News
‘We have to be part of it’: Indigenous MPs say there needs to be better representation
By Laura Ryckewaert Jun. 19, 2019
'You can bet if we had 100 MPs that were Indigenous, the tone about Indigenous issues would change,' says Liberal MP Michael McLeod.
In 2015, a record number of Indigenous MPs, 10, were elected to the House, including from top left: Ind. MP Jody Wilson-Raybould, Liberal MP Yvonne Jones, Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette, NDP MP Romeo Saganash, NDP MP Georgina Jolibois, Liberal MP Michael McLeod, above left, Liberal MP Don Rusnak, Ind. MP Hunter Tootoo, Liberal MP Dan Vandal, and Liberal MP Vance Badawey. But that's not enough to effect real change, MPs say. The Hill Times file photographs, photographs by Andrew Meade, and courtesy of the House of Commons
More electoral education, mentorships for rookies, and proactive party policies will help bring about a needed increase in Indigenous representation in federal politics, from the elected-level down, say Indigenous MPs and a former candidate.
Laura RyckewaertLaura Ryckewaert is a staff news reporter for The Hill Times.
Follow - lryckewaert@hilltimes.com
Related Stories
Explore, analyze, understand
Inside Ottawa Directory – 2019 Edition
The handy reference guide includes: riding profiles, MPs by province, MP contact details, both Hill and constituency and more.
Get the book
The handy reference guide includes: riding profiles, MPs by province, MP contact details, both Hill and constituency and more.
Get the book
Spinning History: A Witness to Harper’s Canada and 21st Century choices
An unvarnished look at the Harper years and what lies ahead for Canadians
Get the book
An unvarnished look at the Harper years and what lies ahead for Canadians
Get the book
Sharp Wits & Busy Pens
Sharp Wits & Busy Pens, written by current and former Parliamentary Press Gallery reporters, tracks the evolution of political journalism in Canada
Get the book
Sharp Wits & Busy Pens, written by current and former Parliamentary Press Gallery reporters, tracks the evolution of political journalism in Canada
Get the book
Politics This Morning
Your email has been added. An email has been sent to your address, please click the link inside of it to confirm your subscription.
More in News
Majority of Canadians may support TMX, but the project remains an electoral risk for Liberals: pollsters
It’s up to the prime minister to decide if he ‘wants to go into the next election arresting Indigenous communities and leaders,’ says the Squamish Nation council’s Dustin Rivers.Opposition MPs skirt top soldier, place blame for DND ‘chaos’ on Trudeau, Sajjan
Conservative and NDP MPs say chief of defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance was 'following orders' coming from the PMO and the defence minister. Too much party control in ‘highly uncompetitive’ candidate selection: Samara study
‘Parties effectively get to choose the pool of people who will become Members of Parliament,' says Paul Thomas, based on Samara’s recent analysis of 6,600 candidates between 2004 and 2015.Lack of Inuit language supports a key concern for advocates 20 years after Nunavut formed
Fostering use of Inuit languages was a key aim in creating Nunavut, but 20 years later, NTI president Aluki Kotierk says there's been a 'failure' when it comes to providing essential services to the public in Inuktut.Alberta inquiry into ‘foreign-funded’ anti-energy industry groups latest chapter in ‘misdirected attacks,’ says charity
The provincial NDP critic says inquiry is 'only going to increase opposition to energy development in Alberta,' with one expert calling it attempt to put a 'chill' on activism in Canada.Take a lesson, premiers: women’s soccer leading the charge on gender equality
While Canada's premiers were at a prostates-only party in Saskatoon and Donald Trump was being Donald Trump, the U.S Women’s National soccer team was disrupting all manner of cultural norms.Singh looks to defend Quebec seats in weeklong tour across province
Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is touring key ridings in Quebec this week currently held by New Democrats. Canada should keep focus on human rights in midst of U.S.-Iran spiralling tensions, say activists
Global Affairs says Canada's priority in engagement with Iran is the case of Maryam Mombeini who has not been able to leave Iran since March of 2018 following the death of her imprisoned husband. Despite Greens’ rising popularity, NDP and Bloc more likely to hold balance of power in next House: pollster Lyle
If the current voting trends continued until election time, the Green Party could win 14 seats, says EKOS president Frank Graves. But he also says if progressive voters choose to vote strategically to prevent the Conservatives from forming government, they could vote for the Liberals. Trending Stories
