The Metis National Council has signed a new Governance and Financial Accountability Accord with the federal government.
The protocol sets out a process for Ottawa to deal with the Metis on a number of issues.
Some of these include jurisdictional matters, access to benefits and settlements with Metis veterans.
It’s a similar agreement to the one struck in 2008 and includes an agreement by both sides to hold annual meetings between the Aboriginal Affairs minister, MNC and its governing members.
The council’s president, Clem Chartier, says a great deal of progress was reached:
“We did have a meeting with the Prime Minister and it was a good discussion. We’ve agreed to continue the dialogue and they will work with us in engaging the province of Ontario and West in terms of an economic development strategy.”
The new accord identifies five major priorities.
Those include:
-The completion of the MNC General Assembly Governance Resolution of 2010.
-Completing the development of common standards for Metis Nation registries.
-Strengthening Metis economic development.
-The disclosure of audited financial statements — similar to the First Nations Financial Transparency Act.
-Both parties have also agreed to prepare a joint progress report on the results achieved under the protocol.