10/10/08

Election Day is October 14th - Your Vote Counts!

October 14th is voting day in Canada's 40th federal election.

In order to assist you in making an informed choice - and to give you a little weekend reading! - the AFN has posted on its website the platforms of all the political parties, the answers each political party provided to our questionnaire on First Nations issues, and analysis of the party responses and platforms. Go here to get all the information.

Also, be aware that identification requirements for voting in the election have changed, and these changes affect First Nations. You can get the info from the AFN website here (and watch an AFN-Elections Canada public service announcement on the changes) as well as here on the Elections Canada website.

Most of all, remember on October 14th: You're First Nations, and your vote counts!

10/1/08

"Stronger First Nations Make for a Stronger Canada"

How true. Read the Toronto Star opinion piece right here.

What do you think?

9/29/08

CBC's "Your Interview" Session with the National Chief

AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine answered questions sent in by the public as part CBC's "Canada Votes" online campaign coverage.

You can read the questions and the National Chief's answers on the CBC website here.

And don't forget to checkout the AFN's 2008 Election webpage chock full of information and other goodies!

9/24/08

Vote '08, Change Can't Wait!

The AFN's 2008 Federal Election webpage is up and running right here.

You can get all the news on the AFN's election activities, the AFN "platform", AFN letters and questionnaires sent to party leaders and much more.

Be sure to check back often as there will be lots more to come as the days and weeks unfold towards election day, October 14th. We'll post the responses by party leaders to the questionnaire once they're received, and we'll also post an analysis of the various party platforms for your information.

Here's a news story about the AFN's Vote '08, Change Can't Wait campaign.

Let us know what you think, and if you have any questions or if there's any federal election information you'd like to see posted let us know!

9/19/08

First Nations and the 2008 Federal Election: "We can actually influence the outcome...but only if we participate”

The federal election is well-underway and voters will be going to the polls on October 14.

Are you going to vote? Why, or why not? What are the key issues for you in this election?

The Assembly of First Nations will be launching a special Federal Election 2008 webpage on the AFN website. We'll post the link once it's ready to roll. It'll be chock-full of elections information including voting info, analysis of party platforms, a full list of Aboriginal candidates and lots of other goodies.

In the meantime, here's an article from today's Globe and Mail you may may want to checkout: Native issues casualties of Afghan spending, chief says

7/17/08

More News from the AGA - Working Towards Real Reconciliation

A busy day yesterday for the National Chief at the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly in Quebec City.

The National Chief met with leaders of the Roman Catholic Church to help ensure the Roman Catholic Church participates fully in the upcoming Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As well, the National Chief is hopeful that there may eventually be an apology from Pope Benedict XVI himself. Pope Benedict XVI recently acknowledged Australia's apology to the Aborigines for past injustices.

The National Chief also attended the meeting with the Council of the Federation - the forum where all provincial premiers and territorial leaders meet. The National Chief, premiers and territorial leaders emerged with an important agreement to press the Prime Minister and Government of Canada to honour and implement the Kelowna Accord and to convene a full First Ministers Meeting on First Nations issues. The premiers and territorial leaders can be important allies in the call for a progressive agenda to move First Nations from poverty and prosperity.

Let us know what you think about these developments.

The AGA wraps up today, so stay tuned for further updates on the outcomes and next steps.

7/16/08

AFN Annual General Assembly in the News

The AFN's Annual General Assembly in Quebec City is generating a lot of media interest, in particular the National Chief's meeting today with the Council of the Federation (comprised of all provincial premiers and territorial leaders) and the push for Canada to endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Stay tuned for more updates!

Remember that the Annual General Assembly can be viewed via webcast.