According to the Pallister Government, the recent suspension of the Turning the Page Agreement is a good thing for Indigenous communities. 

The Province says that the agreement, which was signed by the previous NDP government, would have provided the Manitoba Métis Federation $20M in exchange for the withdrawal of challenges to the Bipole III and Keeyask projects. 

In a letter, Crown Services Minister Colleen Mayer says that they are discontinuing the practice of benefit agreements that secure support from Indigenous communities for developments in exchange for their agreement not to participate in consultation and regulatory processes. 

Mayer added that in place of the agreement, the Province will “negotiate adverse effects agreements to address real impacts on treaty or Aboriginal rights where those effects cannot be avoided, minimized or mitigated through project design, regulatory conditions or other accommodation measures”.  

Mayer concluded by saying that she is a proud card carrying member of the Manitoba Métis Federation, and that the actions by the government underscore their commitment to respecting treaty and Aboriginal rights while being open and transparent.