February 23, 2024 (Surrey, BC) - Yesterday, the Government of British Columbia delivered Budget 2024 and committed to tackling pressing issues like affordability and housing for all British Columbians. While First Nations received strong a commitment to develop a new fiscal relationship, the budget falls far short for the urgent needs of the 98,000 self-identified Métis people in the province and Métis Nation British Columbia’s 25,000 Citizens.
“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with First Nations in B.C. as they seek to reclaim their rights over their lands, air, and waters,” said Lissa Dawn Smith, MNBC President. “This budget reaffirms those rights, but it lacks distinct funding for Métis people in several key areas MNBC is working to advance including health, communities, housing, women, justice, economic development and childcare.”
Indigenous Peoples have the right to financial and technical assistance to support their rights. MNBC’s budget request asked for $104.07 million to support Métis specific social programs and services like jurisdiction over Métis children and families, as well as helping to address the inequities of the overrepresentation of Métis in the justice system. MNBC is disappointed that Budget 2024 falls well short of the commitments made in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and our submission to meet these Métis specific needs.
“This budget is a reflection of the province’s flawed distinctions-based approach, which MNBC does not support,” said Smith. “MNBC was not meaningfully consulted on the development of this core policy paper, which we believe diminishes Métis standing in B.C. There is still much work to do, and we are committed to continuing to build on our relationship with the provincial government to achieve better outcomes for our Métis Citizens.”
In December of 2023, the provincial government introduced a distinctions-based approach primer for working with Indigenous governments in BC. The “DBA” concept was first introduced in the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP). The goal of the DBA is for the B.C. government to account for the distinct laws, legal systems, and systems of governance of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.
Since signing the first bilateral accord with the Government of British Columbia nearly two decades ago, MNBC has been working in close partnership with the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and other ministries to advocate for MNBC Citizens. Métis are recognized in s.35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 as Indigenous People.