Federation of Newfoundland Indians invited to participate in Pre-Budget Consultations with the Federal Finance Minister

   The Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) was privileged to be invited by Hon. Ralph Goodale to participate in Pre-Budget consultations in St. John's on January 22, 2004. Ms. Annie Randell, Executive Assistant of the FNI sat in for president Brendan Sheppard, who was in Ottawa at the time of the session. The FNI was one of a very few organizations and businesses that had the opportunity to make a presentation to the Federal Finance Minister, Hon. Ralph Goodale, who was on a cross-Canada series of pre-budget consultations. 

   Ms. Randell began by giving a preamble to the organization and its members, she then proceeded to thank the Federal Government for the current federal programs that the FNI was currently receiving on behalf of the Aboriginal people of Newfoundland such as the Aboriginal Human Resource Development Agreement.  Ms. Randell insisted that the Federal Government must continue to fund such a program and suggested that they strongly consider raising their contribution level.   Ms. Randell’s main focus at this session was to enforce the necessity of the current cabinet ministers to support the current process of Preliminary Negotiations that are taken place with the FNI and the Department of Indian & Northern Affairs. Ms. Randell's concluding comments were, the Mi'Kmaq of Newfoundland were penciled out of Confederation in 1949, we are now asking for the injustice of 1949 to be corrected. The FNI request that the Government of Canada Pencil the Mi’Kmaq people of Newfoundland into the Federal Government's budget for 2004 and beyond as recognized Mi'Kmaq people, so they can receive rightful support for training, education, health benefits, economic development opportunities, cultural & recreation, etc.  We are not asking for anything more than what was arranged and agreed too for all other aboriginal people across this country.