigenous Affairs Critic as the Liberals try to follow through on their campaign pledge to forge a new “nation-to-nation” relationship with First Nations in Canada. McLeod has spoken out on a number of big First Nations issues since she was named to the Official Opposition’s shadow cabinet in November, following the Liberal majority win in the federal election that knocked the Conservatives from power in October. On Dec. 18, the Liberals announced the reinstatement of funding and the suspension of court actions against First Nations communities that have not complied with the First Nations Financial Transparency Act (FNFTA), a controversial piece of legislation brought
in by the Conservatives in 2013 that the compliance rate will collapse, required First Nations bands to and financial information will again make financial information about be shrouded in secrecy from comchiefs and council available to their munity members.” members. In a statement, Carolyn Bennett, In response, McLeod, on behalf of Minister of Indigenous and the Conservatives, called the move Northern Affairs, says the move a “step backwards” by the Liberals, is based on the recognition of which have “abandoned rights, respect, co-operatransparency,” she says. tion and partnership with “This is a sad day for Aboriginal Peoples. those First Nations com“Transparency and munity members who accountability are paracalled for enhanced finanmount to any government, cial accountability and whether it is municipal, transparency.” provincial, federal or First CATHY The FNFTA represented Nation. We will work in MCLEOD real progress in ensuring full partnership with First First Nations leadership Nations leadership and worked in the best interests of their organizations on the way forward communities and it should remain to improve accountability and transin place, McLeod adds. parency. This cannot be achieved “The act ensures community without the engagement of First members have access to basic finan- Nations and its members.” cial information, such as audited In a separate interview, McLeod financial statements, and the salaries also addressed her political party’s and expenses of chief and council. turnaround with respect to supNow with no compliance measures porting a national public inquiry in effect, it’s a safe prediction that into missing and murdered indig-
enous women. While the previous Conservative government under then prime minister Stephen Harper refused to launch an inquiry, the party’s interim leader, Rona Ambrose, announced a reversal of that position in November. A 2014 report from the RCMP identified a total of 1,181 missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Canada. Under the Liberals, the inquiry is expected to begin in the spring. The Conservatives’ position was that another study wasn’t needed, and resources should be directed toward solutions, explains McLeod. However, she acknowledges a significant segment of the population didn’t agree with that position. “It’s clear the call from across Canada, from leadership and from the families, is that an inquiry is needed. We’re going to support that moving forward and hope that it brings both peace to the families, but also a clear direction in terms of actual action to move forward with.”