Policy Sectors

Press Release

NWAC: It’s Time for Federal Government to Walk the Reconciliation Talk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 28, 2023

Budget 2023:
(Ottawa, ON) The Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) is disheartened that the federal government’s Budget 2023 has once again failed to address critical issues facing Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people: particularly addressing MMIWG and economic opportunity. The federal government released its budget earlier today, outlining the fiscal, social, and economic priorities for the upcoming year.

“A budget is about priorities – and Budget 2023 has failed to make it a top priority to protect and empower Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people,” says NWAC CEO Lynne Groulx. We wanted to see investments rooted in the principles of reconciliation and empowerment – and a commitment to Indigenous people taking our full place in Canadian society through significant investments in Indigenous reconciliation efforts that directly impact the well-being of Indigenous women. What we saw instead is a lack of investment to end economic marginalization of Indigenous women in order to end the violence against them to ensure full participation in the Canadian economy.”

“It’s time for the Federal government to walk the reconciliation talk,” Ms. Groulx adds.

There can’t be reconciliation without reducing the rates of violence, over-incarceration, and economic disparity faced by Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people in this country. Canadians are struggling with the cost of living, and it’s clear this is the top priority item in the budget. This struggle is something Indigenous people have been facing for many decades now, and the need for direct investment is dire, says Ms. Groulx.

“This year’s budget doesn’t surprise us at all. Year after year, the budgets have been consistently disappointing. With words but no actions, this government continues to show Canadians that Indigenous women simply are not a priority,” says Ms. Groulx. “It’s 2023, two years since the National Action Plan was released, four years since the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls issued its final report declaring an ongoing genocide. And the violence continues. When does the government say to Canadians that enough is enough? Certainly not in this budget.”

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Media Contact:

For information, or to arrange an interview, contact:

Annette Goerner
annette@sparkadvocacy.ca
+1 (613) 818-6941

Pour obtenir plus d’information ou prendre des dispositions pour une interview, contacter:

Annette Goerner
annette@sparkadvocacy.ca
+1 (613) 818-6941


About The Native Women’s Association of Canada
The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is a National Indigenous Organization representing the political voice of Indigenous women, girls, transgender, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people in Canada, inclusive of First Nations on and off reserve, status and non-status, disenfranchised, Métis and Inuit. An aggregate of Indigenous women’s organizations from across the country, NWAC was founded on the collective goal to enhance, promote and foster the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of Indigenous women within their respective communities and Canada societies.

À propos de l'Association des femmes autochtones du Canada

L'Association des femmes autochtones du Canada (AFAC) est une organisation autochtone nationale qui représente la voix politique des femmes, des filles, des transgenres, des bispirituels et des personnes de sexe différent au Canada, y compris les membres des Premières nations vivant dans les réserves et hors réserve, les Indiens inscrits et non inscrits, les personnes privées de leurs droits, les Métis et les Inuits. Regroupant des organisations de femmes autochtones de tout le pays, l'AFAC a été fondée dans le but collectif d'améliorer, de promouvoir et de favoriser le bien-être social, économique, culturel et politique des femmes autochtones au sein de leurs communautés respectives et des sociétés canadiennes.