Tory gov't killed deal and hope

Published: Monday, May 26, 2008

Doug Cuthand, The Leader-Post

Once again there is a call for a national day of action in support of First Nations. It's set for Thursday and this time the issues are serious and cannot be glossed over by the politicians in Ottawa and the provinces.

The failure to recognize and implement the Kelowna Accord has left First Nations without alternatives or plans to attack the important deficit in lifestyle, education, housing, and clean water in aboriginal communities. The accord hammered out between the former Liberal government, the provinces and the aboriginal organizations would have provided $5 billion over five years. The money would have gone into education, housing and clean water, health services and economic development.

Real targets were set. For example the accord stated there would be a reduction of 20 per cent in youth suicide, childhood obesity, and diabetes in five years and 50 per cent in 10 years.

First Nations leaders have been appalled at the lack of concern on the part of the current Conservative government. At first the accord was seen as a turning point in history with consensus building and a positive outcome for their people. Now it is seen as an opportunity lost and a betrayal.

So far the Conservative government has rejected the accord, but has not declared its own First Nations and Metis policy. The Conservatives seem to be content to do things the old way and aboriginal people are nowhere near a priority with this government.

In the past an agreement negotiated by the federal government, the provinces and the stakeholders would certainly have survived an election. It would appear that the Harper government has written aboriginal people off, and Liberal and NDP voters are not worth courting.

Living conditions have not improved for our people and the problems that sparked the Kelowna negotiations are still with us.

The recent report from the Auditor General has become a focal point for this year's march. In her report, Auditor General Sheila Fraser highlighted the sorry state of First Nations child welfare in Canada. And it is a sorry state on two fronts.

There are about 27,000 aboriginal children in state care and that is three times the amount of children taken from their homes at the height of the residential school system.

Secondly the program is severely underfunded with First Nations child-care agencies receiving 22 per cent less funding than the provinces. Back in 1996 the Department of Indian Affairs instituted a two-per-cent funding cap on the department's budget. This means the department's budget increases two per cent per year, in spite of the fact that the First Nations population growth coupled with inflation is far higher. First Nations have seen their budgets capped while the population and demand increase relentlessly.

This budget cap has been financially strangling First Nations and now the chickens are coming home to roost. This budget shortfall was the issue that precipitated the negotiations around the Kelowna Accord. Kelowna was designed to make up for years of neglect by Ottawa.

This situation has had a serious impact on First Nations. There isn't any money for new initiatives that might reduce the impact of social problems such as drug and alcohol abuse, spousal abuse and school dropouts.

© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2008