A delegation from the Metro Coalition for a Non-Racist Society met with provincial party representatives today. They presented provincial flags signed by hundreds of Nova Scotians in support of the Kelowna Accord. The delegation was received by Justice Minister Murray Scott on behalf of Premier Rodney MacDonald, as well as Judith Sullivan-Corney (Deputy Minister, Office of Aboriginal Affairs). Darell Dexter (NS NDP leader) and Michel Samson (Liberal Party of NS, interim leader) were also in attendance.

The Coalition drew attention to the fact that the government of Nova Scotia has officially supported the Act to Implement the Kelowna Accord (Bill C-292), which was passed by the House of Commons on March 21, 2007.

We are calling on the provincial government to take action with their federal counterparts to bring the Accord, signed in November, 2005, into effect. As a symbol of our support for the Kelowna provisions, the Coalition presented representatives of the provincial government with flags of Nova Scotia signed by hundreds of citizen.

On Nov. 24-25, 2005, Prime Minister Paul Martin, the premiers and Aboriginal leaders met in Kelowna, British Columbia for the First Ministers Conference on Aboriginal Affairs. The meeting resulted in a five-year, $5-billion plan to improve the lives of Aboriginal peoples in the areas of education, housing, economic development, health and water services. The current Conservative government has been criticized for their lack of support for the Kelowna Accord and for Aboriginal rights. Recently all provincial premiers have recommitted their support to the Kelowna Accord, while Prime Minister Stephen Harper has vowed not to honour it.

On a recent visit to Halifax, Sakej Henderson, research director of the Native Law Center of Canada, stated that, "The Kelowna Implementation Bill, a private bill by Paul Martin, is very much ongoing. The Premier of Nova Scotia has signed on to the Accord, but has not been advocating its implementation."

Members of the Metro Coalition for a Non- Racist Society hope to highlight the urgent need to honour the Kelowna Accord and demonstrate the support of Nova Scotians in this struggle for the human rights of Aboriginal people in Canada.