(May 14, 2025—Toronto, Ont.) Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict has released a statement following the announcement of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly appointed Cabinet:

Prime Minister Carney’s announcement today marks several significant changes within Cabinet. With a shift in key portfolios, we remain committed to working with each of the appointed ministers to advance the priorities of First Nations in Ontario, as outlined before and after the election.

While some minsters are returning, many new appointments have been made to critical portfolios, such as Indigenous Services Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations, Justice, Environment and Climate Change, Health, and Housing and Infrastructure. These ministers play a central role in on going Chiefs of Ontario files and we look forward to continuing this important work with the new ministers and their teams.

We are incredibly proud to see two Indigenous Members of Parliament appointed to Cabinet. Our sincere congratulations and well wishes are extended to Mandy Gull-Masty and Rebecca Chartrand on their appointments as Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, respectively.

Minister Gull-Masty, the former Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees, becomes the first Indigenous person to lead Indigenous Services Canada. We welcome her leadership, lived experience, and knowledge and look forward to her contributions in Parliament.

We also welcome Rebecca Alty as the new Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. As the former Mayor of Yellowknife, we are eager to see how her experience will help strengthen resiliency among First Nations across both the North and South.

We thank former Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu and former Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree for their work and contributions, and we look forward to working with them in their new Cabinet positions.

It is clear that Prime Minister Carney is prioritizing Canada’s most pressing issues, particularly the ongoing trade and tariff war with the United States and the protection of our national economy. We will continue to advocate for the full and direct involvement of First Nations in these national trade discussions, especially those involving economic development, trade, and border relations. It is no secret that Canada still has considerable work to do to fulfill the principles of reconciliation, including upholding free, prior, and informed consent of First Nations.

This new Cabinet offers a great opportunity to make measurable progress toward a united Canada, one where First Nations work in partnership with all levels of government to ensure prosperity for our communities and for all.

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The Chiefs of Ontario support all First Nations in Ontario as they assert their sovereignty, jurisdiction and their chosen expression of nationhood. Follow Chiefs of Ontario on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @ChiefsOfOntario.

 

Media Contact:

Isak Vaillancourt

Communications Manager

Chiefs of Ontario

Mobile: 416-819-8184

Email: isak.vaillancourt@coo.org