Robert-Falcon Ouellette

Ouellette has been working on the historic Child & Family Welfare Law since 2015. The legislation, Bill C-92, would ensure that Indigenous government jurisdiction on this matter over rides other levels of government including provincial and federal. This is permitted under section 92(24) of the Constitution. This bill was co-developed with Indigenous partners, including the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and the Metis National Council, Bill C-92 seeks to affirm Indigenous peoples’ inherent right to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services. Indigenous peoples should be allowed to care for their own children in a culturally appropriate way. For over 20 years in Manitoba, NDP and Conservative governments took more children into the child welfare system than at any point during the height of the Indian Residential School era. The Federal Child Welfare Reform legislation (C-92) has passed and will come into force in its entirety on January 1, 2020.

In May 2019, Ouellette sponsored Renae Shingoose's petition(from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan): E-2160 (SENTENCES IN THE CRIMINAL CODE) to call upon the House of Commons to appeal and revise the decision of Bill S-215 to where treatment and rehabilitation is mandatory for all violent offenders of Aboriginal women.

In June 2019, Ouellette sponsored Yasir Naqvi's petition (from Toronto, Ontario): E-2240 (CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP) to call upon the House of Commons to cooperate and Pass Bill C-99 to update Canada's Oath of Citizenship to respect and recognize Indigenous rights before the House rises on June 21, 2019.

In October 2018, Ouellette sponsored Renate Schulz's petition(from Winnipeg, Manitoba):E-1866 (FIREARMS) to call upon the Government of Canada to draft legislation immediately in order to ban handguns and military-style assault weapons in Canada.

In December 2018, Ouellette sponsored Randolph Shrofel's petition(from Sandy Hook, Manitoba): E-1961 (CANADIAN HERITAGE) to call upon the Government of Canada to revise the Coat of Arms of Canada to include representation of the Indigenous peoples of Canada.

In September 2018, to raise awareness about the violence and drug addiction issues facing Winnipeg and get the provincial and city government's actions, Ouellette erected a tipi in Central Park, a no-go zone in Winnipeg, and slept out in the open for a few days. Then he worked with Doug Eyolfson to provide a substantive House of Commons Health Committee Report on meth & addiction. He also called on all MPs to combat meth crisis in November 2018.

Since elected in 2015, Ouellette started to fight for rights of indigenous languages. On May 4, 2017, Ouellette gave the first entire speech in an indigenous language (Cree) in the House of Commons about violence and missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, and asked the House of Commons to offer translation services. The House of Commons adopted changes to provide for the simultaneous interpretation of Indigenous languages during proceedings late in 2018. On January 28, 2019 Ouellette became the first MP to speak in an indigenous language while the House provided live translation.

In September 2017, Ouellette sponsored Jeff Ward's petition(from Victoria, British Columbia): E-607 (NATIONAL HOLIDAYS) to call upon the House of Commons to designate June 21 of each year as a legal holiday to be kept and observed throughout Canada. This day should serve to create and strengthen opportunities for Reconciliation and cultural exchange among Canadians. The day should facilitate connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians in positive and meaningful ways. This day should solidify the original intent of National Aboriginal Day as a day for Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

In September 2017, Ouellette sponsored Jodene McNarland's petition(from Winnipeg, Manitoba): E-1234 (OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF CANADA) to call upon the House of Commons to provide interpretation and translation services in Nehiyawewin/Cree in the House of Commons.

Since 2016, Ouellette started to work with Lillian Dyck for a new law which would help protect Indigenous women if they were victims of violent crime. The vote was lost and the bill defeated during second reading in the House of Commons in April 2019.

In May 2016, Ouellete introduced his first Private Member's Bill C-318: National Residential School Memorial Day to Parliament.

In February 2016, Ouellette sponsored Dougald Lamont's petition (from Winnipeg, Manitoba): E-211 (SOCIAL BENEFITS) to call upon the Minister of Finance to join with interested Provinces, Municipalities and Indigenous communities to fund and launch experimental pilot Mincome projects, as soon as possible, in order to determine the efficacy and viability of a Guaranteed Minimum Income in Canada, and to include funding for these projects in the 2016-2017 budget.

In July 2016, Ouellette sponsored Collin Bryce Theo Kennedy's petition: E-492 (TRANSPORTATION) to call upon the Minister of Health to and Minister of Transportation to request enforcement of the Canada Health Act to: 1. Ensure there is adequate cost-free parking for patients and caregivers in and around medical facilities; and 2. Where metered parking is not to be removed, that there is a means to identify those who are utilizing the parking space in order to gain access to medical facilities without cost to the patient; their family or caregivers regardless of the duration.

In the 2015 election, Ouellette took over 50% of the vote and defeated longtime NDP MP Pat Martin in Winnipeg Centre. Ouellette resigned his position with the University of Manitoba in July 2015 to focus on his campaign. After his election, Ouellette was considered a leading candidate for the position of Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.

Ouellette finished third in the 2014 Winnipeg mayoral election. He had run on a platform of dedicated infrastructure funding and campaign finance reform. Shortly after his defeat, he declared that he was developing a business plan to open a Winnipeg university catering to indigenous post-secondary students.

He retired from the Royal Canadian Navy after nearly two decades of service with the rank of Petty Officer 2nd class and remains as part of the Naval Reserve. He moved to Winnipeg in 2011 from Quebec City after he was appointed as director of Aboriginal Focus Programs at the University of Manitoba.

In 2005, Ouelette ran for a council seat for Quebec City Council, but lost by 170 votes.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette (born November 22, 1976) is a Canadian politician, who also goes by the initials of RFO or simply called The Falcon, who represented the riding of Winnipeg Centre in the House of Commons of Canada for one term. He was previously a candidate for Mayor of Winnipeg in the 2014 municipal election, finishing third.

Ouellette was born and raised in Calgary. His namesake was his mother's younger brother Robert-Falcon Green who died in 1961 at age 9. His mother was born in Tottenham, North London and moved from England to Canada in 1974 and his father was mix of Cree and Métis and from the Red Pheasant First Nation, located south of North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Ouellette was raised primarily by his mother, a poorly educated woman with a history of depression. Ouellette's father was a student in the Canadian Indian residential school system and an alcoholic who was sometimes absent.