Valcourt rejects Bellegarde’s invitation to meet with AFN executive

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt has turned down an invitation offered by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde to meet with the organization’s chiefs executive early next week.

 Jorge Barrera
APTN National News
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt has turned down an invitation offered by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde to meet with the organization’s chiefs executive early next week.

Valcourt’s office said late Wednesday afternoon the minister would not accept Bellegarde’s invitation, but instead send his department’s deputy minister Colleen Swords.

“While the minister can’t attend, he has asked that his deputy minister attend on his behalf,” said an emailed statement from Valcourt’s office.

Bellegarde issued the invite as an olive branch to Valcourt during a meeting between the two men in Quebec City this past Monday.

Valcourt’s office described the meeting as “productive” and that “both parties agreed to keep in touch on issues that matter to First Nations.”

The minister’s rejection of the invitation seems in line with the more aggressive posture Valcourt has taken toward the AFN and on his portfolio in general.

It was unclear as of this article’s posting whether the AFN executive, which is comprised of chiefs representing 10 regions from across the country, would accept to meet with the deputy minister instead of Valcourt.

APTN National News could not immediately reach the AFN for comment.

The AFN executive is meeting next Monday and Tuesday.

Bellegarde sent a note to the chiefs executive Monday following his meeting with Valcourt saying he had issued the invitation to the minister.

“The purpose of the meeting was to open lines of communications and to outline priorities,” wrote Bellegarde, in the note, which was obtained by APTN.

Bellegarde said in the note he planned to provide a more detailed update during next week’s planned chiefs executive meeting.

Privately, however, Bellegarde has told chiefs the minister was cordial but “kind of cold” during their encounter.

Bellegarde was scheduled to meet with NDP leader Thomas Muclair Wednesday evening.

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