Indian Affairs Minister Short on Specifics

Indian Affairs Minister Short on Specifics

Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 13:21

Canada’s minister of Indian Affairs didn¹t stop for questions yesterday at the Confederacy of Nations meeting in Saskatoon.

Andy Mitchell spoke for roughly half an hour to the chiefs and delegates in attendance.

He pledged to improve living conditions for First Nations people, but declined to mention how this would be accomplished.

Mitchell then answered a list of written questions that had previously been submitted before exiting from the stage.

Outside the assembly hall, Mitchell paused to say that despite the looming election, his office is moving forward with plans to help improve band housing as soon as possible.

Assembly of First Nations chief Phil Fontaine praised Mitchell for being the first Indian Affairs minister in five years to address the chiefs at a Confederacy of Nations meeting.