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MPs revive Kelowna Accord for native peoples
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| MarkT |
It's nice to see that this is being revived (by Paul Martin, no less), given that (AFAIK), the CPC hasn't announced (or even conceptualized?) their own plan.
A CP article on the Star's webpage today:
| quote: | MPs back bill to revive Kelowna deal
Harper Tories don't have numbers to defeat bill to implement $5.1B aboriginal pact
Oct. 18, 2006. 08:31 PM
JOAN BRYDEN
CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA — Former prime minister Paul Martin won approval in principle Wednesday for a private member's bill aimed at resurrecting his cherished Kelowna accord.
Martin's bill, which would compel the Harper government to implement the $5.1- billion aboriginal pact, passed 159-123 with the support of Liberal, New Democrat and Bloc Quebecois MPs.
Conservatives voted against it.
"I think it was very, very important that the House of Commons speak out very loudly in favour of measures" to improve the quality of life of native people, Martin told reporters following the vote.
Given the dismal health and education statistics for aboriginals, Martin said: "I don't understand . . . why the government isn't supporting it. How can they turn their back on such important issues?"
The accord was the product of 18 months of negotiation. It was struck by Martin, premiers, territorial leaders and native leaders on the eve of last winter's election, which turfed Martin's Liberals.
The pact committed them to reduce the gap between natives and non-natives in a host of areas, including education, health care, housing and employment.
Stephen Harper's Conservatives scrapped the accord upon taking power, dismissing it as little more than a pre-election gimmick and claiming that no money had ever been set aside to pay for it.
"That is simply not true," Martin said Wednesday.
"The money was there. And I can tell you there's only one way in which that money is removed and that's if the new minister of finance essentially took it out."
Martin clearly views Kelowna as the crowning achievement of his brief two-year stint as prime minister. He is devoting much of his post-prime ministerial career to aboriginal issues and is determined to revive Kelowna, which he called "really one of the most significant moves ever" to help natives.
The eight contenders to succeed Martin are unanimous in calling for the resurrection of the accord. However, only one — lone Atlantic candidate Scott Brison — was actually present for Wednesday's vote.
Frontrunner Michael Ignatieff issued a statement slamming the Conservatives for caring more about "tax cuts for the wealthy" than helping aboriginals.
Martin's bill will now be referred to the all-party aboriginal affairs committee for study before returning to the Commons for a final vote.
Although the Tories could try to delay the bill, they don't have the numbers to stall it indefinitely or defeat it in the face of unanimous opposition support. Nor could they stop it in the Senate, where Liberals hold the majority of seats. |
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| 7-4-7 |
why would the conservatives support such a thing, when there are wars to start, other peoples fights to finish, armies to "beef up".
The natives are mere fodder in the eyes of the conservative regime.
We have an untapped goldmine of true cultural heritage of people who exist within our countries walls that are pushed so far from the fray of society that it is almost as if they dont exist.
I have never worked with a native.
I dont know any natives
I know more stereotypes of natives than I do things about their culture.
People outside Canada associate Canada with Natives yet we dont.
^^^^^^^A list of shames. |
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| Jayx1 |
| they should run this by the people of caledonia and see what they think... |
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| 7-4-7 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
they should run this by the people of caledonia and see what they think... |
that situation is an excellent example of systemic issues, poorly resolved by the government as it relates to native people.
Unfortunatley I am not overly interested in the Caledonian peoples experiance rather than the governments inability to deal with the situation. |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by 7-4-7
that situation is an excellent example of systemic issues, poorly resolved by the government as it relates to native people.
Unfortunatley I am not overly interested in the Caledonian peoples experiance rather than the governments inability to deal with the situation. |
agreed... its two tier justice at its worst. They should have removed the protestors immediately. Instead the government has since bought the land and allowed them to continue to squat.
Its unbelievable. |
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| Time2Burn |
Why should the conservatives bother with Native issues they hardly even vote!
/sarcasm. |
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| Jayx1 |
its funny how liberal supporters want the conservatives to do everything within 8 months of taking power yet the liberals had 13 years and hardly did anything.
(except promise) |
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| 7-4-7 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
its funny how liberal supporters want the conservatives to do everything within 8 months of taking power yet the liberals had 13 years and hardly did anything.
(except promise) |
Whats funny to me is that people actually think that any party would fulfill on the majority of their issues, in general no one expects governments to actually fulfill on their promises.
However in this case, in reference to your comment does this article not render yours invalid?
This is a case of Liberals actually producing solutions, while playing politics to force the conservatives to make a motion on the issue. |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
agreed... its two tier justice at its worst. They should have removed the protestors immediately. Instead the government has since bought the land and allowed them to continue to squat.
Its unbelievable. |
I absolutely agree with you, however, this should not influance how we deal with natives in general. The suffering of people on the less affluent reserves (six nations definately not included) is simply disgracefull.... hell the whole reserve system is disgracefull. Personally, think the Kelowna accord is the wrong way to go. It will never be fully implemented and even if it were it likely would not be sustainable. I think the only way to help the natives acheive a better life is to abolish the reserve system once and for all. It was a well meaning social experiment but it has failed miserably do to complacency by one party and a lack of political will by the other. |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by 7-4-7
Whats funny to me is that people actually think that any party would fulfill on the majority of their issues, in general no one expects governments to actually fulfill on their promises.
However in this case, in reference to your comment does this article not render yours invalid?
This is a case of Liberals actually producing solutions, while playing politics to force the conservatives to make a motion on the issue. |
the liberals did this during ELECTION TIME. Of course they take action at elections. But why didnt they implement anything in the 13 years before?
Look at all the promises the liberals made in 1993 and never followed through.
The conservatives have done more in 8 months than the liberals did in 13 years on a whole range of issues.
And whats funny to me is that people are content with some politicians breaking their promises. So far after 8 months most conservative promises have been kept. And the ones that are still in the works are still being talked about.
You may or may not agree with conservative policy, but you simply must agree that they have kept their word on most items. |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Moral Hazard
I absolutely agree with you, however, this should not influance how we deal with natives in general. The suffering of people on the less affluent reserves (six nations definately not included) is simply disgracefull.... hell the whole reserve system is disgracefull. Personally, think the Kelowna accord is the wrong way to go. It will never be fully implemented and even if it were it likely would not be sustainable. I think the only way to help the natives acheive a better life is to abolish the reserve system once and for all. It was a well meaning social experiment but it has failed miserably do to complacency by one party and a lack of political will by the other. |
Agreed... we should be working to get natives off of reserves and integrated into society. Im sick of the government sponsored poverty that exists and seems to be sanctioned by natives themselves. |
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| patpicos |
| quote: | | Given the dismal health and education statistics for aboriginals, Martin said: "I don't understand . . . why the government isn't supporting it. How can they turn their back on such important issues?" |
who cares, aboriginals do all they can to be their own society, why cant do it themselves then. For christ sake, they dont even follow the law....ie caledonia....and the police is doing squat about it.
I hope this doesnt go through. Why should canadians money go to them when they dont contribute to this country.
my buddy lives in caledonia and its nuts out there. Those guys should be treated as terrorists IMO. |
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