Stephane Dion will be a champion of Aboriginal interests

As former national unity minister for Prime Minister Chretien and Environment Minister for Prime Minister Martin, I beleive Stephane Dion is well positioned to be a great friend and advocate of Canada's growing Aboriginal population. Stephane's view of Aboriginal people is not stereotypical or one-dimensional, it is complex and comrephensive. He understands that yes there are major socio-economic issues that need to be addressed, but he also understands there is a huge opportunity for all Canadians if we embrace and engage Aboriginal people as full partners in confederation. I am confident that a Prime Minister Dion will advance the state of Aboriginal in a progressive and positive manner in which all Canadians can support.

Stephane Dion's Aboriginal Vision
http://stephanedion.ca/files/stephanedion.ca/aboriginals_EN.pdf

Stephane Dion a great Liberal choice...

What an exiciting convention that was. I am happy to say that I was acclaimed National Aboriginal Peoples' Commission Co-President. I look forward to working with Aboriginal members in the party to build our presence, policies and influence within the party and the nation. I am excited about our opportunities to elect more Aboriginal members to Parliament.

I am also pleased to see more younger faces at the senior level of the party. I am happy to hear that my former YLC friends Richard Diamond (Chair - Standing Committee Communications) and Brigitte Legault (Vice-President French) were also elected. They bring a wealth of skills and strengths to the party.

Although I believe all of the candidates had great ideas to offer and will make invaluable members of the "dream team", I beleive Liberal delegates made a smart choice in electing Stephane our new leader. He has been here with the party through thick and thin and has shown that being underestimated is actually positive. I feel good about his chances of leading our party to sucess and hope all Liberals will unite behind him.