Singh seeks ‘concrete’ action on Indigenous justice, fairness

To influence decisions, NDP leader names himself party’s critic

New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh has named himself his party’s critic for Indigenous relations and services as he presses the Liberal government to drop its court challenge of a human rights tribunal ruling to compensate thousands of First Nations children harmed by underfunded social services.

Revealing key roles for members of his reduced caucus of 24 MPs for the incoming minority parliament, Singh said he is taking on an extra critic position because he wants to use his influence as NDP leader to push for “concrete” improvements for Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.

“The question of fairness and justice for Indigenous people is so important to me and to our party and to our activists,”

Singh said, pointing to mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows and a persistent lack of drinking water for scores of other First Nations across Canada.

“It’s clear that (the Liberals) need to be pushed to do what’s right,” he said. “I’m going to do everything that I can as leader to raise awareness and to push forward to make sure this government does what’s right.”

Singh has repeatedly called on the government to drop its court challenge of a Sept. 6 ruling from the Canadian Human

Rights Tribunal. Following a 2016 decision that found the federal government racially discriminated tens of thousands of children by underfunding child welfare and health services for First Nations communities on reserves, the tribunal ordered Ottawa to compensate affected children and their parents or grandparents $40,000 each.

The government argues the ruling is flawed, in part because it only includes children removed from their families or denied services since 2006. The government said this week that it wants to award compensation, but prefers to do so through a $6-billion class action lawsuit proposed in March that would include more children and allow for compensation based on the severity of harms instead of uniform payouts. Singh named Windsor MP Brian Masse as caucus chair, B.C.’s Peter Julian as House Leader, and Vancouver Island MP Rachel Blaney as party whip. Northern Ontario MP Charlie Angus will focus on income inequality and affordability. Rookie MP Laurel Collins will be responsible for climate change and the environment. OTTAWA—