Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) – AFNQL deplores the complete lack of consideration for the realities of First Nations as presented by the First Nations leaders. The new version of the defunct Bill 61 confirms Quebec’s lack of consideration, even indifference, for economic recovery that is First Nations specific.

“First Nations issues must be part of the public debate and they deserve to be heard as part of the study of the Bill, especially with regard to economic issues where First Nations are light years away from Quebec. And yet, a good part of the wealth comes from the ancestral territories of our nations,” said Ghislain Picard, Chief of the AFNQL, in reaction to the tabling of Bill 66. He also specified “that the message before the parliamentary committee in June and the letter of last August focused on First Nations economic recovery simply fell on deaf ears”.