Kelowna Accord

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The Kelowna Accord (sometimes referred to as the Kelowna Accords) is a series of agreements between the Canadian government under (now former) Prime Minister Paul Martin and the leaders of many Aboriginal peoples in Canada. This accord, signed on November 25, 2005 in Kelowna, British Columbia, seeks to improve the education, employment, and living conditions for Aboriginal peoples through governmental funding and other programs.

The Liberal government of Paul Martin fell, and the subsequent federal election resulted in Stephen Harper's Conservative government. When presenting their first budget on May 2, 2006 the Conservatives indicated that they were committed to meeting the targets of the Kelowna Accord. The initiatives proposed in the Kelowna Accord, though, have yet to be put into effect.

In June 2006, former Prime Minister Paul Martin introduced a private member's bill calling on the government to follow through on the agreements made the Kelowna Accord. On March 21, 2007 the bill was passed by Liberal, Bloc Quebecois and New Democratic Party MPs. The Conservatives, however, voted against the bill, and the governing party cannot be compelled to spend money by a private member's bill.

Canadian Assimbly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine has argued repeatdly for the implementation of the Kelowna Accord as well.