MP Seamus O’Regan says he will be meeting with Innu leadership over the coming days to discuss the Canadian Human Rights Commission’s report into Innu human rights.
That report, which is the third such one in nearly three decades, calls on the federal government to take action on five recommendations related to the Innu.
O’Regan, who was the Minister of Indigenous Services before taking over the Natural Resources portfolio, says he’ll be meeting with the Innu Nation to discuss “anything that they want to talk about.”
What’s been described as one of the main issues for the Innu is Modern Treaty negotiations, which have been ongoing for 30 years.
O’Regan agrees the process needs to be sped up. He notes that some significant progress has been made but there is still a long way to go.
No Comment on Lawsuit as Matter Before the Courts
Meanwhile, the Innu Nation has filed a lawsuit against the federal government and the province regarding the Muskrat Falls rate mitigation deal, but because the matter is before the courts those closest to the situation are mostly staying silent.
The lawsuit was filed yesterday. The group says they’re concerned that agreed upon benefits could be erased, and that they could face millions of dollars in debt.
Federal Minister Seamus O’Regan says because the matter is going through the courts he is “very limited” on what he can say—which O’Regan calls “frustrating,” noting that there’s lots he’d like to say.
At the provincial level, in a statement provided to VOCM News, the Department of Justice says that because the matter is the subject of litigation, they will not be making any comment on the matter.