Dialogue to continue on four main issues as a result of meeting with Quebec Premier Couillard

02/01/2016

The Mohawk Council of Kahnaw�:ke (MCK) wishes to inform Kahnawa�kehr�:non that last week�s meeting with with Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard has resulted in a commitment by both the MCK and the Quebec government to continue dialogue on four main topics.

Those topics are 1) Bill 85 and Kahnaw�:ke�s role as a key player in the economic development of the Highway 30 corridor, 2) Trade and Commerce; 3) Gaming; and 4) Potential economic development ventures in Kahnaw�:ke.

�There wasn�t a spare moment to be had � it was an ambitious agenda,� said Intergovernmental Portfolio Chief Rhonda Kirby, who attended last Wednesday�s meeting along with Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton and Chief Political Advisor Winona Polson-Lahache. �It is always a priority for us to speak directly with the Canadian or Provincial decision-makers. In this case, the first face-to-face meeting between Grand Chief Norton and Premier Couillard resulted in a clear indication of which areas show potential and where our greatest challenges, such as taxation, lie.�

�Obviously, we are at a point in our history where it seems every step we take is an important one,� Chief Kirby added. �While this was a useful first step, there�s a long way to go.�

The community will be made aware of follow up meetings, actions or other activities as developments occur.