O'Regan appointment to Indigenous Services worrisome; Wilson-Raybould demotion ‘typical’

Updated: 7:12 p.m. (EST) Jan. 14

As far as Chief Judy Wilson is concerned, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau replaced the wrong Cabinet minister holding a federal Indigenous portfolio.

This morning, Trudeau shuffled Jane Philpott out of Indigenous Services to make her the new president of the Treasury Board. Taking her place is Seamus O’Regan, whose spot in Veterans Affairs is being filled by Jody Wilson-Raybould. Wilson-Raybould, who was the first Indigenous Justice Minister and Attorney General, will see her position taken over by David Lametti, former parliamentary secretary for innovation.

It was Carolyn Bennett, minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, that Chief Wilson thought would be replaced.

“Leaving it to Minister Bennett, largely on Crown-relations, has been quite a disaster to date,” said Wilson, who serves as secretary-treasurer for the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. “We would have thought it would have been Minister Bennett with all the blundering she’s done.”

Instead, it was Philpott, who many chiefs at the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly in December recognized as one of the best ministers to hold an Indigenous portfolio.

Philpott’s successor O’Regan has been criticized for the missteps he’s made as minister of the Veteran Affairs portfolio.

“That he’s blundered in the past, taking over Philpott’s post, that is really worrisome. It’s kind of tragic that they would make that kind of decision,” said Wilson.

AFN Manitoba Regional Chief Kevin Hart is also concerned with Philpott’s replacement, considering there is important Indigenous legislation scheduled to be introduced later this month.

Hart believes that Indigenous languages and child welfare enabling legislations would not have come forward without Philpott’s strong work.

“We’re ready to go. That’s my message I’m going to have today with the Prime Minister,” said Hart.

Hart and other regional chiefs and National Chief Perry Bellegarde met with Trudeau, O’Regan, Bennett and Philpott, in her new capacity, along with a handful of other ministers and parliamentary secretaries this afternoon.

During the meeting, Philpott pledged to work with O’Regan to ensure the legislation “goes through,” said Alberta Regional Chief Marlene Poitras. 

She also said that Philpott promised to “continue to push our issues” in dealing with finance.

“For us as First Nations leadership, we’re definitely going to keep the new minister (O’Regan) on point and obviously let the Prime Minister know that proceeding forward we don’t want to stop all the work that we had just because we have a new minister in place,” said Hart.

In an interview with CBCNews, Bellegarde said it was important that O’Regan understand the outstanding issues that still face First Nations.

“He’s got to be open-minded and I’m sure he will be,” said Bellegarde. “It’s access, constant communication and making sure he gets it. That these issues are going to make a better country for all of us if they’re dealt with.”

While Hart is willing to give O’Regan a chance, he was critical of how the Veterans Affairs ministry had “fallen to the wayside” and Indigenous veterans ignored.

“If you look at Veterans Affairs there’s a lot of work to be done,” said Hart, who believes Wilson-Raybould is well-suited to take on the challenge.

“I think Jody is going to do a great job in Veterans Affairs because, with her work ethic that I’ve seen …, she’s been able to break down those walls and barriers from within and been able to educate from within those circles,” he said.

“There’s a huge void when it comes to acknowledging and identifying First Nations and Indigenous veterans.”

Bellegarde, who applauded Wilson-Raybould for what she had accomplished as Justice Minister and noted work had just got underway on restorative justice and First Nations gaming, said he was looking forward to working with her in her new capacity.

“We’re still seeking justice for a lot of our veterans because they weren’t treated the same when they came back to Canada,” he said.

Wilson though says it’s hard not to view Wilson-Raybould’s new position as a step down.

“To me it’s just a singular issue outstanding, to recognize our Indigenous veterans and stand up for all veterans, but at the same time, one of the most knowledgeable ministers on entitlement and treaty rights to me is seemingly demoted to a lesser ministry,” she said.

Lance Copegog, Youth Chief of the Beausoleil First Nation Youth Council, said he was sad to see Wilson-Raybould’s Cabinet shift.

“As Minister of Justice, she was changing Canada’s legal landscape in order to build a better relationship with Indigenous people,” said Copegog.

With the loss of Wilson-Raybould as justice minister, Wilson says it now all falls on Bennett, who has lost the confidence of chiefs.

“It sends a strong message to all of our Indigenous organizations and our Nations what Trudeau’s real agenda has been,” she said.

In a statement issued this afternoon, Wilson-Raybould said she would not comment on the Cabinet shuffle. “In our system, decisions regarding the appointment of Cabinet ministers are the prerogative of the Prime Minister.”

The Yellowhead Institute, a think tank for Indigenous issues and policies, tweeted this morning that the Cabinet shuffle was “an indication that the so-called “most important relationship” has been downgraded for the remainder of this government’s mandate.”

“It’s typical of Trudeau to make these knee-jerk decisions. He had big promises and not following them through. Internally, it sounds really chaotic what he’s doing with his party,” said Wilson.