Diabo to wait and see on Carney

Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) grand chief Cody Diabo said that in the days following the Liberal Party of Canada winning a minority government mandate - electing, at the time of writing, 168 members of Parliament (MPs) - he is being cautious about prime minister Mark Carney and the return of the Liberals to office.

“I have to see what he’s all about. They always talk a big game when they’re running for office,” said Diabo.

“They’ll say things, then they get elected, and then it’s a different story. So we’re in a wait and see mode right now, but we’re still going to be pushing our issues.”

That being said, Diabo is not exactly impressed about some of the promises the Liberals have made on the campaign trail.

“Him too, he’s talking about pipelines,” said Diabo.

There is also the issue of selling off “unused” Crown lands for housing before settling land debt with Indigenous communities, Kahnawake included. This was criticized in a statement made by Diabo and released by the MCK on April 25.

“You cannot claim to be ‘solving’ the housing crisis while ignoring Canada’s outstanding land debts to Onkwehón:we communities. Reconciliation is not just a word. It requires action, recognition of rights, and a willingness to engage with the truth - including the truth about land,’” said Diabo in the statement.

In La Prairie-Atateken, the federal riding where Kahnawake is situated, first-time Liberal candidate Jacques Ramsay was elected over incumbent Bloc Quebecois member of Parliament Alain Therrien, with Ramsay amassing 44.09 percent of the vote to Therrien’s 34.87 percent.

Ramsay, a family doctor by trade, also worked as a coroner during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and served on Quebec’s administrative tribunal, before leaving that post to run for office.

Diabo said that he has yet to hear from Ramsay, and that he was never contacted by him or his team during the race.

In the same press release that contained Diabo’s statement with the criticism of the planned housing policy, Diabo also criticized the debate for not acknowledging that it was taking place on unceded Kanien’kehá:ka land, and invitations to engage with Carney, among others, went unanswered.

In the days following that callout, and after the election win, Diabo still has yet to hear anything from Carney.

“He’s talking about how he met with all First Nation leaders, but he hasn’t, because he didn’t meet with me,” said Diabo.

It is unknown to Diabo when this eventual meeting will take place.

Incumbent MPs Patty Hajdu, who was minister of Indigenous services, and Gary Anandasangaree, who was minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, were both reelected on Monday; ministerial positions have yet to be named for the new government.

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