Harper offers no aboriginal apologies
PM boasts of improving lives, but critics call his record abysmal
Prime Minister Stephen Harper made no apologies Monday for his aboriginal policies, boasting that the governing Tories have improved the lives of Canada’s First Nations — from the water they drink and the houses in which they live, to the schools where their children are educated.
But opposition parties, which hammered away at Harper on the issue as the Commons returned for business after a six-week break, said Harper’s record is abysmal.
Outside the Parliament buildings, several hundred protesters gathered to support the Idle No More movement and demand that the government address longstanding concerns of Canada’s First Nations.
In question period, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair blasted the Conservative government for failing to consult aboriginals in connection with the weakening of environmental protections for lakes and rivers on First Nations territory.
Mulcair said unemployment among First Nations communities is as high as 80 per cent, schools are underfunded, and half of the homes are in “pathetic state.”
The NDP leader said Harper promised native chiefs at a meeting one year ago that he would deal with these issues.
“He promised to attack these problems. But instead he attacked the chiefs. Will the prime minister finally … take concrete action?”
But Harper, in his first parliamentary remarks on the aboriginal issue since it emerged in mid-December as a hot political topic, signalled that he will now adopt an aggressive salesmanship of his government’s record.
“We have made … unprecedented investments into things that will make a concrete difference in the lives of people,” Harper told the Commons. “In skills training, in housing on reserves, in potable water, in schools, in treaty rights, in protection of the rights of women and of course … in the resolution of many of the land claims.”
But Harper has faced criticism from many aboriginal leaders for providing inadequate government leadership in those key areas.
The prime minister met Jan. 11 with some senior First Nations leaders, including Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Shawn Atleo. Some chiefs boycotted the meeting because they complained it was not being organized on their terms.
Harper has promised further meetings with chiefs. But in the Commons Monday, he chose his words carefully, saying he would “continue to work with those positive partners who seek to make progress.”
Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae questioned Harper’s assertion that progress has been made, noting that this is not how chiefs’ feel.
“What further action is he going to take, what change is he going to introduce, that will in fact end the sense that the aboriginal population of Canada is being marginalized by the policies of the government of Canada?” said Rae.
Harper said Canada’s aboriginals have never had stronger representation in the government than they now do in the Tory caucus.
Moreover, he touched on a theme he and other cabinet ministers have broached in recent days — that young aboriginals should be helped to take advantage of the jobs and economic “opportunities” coming their way in resource development projects near where they live.
Rae said the government’s plan to improve conditions for aboriginal peoples must be included in the next budget.
“If the government’s plans are not part of the budget, then it’s going to become increasingly difficult to take those plans seriously.”
On Monday, New Democrat MP Romeo Saganash introduced a private member’s bill to require federal laws are compatible with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which calls for equal treatment and a recognition that aboriginals have the right to remain distinct.
The UN declaration has been endorsed by the Canadian government, but it is a non-binding document. In the Commons Monday, Saganash and Rae urged the government to abide by the principles of the UN declaration.