AMC Acting Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy Calls for Urgent Action Amid Parliamentary Chaos and Economic Uncertainty
December 17, 2024
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
AMC Communications
Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg – Acting Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) expresses deep disappointment over the Canadian government’s failure to deliver an address to the House of Commons on the 2024 Fall Economic Statement. The turmoil that erupted in Parliament in its aftermath only exacerbates the frustration of First Nations, whose critical needs remain unaddressed amid this political instability.
“At a time when our children are in crisis, and First Nations are declaring emergencies year after year, the failure to provide a clear economic vision is unacceptable,” stated Acting Grand Chief Kennedy. “First Nations in Manitoba, and across the country, have declared more than 320 emergencies over the last decade—a stark reminder of the systemic underfunding and neglect we continue to face. From infrastructure deficits and healthcare crises to the ongoing failure to implement equitable funding for First Nations children, these emergencies are preventable. Yet Canada chooses inaction over solutions. We should not have to remind Canada of its obligations to First Nations.”
The Fall Economic Statement may indicate that spending for First Nations may have risen exponentially over the last ten years, but large amounts of those dollars are earmarked for claims won against the government of Canada, including the $8 billion Safe Drinking Water compensation, $10 billion for a Treaty Annuity Settlement, compensation to families and children for discrimination within their own CFS Program, and numerous specific claims to individual First Nations.
“The political infighting over what happened in the House of Commons yesterday, over these last few weeks with votes of non-confidence, and now the sudden resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Freeland hours before this financial update was to be presented, is not just disruptive—it’s dangerous. It diverts attention from the critical issues affecting the most vulnerable. This government’s failure to address First Nations’ priorities in the Fall Economic Statement is a betrayal of its commitment to reconciliation,” said Acting Grand Chief Kennedy.
Acting Grand Chief Kennedy emphasized that First Nations children must not be collateral damage in Canada’s political turmoil. She called for immediate federal action to stabilize funding for child welfare, Jordan’s Principle, and healthcare, noting the urgent need to implement the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal rulings and invest in long-term solutions to end the cycle of emergencies in First Nations.
“Reconciliation is not just a word—it’s a commitment that requires action, transparency, and accountability. The lives of our children depend on it. We cannot afford to wait for political stability while our Nations are in crisis,” Acting Grand Chief Kennedy added.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs calls on all federal leaders to prioritize First Nations children and communities in their economic and policy decisions.
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For more information, please contact:
Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email: media@manitobachiefs.com
About the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
The AMC was formed in 1988 by the Chiefs in Manitoba to advocate on issues that commonly affect First Nations in Manitoba. AMC is an authorized representative of all 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 172,000 First Nations citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe, Nehetho / Ininew, Anisininew, Denesuline, and Dakota Oyate peoples.