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Saturday July 20, 2013

July 20, 2013 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday July 20, 2013

JT stokes the flames of native grievances

According to Justin Trudeau, it’s Stephen Harper’s fault that a group of native leaders is threatening to set up a rival organization to the Assembly of First Nations.

“One of the things that this current Conservative government has done very well, because of its lack of movement on those issues, has been encouraging a splintering and a division within First Nations communities,” the Liberal leader said.

“There is a deliberate attempt to pick and choose whoever is willing to sign on the dotted line first rather than work with all people,” the Liberal leader said.

“It’s obviously in this government’s playbook to try and divide people as much as possible rather than work together.”

Mr. Harper is having a busy summer in terms of being blamed for things. NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, while insisting he wasn’t blaming the Tories, held them responsible for the disaster at Lac Megantic in Quebec.

“The Conservatives have failed to protect the public in key areas such as maritime search and rescue, such as food inspection, and such as railway. Because when you start cutting the budgets for railway inspections, you’re not taking care of public protection,” he said in a CBC interview. To CTV, he said the accident was “another case where government is cutting in the wrong area.’”
The didn’t do it, you see, it was just their fault. (Source: The National Post)

Wednesday January 25, 2012

January 25, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

Chiefs air old grievances at Summit

The Crown-First Nations gathering in Ottawa was a classic example of a failure to communicate.

Both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and National Chief Shawn Atleo recognized the history of Canada’s relations with its First Nations as a register of crimes and misfortunes. Both paid lip-service to the idea of unlocking the potential of aboriginal Canadians.

But they talked past each other when it came to moving forward.

The Prime Minister said he has learned from the past but wants to focus on the future. Mr. Atleo spent most of his speech re-fighting old battles by pointing out how Canada has failed to live up to its treaty obligations.

Mr. Harper is likely the most pragmatic leader this country has seen since Sir John A. Macdonald, and his interest is in practical solutions that can have impact on the ground.

He has little interest in being diverted into what he called the “talk shop” that has bogged down governance issues for decades.

“Our goal is self-sufficient citizens and self-governing communities,” he said. He offered no “grand schemes” to achieve those ends, but promised “practical, incremental and real change” by introducing new legislation and procedures.

“To move forward, to reset the relationship, [we must] learn from the past but focus on the future,” he said. (Source: National Post)

Friday December 2, 2011

December 2, 2011 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday December 2, 2011

The real shame of Attawapiskat

After seeing the images of Attawapiskat First Nation beamed around the country in recent days, a viewer could hardly be blamed for not believing that they were looking at a part of Canada, or that the people enduring this travesty are their aboriginal neighbours. Plywood walls, plastic-covered windows, 20 people sharing a two-bedroom house, a one-burner hot plate to cook for a whole family, lack of insulation, plumbing or electricity – the scene is tragic and heartbreaking.

But the people of such remote reserves have been living in a dire situation for a long time. The real shame of Attawapiskat is that the people who knew these conditions existed never told Canadians about them. Stephen Harper’s Conservatives knew. Shawn Atleo’s Assembly of First Nations knew. But it has taken a tragedy to reveal the stark truth.

It’s Mr. Atleo’s job as AFN national chief to know if his people are living under deplorable conditions. Each elected chief in the assembly has a responsibility to let him know. It’s then his responsibility to tell Canada about it and demand action.

In turn, the federal government has the responsibility to act. The job of an aboriginal affairs minister includes informing government when people are suffering. With that knowledge, it’s the responsibility of a prime minister to inform Canadians and tell us what the government intends to do about it.

Mr. Atleo failed to show leadership long ago. I’ve been a journalist since 1979, and I know how easy it is to craft a press release, hold a news conference and inform the public. But you have to want to do it. You have to want to confront wrong and demand change. I wonder if having his budget depend on a cozy relationship with the government prevents him from doing that. (Source: Globe & Mail)