NDP’s Thomas Mulcair promises ‘new era’ in Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples

New Democrat Leader Thomas Mulcair releases a package of promises related to improving education, health care and housing for Indigenous peoples.

Thestar.com
Oct. 7, 2015
By Joanna Smith

View video link: http://bcove.me/8c2pj7w1

New Democrat Leader Thomas Mulcair said he would strive to make restoring the relationship between Canada and its indigenous peoples his legacy as prime minister if he forms government in the Oct. 19 election.

“I am determined to act. I am determined to close the gaps in education, in health care, in housing and in infrastructure. My success as prime minister will be measured by the progress we make to improve the life of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples,” Mulcair said Thursday in Edmonton as he released a package of promises the NDP says would improve the lives and opportunities of Aboriginal Peoples.

That would including having Aboriginal Affairs remove the 2-per-cent cap on funding for programming on First Nations reserves - also promised by the Liberals this election campaign - and $4.8 billion over eight years in new funding for education in indigenous communities.

It is what is needed, Mulcair said, borrowing a phrase often used by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde, to “close the gap” between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.

“There are two Canadas today separated by gaps that grow wider with every decade of discrimination ... More than anything else, these gaps exist as a legacy of inaction, indifference and in some cases malice from governments of every stripe that could have done better,” Mulcair said in his speech at the AFN public forum on the federal election.

The new approach outlined by Mulcair goes far beyond more money for indigenous communities to improve things such as education, infrastructure, health and access to safe drinking water, though, as Mulcair committed to overhauling the relationship between the federal government and its Aboriginal Peoples.

“I sincerely believe that it is time for a new era built on a true nation-to-nation relationship. A new era built on respect,” said Mulcair.

That includes creating a cabinet-level committee, chaired by the prime minister, to ensure everything Ottawa does respects the treaty rights, inherent rights and its international obligations toward Aboriginal Peoples.

That would include implementing the “principles” of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of indigenous Peoples, which calls on governments to obtain the “free, prior and informed consent” on legislation that may affect them.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has called the document “aspirational” and said he would not implement it because treaty rights are already recognized in the Canadian constitution.

After the speech, Mulcair was asked how he would convince Canadians to spend billions of dollars more than others on this issue when it could lead other priorities to get squeezed in a tight fiscal framework.

“We believe sincerely that fixing this relationship is not only a good thing historically and the right thing to do for the country, it’s also the good thing to do economically,” said Mulcair, who said that is the message he brings to the mining community when he argues indigenous rights should be respected upfront rather than having to be enforced through the courts.

“I get to tell people that I want them to proceed, but isn’t it time for a new approach?”

The AFN organized the public forum Thursday as part of its efforts to increase the historically low voter turnout among First Nations people in Canada by convincing them they could influence both the conversation during the campaign and the outcome at the polls.

One of the reasons given by First Nations people is that Mulcair highlighted language in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that suggests First Nations, Métis and Inuit people do not need to choose between their cultural identity and casting a ballot in non-indigenous elections.

“You don’t have to sacrifice anything. You make that decision whether or not you participate in this election, but just know that you could be determining the result,” Mulcair said during the question period following his speech.

Meanwhile, an NDP candidate who once told a TV program same-sex marriage could lead to polygamy and public nudity, is offering an apology and says he no longer holds those views.

Harbaljit Singh Kahlon also said during the 2005 OMNI TV show that there is no research that gays are born homosexual.

“I do not hold these views and apologize unreservedly for making these comments in 2005,” Singh Kahlon said in a statement.

“I want to reaffirm my commitment to protecting human rights for all people in all circumstances without exception.”

NDP PROMISES FOR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

$1.8 billion over four years - on top of what the Conservative government already committed - to improve education, then establish a funding escalator so that the money ends up being $4.8 billion over eight years.

$96 million over four years of its local infrastructure transfer payments - and $800 million over 20 years - to support infrastructure projects in Aboriginal communities.

The NDP would call a national inquiry on missing and murdered indigenous women and girls within 100 days of forming government, to which it would contribute $50 million.

Other promises include $120 million over four years to improve urban indigenous health outcomes and $8 million over four years to support the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in Winnipeg and $68 million over four years to set up a national fund and institute devoted to revitalizing Indigenous languages.