NDP Leader Howard Hampton condemned the McGuinty Liberals for bungling Aboriginal relations following the revelations that NAN First Nations suspended Northern Table negotiations with the McGuinty government.

NAN’s Northern Table discussions have been suspended because six Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug community members were jailed for protecting aboriginal rights where the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and the McGuinty government failed.

“It’s solely the failings of the McGuinty Liberals that have led NAN First Nations to break off discussions with the McGuinty government,” said Hampton.

Hampton responded to a letter today from Grand Chief Stan Beardy to Premier McGuinty stating: “Effective today, all bilateral communications between NAN, Ministers of the Crown, and officials of the Government of Ontario has ceased with regard to the “Northern Table”.

Following the sentencing of KI Chief Donny Morris and five other community leaders to jail for six months, Hampton demanded to know why the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs was pretending relations with NAN and KI were unaffected in the face of a NAN press release on Monday stating they had suspended the Northern Table.

“Premier Dalton McGuinty and the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs have failed to protect aboriginal rights at KI and have demonstrated their inability to fulfill their obligation to the First Nations community. The people of KI deserve a real relationship with the McGuinty Liberals based on respect, not one that is carried on through prison bars’ said Hampton.