As Canadians gear up for a federal election, many want to see change as we come out of the pandemic.
CKDM spoke with MMF's President David Chartrand about the upcoming election.
The President outlined key Métis issues and stresses the importance of having your voice heard.
"I think for the MMF citizens across this province, it's essential that we get our voices heard, our issues heard. We did our own surveys to get their opinions and views of what the parties were; it's very clear that a lot of citizens are very concerned about identity theft of our nation's identity being stolen from eastern Canada and that is a big issue for them. They talked about health care as a very big issue," said Chartrand. "We are right now negotiating with the Liberal government's new health legislation. It will be the first of its kind in Canada, where the Métis have been completely left out since the 1979 policy and before. Health Canada had no relationship with the Métis and no responsibility. It was provincial jurisdiction."
The Métis won that argument in the supreme court of Canada, and Chartrand says that the Prime Minister is now committed to health legislation that will include the Métis, First Nation, and Inuit together.
Chartrand also noted that the MMF came up with 15 priorities based on their surveys to share with the federal parties.
He says they received responses from the NDP, Liberals, Green party and Conservatives on these issues, but the Conservatives response was discouraging:
"It was very telling that the Conservative party did not plan to address Métis issues cause we are mentioned twice under the indigenous commitments, but there is nothing attached to it just by name, so we are scratching our heads wondering what's this supposed to mean. It just goes to show why elections are important." Chartrand carried on. "All of a sudden, you look at the platforms and the key issues people are telling us when we were are seeing them in villages or seeing them somewhere when we bump into them or hearing them from the phone calls or letters and emails. There issues will be, right now, non-existent in the conservative platform, so how do we convince the conservatives to address it if they are successful in winning this election? How again will they deal with the Métis platform when they are not committed to it."
Mr. Chartrand voiced his opinion on people who disrespect politicians, specifically referencing the incident on Labour day when protestors at a rally in London, Ontario, threw rocks at Justin Trudeau.
"This country should never allow what's taking place where people are stoning our prime minister, throwing stuff at him, cursing woman and people of colour publically, that should not be allowed in Canada, I don't care who you are, I don't care what prime minister is in place, I don't think anyone should be allowed to get away with that."
Along with offering rides, helping locate polling stations, and providing impartial information about parties and their platforms, the MMF will be incentivizing voter participation through draws and prizes.
Every Métis voter that stands outside a polling station that takes a photo of themselves going to vote or their mail-in ballot will be entered to win one of five PS5s or the grand prize of a brand new Chevy Spark.
Lastly, the Manitoba Métis Federation President emphasized that individuals and families should look at each party's platform and choose a party that best represents them and their needs.
Canadians will head to the polls on September 20th.