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Manitoba Metis Federation 'appalled' at lack of Metis funding in federal budget

  • Alessia Passafiume

  • Canadian Press

  • November 6, 2026

Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Manitoba Metis Federation President David Chartrand speak together at the Louis Riel Commemoration Event in Winnipeg on Sunday Nov. 16, 2025 at the Saint Boniface Cathedral. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

OTTAWA -- The Manitoba Metis Federation says it's appalled by the lack of Metis-specific funding in Prime Minister Mark Carney's new budget.

While First Nations and Inuit have targeted funding measures in the budget, Metis do not, despite having pressed the government for supports in areas like housing and health care.

The only mention of Metis in the budget is in association with $806 million set aside over five years to implement a Trudeau-era Indigenous child welfare law.

Manitoba Metis Federation president David Chartrand says there is "no doubt" Red River Metis citizens will be angered by the fact that their needs were dismissed in the budget.

He says the MMF met with ministers and the prime minister ahead of the budget and he's disheartened his requests were not accepted.

Victoria Pruden, president of the Metis National Council, said in a media statement Thursday that Metis governments are being treated as an afterthought rather than partners in Canada's future.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2026.