Liberals Not Serious About Adopting UNDRIP: McLeod

OTTAWA – Cathy McLeod, Official Opposition Critic for Indigenous Affairs and Member of Parliament for Kamloops – Thompson – Cariboo, issued the following statement today in response to Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould’s comments yesterday regarding adopting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP):

“Yesterday, the Justice Minister finally admitted that adopting UNDRIP is not a priority for the government and that it will not improve the lives of First Nations.  Instead, all the Liberals have done is create more uncertainty about the expression of Aboriginal Rights and Title.

“The Liberals have refused to provide clarity as to whether existing Canadian laws could be superseded by their automatic acceptance of UNDRIP. In the absence of such clarity, First Nations, businesses and community leaders are left to try and provide their own interpretation of whether the Declaration provides a veto.

“Creating this kind of uncertainty when our economy is struggling is irresponsible and has a very real impact on jobs and investment in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities.”