Nova Scotia Liberal MP Jaime Batiste is campaigning to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the Liberal Party’s next leader.
Batiste made history in 2019 when he was elected as Canada’s first Mi’kmaw MP for the Sydney-Victoria constituency. He now says he wants to make history again as the first indigenous prime minister.
“Before there was Prime Minister Wab Kinew, there had to be Elijah Harper,” Batiste said in a statement Monday.
“Before there was a President Barack Obama, there had to be a Jesse Jackson. There will always be people willing to take on a challenge, even if that journey is one that will pave the way for future generations. It must exist.”
Resuming Indigenous child welfare consultations and suspending carbon tax increases
Batiste, 45, is a member of the Eskasoni First Nation and currently serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Royal Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Chair of the Free Indigenous Party Caucus.
He said he has received an outpouring of support from Indigenous leaders, friends and compatriots across the country who encourage him to come forward.
Batiste said in a similar statement: “We have heard your voice and are interested in your cooperation.”
“I am launching the first Indigenous campaign for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada and am laying the foundations for a search team to become Canada’s next Prime Minister.”
Batiste told CBC News that he would restart national negotiations on a $47.8 billion proposal to reform the Indigenous child welfare system and put that money back on the table.
Regarding the consumer carbon tax, Batiste said he would suspend the planned increase and convene his first Cabinet meeting. Batiste said he wants to work with prime ministers to address climate change and help plan for the future of policy.
Mr. Batiste also voiced support for the government’s National School Lunch Plan, Canada Dental Health Plan, pharmaceutical care, affordable child care and housing assistance.
Batiste previously faced criticism and apologized for past racist and sexist comments he made on social media, which resurfaced during the 2019 federal election cycle.
In an interview with power and politicsBatiste said the comments were made at a different time in his life and are not reflective of who he is now.
“I don’t want to be defined by the past. I want to learn from the past,” Batiste told host David Cochran.
Another hurdle facing Batiste’s campaign is raising money. He said he has received $40,000 worth of pledges so far. Although he is far from the $350,000 needed to enter the race, Batiste said he is ready to take on the challenge and plans to campaign on social media.
“If we can get Indigenous people excited about this, if we can get Indigenous people excited about this, where Indigenous youth are throwing their names into the ring for the first time in history, that’s what I’m really hoping for,” Batiste said. spoke.
Initially, running for the Liberal Party leadership did not occur to him. Batiste said he expected other Atlantic leaders, such as former housing minister Sean Fraser, to come forward.
Batiste said he became more motivated to run after speaking with other Liberal Party leadership candidates.
“We’re not hearing as much about reconciliation and environmental and social justice as we need to feel comfortable helping at this point,” Batiste said. power and politics.
“I really feel like I can be a voice for the Atlantic. I can be a voice for Indigenous peoples on the ballot.”
