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Deplorable Reaction of Minister Valcourt Following Decisions
Made by the Chiefs of Canada


Wendake, May 30, 2014 The Chief of the Assembly of the First Nations of Quebec and
Labrador (AFNQL), Ghislain Picard, is openly criticising the attitude of the Minister of
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) following the adoption of a
resolution and a political statement unanimously rejecting Bill C-33, at the Assembly of First
Nations (AFN) - Special Chiefs Assembly held on May 27, 2014 in Ottawa.

In fact, gathered in a Special Assembly, AFN chiefs adopted a resolution unanimously rejecting
Bill C-33. They also approved a political statement demanding that the Government of Canada to
withdraw the bill and honourably commit to a process that recognizes and supports regional and
local diversity which would lead to actual First Nations control of their education based on their
responsibility and inherent Aboriginal and Treaty rights.

In recent years, First Nations have gone to many lengths to demonstrate that their schools are
underfunded. The government had always denied this up to February 7, 2014 when it announced
additional funding that would enable quality education to be provided. Therefore, the
government has lied to the public and kept First Nations schools in a precarious financial
situation.

According to Minister Valcourts position, rejecting the Bill would mean the government would
not follow up on its commitment to provide additional funding, and in doing so, confirms that its
claim of promoting student success through legislation is only a smokescreen. As demonstrated
in all the studies conducted, the aim of this government has been to impose legislation on First
Nations attacking their rights and making additional funding that their schools desperately need
conditional to accepting this bill.

This way of doing things clearly constitutes a breach of the principle of the honour of the
Crown in its dealings with First Nations, stated Chief Picard, and added that It is high time the
Minister seized the opportunity presented to him to honourably make amends instead of closing
the door on any alternative as he has already done.





The AFNQL is a regional organization consisting of 43 chiefs of First Nations in Quebec and
Labrador. For more information, visit its website at www.apnql-afnql.com.



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Information: Jane Gray
418-955-9700
Jgray@apnql-afnql.com