Coast Salish Traditional Territory/Vancouver, BC – The BC First Nations Leadership Council applauds the introduction of a Private Member’s bill to implement the historic Kelowna Accord. The enactment of Bill C-292 requires that the Government of Canada fulfill its obligations and commitments reached under the Kelowna Accord and recognizes that the Accord was the result of a collaborative process among the Government of Canada, provincial and territorial governments, and Aboriginal leadership across Canada.
The First Nations Leadership Council urges all Members of Parliament to embark on a non- partisan approach to Aboriginal issues, as demonstrated by the BC legislature, in supporting the proposed bill. The Bill supports previous calls made by the First Nations Leadership Council, Premier Gordon Campbell, and the BC Government for the federal government to uphold the financial commitments set out in the Kelowna Accord in order to address critical socio-economic gaps. This includes a dedicated ten-year plan to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal peoples. The Act, cited as the Kelowna Accord Implementation Act ̧ enacts that the Government of Canada take all measures necessary to implement the terms of the Kelowna Accord.