Ottawa will honour Kelowna agreement: Layton
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 | 12:03 PM ET
CBC News
The NDP leader was in Winnipeg to announce his party's aboriginal issues platform.
He said he was introducing the points "not as a plan we will impose, but as a set of objectives, priorities for all Canadians to work on together."
Those goals include more money for health and housing, and more efficient settlement of land claims.
In late November, just before the election call, the federal government pledged more than $5 billion over the next five years to improve the lives of native people.
- FROM NOV. 25, 2005: Ottawa pledges $5 billion to aboriginals
The Liberal minority government fell days after the two-day summit in Kelowna, B.C., ended, putting the agreement in doubt.
"The NDP has a very important task, and I am proud to take it on, which is to ensure that this time, at long last, the government of Canada keeps its word," Layton said.
He also said Ottawa has to accept responsibility for residential school abuse, and the prime minister should apologize.
