Chief Bruce Shisheesh, left, Minister of Indigenous Affairs Carolyn Bennett, centre, and Federal NDP MPP Charlie Angus, right, meet in the northern Ontario First Nations reserve of Attawapiskat, Ont., in an April 16, 2016, file photo. Two cabinet ministers will speak at the United Nations in New York City today about the government's approach to indigenous affairs, but grave conditions on a northern Ontario reserve have prompted the NDP's indigenous affairs critic to cancel his attendance as part of the Canadian delegation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Chief Bruce Shisheesh, left, Minister of Indigenous Affairs Carolyn Bennett, centre, and Federal NDP MPP Charlie Angus, THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

 

The government is out for summer for MP Charlie Angus, that’s when the real work starts.

He says the summer break is a great chance to get back into the riding and talk to the people he represents.

“The summer is a really important time to get back into the riding, talk to people, find out what their issues are and deal with constituency matters. It’s a great time to get involved into the communities and reconnect.”

Conversely he was quick to point out notable wins and losses from the last parliamentary session.

“The push to get youth suicide and mental health crisis in the north on the table and getting the government to pay attention, it’s going to be a big win for young people.”

Angus also mentioned the funding from the Liberals toward Attawapiskat after the community declared a state of emergency over the alarming number of youth suicides and attempted suicides.

However he says the government really dropped the ball on the Assisted Death Bill.

“It’s going to raise questions about the Prime Minister’s judgement on the Right to Die legislation. Every constitutional expert says this bill will not pass the charter challenge and if it gets struct down by the courts, we’ll really be in no-man’s-land.  They could’ve got a bill covering all the bases and instead they pushed ahead.”

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