Montreal's new administration has sparked controversy by removing Indigenous reconciliation as an explicitly assigned role from the city's executive committee, drawing strong criticism from Indigenous leaders and human rights advocates.
Indigenous Leaders Express Disappointment
The decision by Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada marks a significant shift from the previous administration's approach, which had maintained a dedicated reconciliation role since 2018. The change has left Indigenous community leaders concerned about the city's commitment to their concerns.
"It's really disheartening," said Nakuset, executive director of the Native Women's Shelter of Montreal. "It seems like we're completely forgotten and obsolete." Nakuset questioned whether the city consulted Indigenous communities before making the change, describing it as another instance where Indigenous voices lack representation at decision-making tables.
City Defends Decision Amid Criticism
Despite the omission from official role descriptions, the mayor's office insists reconciliation remains a priority. A spokesperson clarified that while not mentioned in his public role description, city councillor Josué Corvil will be responsible for the reconciliation file.
Corvil, elected in Villeray–St-Michel–Parc-Extension, was named an associate councillor in charge of "cultural services, diversity and inclusion." The city maintains that reconciliation is included in his detailed mandate letter, though it doesn't appear among his publicly listed responsibilities.
Mayor Martinez Ferrada defended the approach during a news conference at city hall, stating she has emphasized to all executive committee members that reconciliation matters to her personally. "I come from the federal government, from a government that actually launched a process of reconciliation," said Martinez Ferrada, who previously served in the Trudeau government before running for mayor.
Concerns About Diluting Reconciliation Efforts
Civil rights advocate Fo Niemi expressed concern about the symbolic message sent by removing reconciliation from official roles. "We have an obligation towards reconciliation," said Niemi, executive director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations. "And it's important to continue with this commitment and make it a tradition and official policy."
Niemi specifically cautioned against "lumping in" reconciliation with broader files like inclusion and diversity, noting that "every public administration and every institution has to be careful with" such approaches.
The political opposition has also voiced concerns. Projet Montréal interim leader Ericka Alneus announced she will take charge of reconciliation for the opposition, stating she worries the file has been neglected with the change in administration. "It's important for me to send a message to the community living here and say that we are here to hear you, to defend you and to be by your side," Alneus said.
Nakuset highlighted the particular urgency of maintaining focus on Indigenous issues, pointing to the new administration's stated priority of addressing homelessness. She emphasized that Indigenous people are disproportionately represented among Montreal's unhoused population and noted a recent memorial at Cabot Square honoring more than 20 unhoused people who died in the past year, most of them Indigenous.
"Our Indigenous people are literally dying on the streets," Nakuset said, urging the city to reconsider its decision and maintain visible, dedicated leadership on reconciliation matters.
