Federal defence minister backs off on comments over military and First Nations
WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Free Press is reporting that federal Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan is backing off on comments his office made suggesting he might consider giving direct power to First Nations to call in the military when they feel their rights or communities are being threatened.
In a report out of Ottawa, the newspaper says it was told by Sajjan on Thursday that he doesn’t think the system needs to be changed.
On Wednesday, it appeared Sajjan was considering the request from Ron Swain, vice-chief with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.
Swain told Sajjan during consultations with Manitoba indigenous groups that aboriginal communities deserve the same rights as provincial governments.