Métis Nation Applauds Much Needed Relief for Métis Business
OTTAWA, April 18, 2020 /CNW/ - Métis National Council National Spokesperson David Chartrand welcomes the Prime Minister's announcement today of up to $306.8 million in funding to help small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses, and to support Aboriginal Financial Institutions that offer financing to these businesses.
"The Prime Minister has responded quickly and on a distinctions-basis which he knows is essential if Métis people are not to be left out," said Chartrand. "I am indeed pleased that Métis Nation businesses will have access to desperately needed capital to get through the COVID crisis and our Métis capital corporations will be included in the administration of this crucial financial support."
Of all Indigenous peoples, the Métis people have the highest self-employment rate and the Métis capital corporations play a central role in providing Métis entrepreneurs with financing to start up and expand their businesses.
"The Métis National Council has been working with all the Métis capital corporations across our homeland to press the case with federal ministers and the House of Commons Finance Committee for the type of support the Prime Minister announced today," said Chartrand. "It will be essential for us to deploy the capital as quickly as possible in view of the critical situation our entrepreneurs find themselves in now."
The MNC represents the Métis Nation in Canada at the national and international levels. The Métis Nation's homeland includes the 3 Prairie Provinces and extends into the contiguous parts of British Columbia, Ontario, the Northwest Territories and the United States. There are approximately 400,000 Métis Nation citizens in Canada, roughly a quarter of all Aboriginal peoples in the country.
SOURCE Métis National Council
Ke Ning, Métis National Council, [email protected], c: 613-297-5193
Share this article