Chiefs to Meet with Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day on Tobacco Issue

06/17/2008

Grand Chief Michael Ahríhrhon Delisle, Jr. will meet this afternoon with Stockwell Day, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and National Security. He will be accompanied by Chiefs Peggy Mayo-Standup, Warren Lahache and Rhonda Kirby.

The meeting was set up in response to a request made on 29, Onerahtohkó:wa/May. Identical letters were sent to Mr. Day, Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl, Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson and Minister of Finance James Flaherty requesting formal meetings to discuss the issues concerning the tobacco industry and, in particular, tobacco manufacturing.

The letters were prepared in response to the RCMP’s Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Strategy, announced on 7, Onerahtohkó:wa/May, as well as parliamentary hearings on tobacco that began on the same date.

“The MCK and its enforcement agencies will not tolerate the generalizations asserted that the Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke are, as a group, linked to gangsterism and organized crime, “Chief Delisle wrote in the letter. “It is our responsibility to speak on behalf of the law abiding, income earning and family oriented community members who are the majority of Kahnawa’kehró:non.”

The meeting will take place in Ottawa.