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‘We have to be part of it’: Indigenous MPs say there needs to be better representation
By Laura Ryckewaert June 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 deputy editor at The Hill Times.
Follow - lryckewaert@hilltimes.com
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