Reconciliation:
Advancing Reconciliation-
With the traditional territories of the Qualicum, Snaw-naw-as (Nanoose), Huu-ay-aht, Hupacasath, Tse-shaht, Uchucklesaht, Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Toquaht, and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet), and K’ómoks First Nations in his riding, Gord has made reconciliation a key priority since being first elected in 2015. Here are some highlights of what Gord has achieved as part of the NDP team:
Investing in reconciliation. Addressed the chronic underinvestment in Indigenous communities is critical to advancing reconciliation, and Gord has fought alongside the NDP to secure funding for urgent needs, which included:
- Secured $8.3 billion in funding to address the housing needs of Indigenous people living in urban, rural, and northern areas.
- Helped secure a record amount of federal infrastructure funding for roads, sewers, water treatment facilities, and other community needs.
- Helped secure federal funding to support Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in Clayoquot Sound and the upper Comox Valley watershed, as well as the restoration of Kuuskuusum.
- Assist Hesquiaht First Nation obtain federal funding to transition from diesel to clean energy.
- Assist the Nuu-chah-nulth Youth Warrior Society obtain federal funding through the Youth Substance Use Prevention Program.
- Advocate for funding for the Huu-ay-aht First Nation’s plan to keep children out of foster care.
- Helped the Nuuchanulth Nations access emergency funding and advocating for support for Indigenous businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Tabled a motion advocating for training and equipment for volunteer first responders in remote coastal communities and supporting the creation of the Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Advocating for truth and justice. Gord has worked with First Nations to ensure their voices are heard in Ottawa and consistently called on the federal government to address past and ongoing wrongs.
- Secured an emergency debate in the House of Commons after escalating violence against Mi’kmaq fishers to address inequities in federal fisheries policies for Indigenous people.
- Secured meetings for Indigenous leaders and Elders on Vancouver Island with senior government officials including the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers.
- Amplify the calls of Indigenous leaders to invite the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People to study systemic racism in Canada.
- Called for a formal apology from the Roman Catholic Church to address the trauma of Indian residential schools.
- Championed the Moose Hide Campaign to raise awareness about violence against women and children.
- Called on the government to provide resources to the Tseshaht First Nation to investigate deaths at the Alberni Indian Residential School.
Respecting Indigenous rights. Gord has pushed for the federal government to act honourably and take action to build true nation-to-nation relationships with First Nations, including:
- Called on the government stop litigating against the Huu-ay-aht Nation and provide compensation for logging on their lands.
- Called on the government to respect the fishing rights of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations.
- Applied pressure on the government to forgive land claims negotiation loans.
- Spoke more on Indigenous issues in the House of Commons than any other central Vancouver Island MP and the 8th most in Canadian history
Gord’s job is not done. He continues to work hard every day to ensure Canada moves forward on the path to truth, justice, and reconciliation. He will continue to advocate for:
- Economic reconciliation and self-determination over the use of lands and resources
- Improved access to federal procurement opportunities
- Settlement of specific claims
- Increased funding for Indigenous language preservation
- Police reforms to end systemic racism against Indigenous peoples
- Funding to address the state of emergency declared by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council because of the opioid crisis
For more information on Gord’s record, visit openparliament.ca, an independent website that helps you “Keep tabs on Parliament”.