Metis veterans from Second World War awaiting apology from federal government

OTTAWA – The vice president of the Metis National Council is urging Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay and his staff to ensure an apology is issued soon to Metis veterans from the Second World War.

In a letter to the minister, David Chartrand says an apology to veterans who were "disrespected" and "ignored" must happen soon because veterans are nearing the end of their lives.

Chartrand says the Manitoba Metis community recently lost another Second World War veteran, who did not receive recognition and justice before his death.

He also says the federal government and the Metis Nation were close to reaching an agreement under former veterans affairs minister Seamus O'Regan.

O'Regan was moved out of the portfolio and into Indigenous Services during a January cabinet shuffle.

MacAulay's office says it plans to speak with Chartrand and the Metis National Council in the near future on the issue, adding the minister remains committed to "appropriately recognizing" Metis veterans for their courage and sacrifices.

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Shelby Thevenot

Shelby has lived across Canada. She grew up near Winnipeg, Manitoba then obtained her B.F.A in Multidisciplinary Fine Arts at the University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge, Alberta. In 2014 she moved to Montreal, Quebec to study French and thrived in the Visual Journalism Graduate Diploma program at Concordia University. Now she works at iNFO News where she strives to get the stories that matter to the Okanagan Valley community.

Member of:

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