By Canadian Press

Jaime Battiste first Indigenous candidate to join Liberal leadership race

Jan 14, 2025 | 1:35 PM

OTTAWA — Jaime Battiste says that if he can’t be the most powerful and wealthy candidate in the race for the Liberal party leadership, he hopes to be the most interesting.

The MP for Sydney-Victoria is the only First Nations candidate to state his intention to join the leadership race so far.

Battiste, who serves as chair of the Liberal party’s Indigenous caucus, says reforming the First Nations child welfare system and ensuring adequate funding for First Nations police services would be his top priorities as a leadership candidate.

But the Mi’kmaw MP, who grew up in Eskasoni First Nation, says his focus wouldn’t be squarely on Indigenous issues, adding he also thinks Canadians want to see a marked change in environmental policy and in how the country responds to emergencies like wildfires.

He says he would convene a first ministers meeting to discuss the price on pollution if he wins the party vote on March 9 and replaces Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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Battiste — a lawyer, former professor and Assembly of First Nations regional chief — says someone has to be the first First Nations person to throw their hat in the ring, and that if nothing else he hopes he can inspire people and get them excited about Indigenous candidates.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 14, 2025.

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press