AFNQL Urges Quebec Political Parties to Commit to Equitable Public Services for First Nations in Provincial Elections
The Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) is calling on all political parties participating in the upcoming provincial election, scheduled for October 5, to make concrete commitments. The AFNQL seeks to ensure equitable access to public services for First Nations, emphasizing substantive equality, respect for rights, and recognition of their jurisdictions. Key areas of focus include health, public safety, child and family services, education, languages, and culture. Specifically, the AFNQL advocates for safe, discrimination-free healthcare, full implementation of Joyce's Principle and Jordan's Principle, and support for First Nations-led child and family services. They also highlight the importance of strengthening education systems adapted to First Nations realities, revitalizing ancestral languages, and recognizing First Nations police services as essential. Francis Verreault-Paul, Chief of the AFNQL, stressed the need for genuine political will to remove barriers and achieve these aspiration...