Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government Responds to Announcement by Honorable Ralph Goodale

February 2, 2018 – The Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government would like to acknowledge the announcement made by the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, regarding the federal government’s commitment of $291.2 Million dollars, starting in 2018–2019, for policing in First Nation and Inuit communities.

As we near the end of the Tripartite Agreement, with no commitment yet from the Quebec Government, we are cautiously optimistic of the Federal funding announcement as it does not outline distribution parameters between all First Nation Policing Agencies.  Even with the amount the federal government has committed, that amount is insufficient to meet the growing demands of all First Nations Police services throughout Canada.  The province of Quebec has not made any funding commitments as of yet, to address the needs of First Nation Policing Program.

First Nations Police Forces have been underfunded and under-payed compared to their provincial and federal counterparts since the beginning of the First Nations Police Program (FNPP) in 1990.

LMG Councillor Lloyd Alcon, who is also the Public Security Portfolio holder for the Assembly of First Nations Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL) has stated; “Although it is a step in the right direction, the Provincial and Federal Government must look to include First Nations in the negotiations of these types of agreements in order to improve government-to-government relations.”  The LMG remains committed to Public safety and security and will continue to work diligently with both governments to further develop this essential service.

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INFORMATION:
Gregory Wysote, Public Relations Officer
Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government
Gregory.wysote@listuguj.ca
Tel: (418) 788-2136 (2024)
Cell: (506) 987-1603