Karen McCrimmon responds to APC Leadership Questionnaire March 7, 2013 Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn Email The Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission of the Liberal Party of Canada was pleased to receive a response to our Leadership Questionnaire from Liberal Leadership candidate Karen McCrimmon. View her responses below: Q1: Have you had any personal involvement with Aboriginal issues, either through Aboriginal communities in your riding or otherwise? To date, I haven’t had an opportunity to be heavily involved in Aboriginal issues, but I am learning and am willing to learn. Two of my campaign team members are active in the First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities and Idle No More movement. Brian Seaman provides his legal expertise to Councillor Brenda Sayers and the Hupacasath First Nation in their attempt to prevent Canada from ratifying FIPPA. Michelle Robinson, who has been working closely with Idle No More leaders in Calgary, is a great source of knowledge to me. Along with Dr. Carolyn Bennett, Member of Parliament for St. Paul’s and Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, I had the honour of meeting Chief Spence during her protest and appreciated the opportunity to discuss her concerns. An article I wrote was published in the National Liberal Women’s Commission newsletter.” Q2: Do you support the idea of the Government of Canada negotiating with First Nations on a nation-to-nation basis toward replacement of the Indian Act? It’s my understanding that some First Nations want to replace the Act, others want to get rid of it. Still others are attached to it because they believe their treaty rights are guaranteed by it. To respect each First Nation, you would have to negotiate separately since they have such different needs/wants/issues/challenges. To replace the Indian Act would necessitate a new Act that, whatever else it did, guaranteed treaty agreements.” Q3: Do you support the establishment of a royal commission to investigate the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women? Yes. The report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry in British Columbia specifically noted the disproportionate number of Aboriginal women who were murdered or who are missing and that, as a group, they have a higher vulnerability to violence ‘simply because they live in a society that poses a risk to their safety.’ As with so many social justice issues, the present government does not have a coherent national strategy for addressing violence against women in general and certainly nothing specifically for Aboriginal women. The fact that the funding for Sisters in Spirit was cancelled in 2010 is a pretty good indication of the government’s priorities on this issue. Whenever women of any colour, race, or creed, etc., have to endure violence in all its forms, it is a symptom of sickness in our society, one exacerbated by the unwillingness by those in positions of power to stop this behaviour and deal with the underlying negative attitudes that are its root cause.” Q4: Statistics show that the number of people speaking Aboriginal languages as a first language is falling but the number of people speaking Aboriginal languages as a second language is increasing. Do you support federal funding of Aboriginal language programs and offering federal services in Aboriginal languages where numbers warrant? Yes. Not just in Canada, but around the world, indigenous languages are dying everywhere. When a language is lost, so is a culture. Section 23 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees children the right to English or French minority language education at the elementary and secondary school levels. Canada has a national commitment to education in languages other than English or French.” Q5: Would you support lifting the cap on education funding increases so that Aboriginal students have access to the same quality of education as other students? Yes. Education is the single most important route out of poverty and the psychological/cultural damage caused by residential schools. It will be interesting to see whether the human rights complaint launched by the Mississaugas of New Credit against the federal government will shed light on the larger issue of education funding for Aboriginal students as well as those with special needs.” Q6: Would you support efforts to address the funding disparity between First Nations children in welfare care and those non-Aboriginal children in provincial care? Yes. Aboriginal children are entitled to the same standard of care as non-Aboriginal children. So, when the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada claims that child welfare funding for children living on reserves is 22% less than that for children living elsewhere in Canada and (former) Auditor General Sheila Fraser estimated at one time that Aboriginal children were 8 times more likely than non-Aboriginal children to be in care, then obviously something is very, very wrong.” Q7: Would you support re-introduction of the Kelowna Accord? Yes, but I would bear in mind that the Accord was reached a little over 7 years ago, so some issues may have to be revisited. Since I don’t believe in imposing solutions, I would not attempt to take any action without consulting with our First Nations peoples.” Q8: Do you believe it would be appropriate for the Liberal Party of Canada to formally apologize to Aboriginal peoples for introduction in 1969 of a White Paper whose intent was assimilation of Aboriginal peoples? There has to be recognition of the past and the issues associated with it. Recent polls have shown that the majority of Canadians believe the federal government is not doing enough to help Aboriginal communities deal with the challenges they face. The White Paper was designed in the context of its time. Its intention was not right, by the values we hold today. I can’t change what happened in 1969, but I can pledge not to go there again. I am in favour of apologizing to the Aboriginal peoples, especially if that results in the healing that will enable us all to move forward. We need a framework from which to start.” Q9: Would you support efforts to increase understanding within Aboriginal communities of the issues of Two-Spirited peoples? From what I understand about the role historically of Two-Spirited peoples, the degree to which they were accepted varied among First Nations is not unlike the situation with non-Aboriginal people over the centuries. Today, although attitudes are changing in some parts of the world, in others to be Two-Spirited is a capital offence. So, I don’t see this as an Aboriginal-specific issue, but perhaps it could be addressed within an Aboriginal context. Total acceptance of Two-Spirited people should be a goal of society as a whole. Everyone has the right to live with dignity, in peace and in safety.” Q10: Do you agree that the Government of Canada has a duty to consult with Aboriginal peoples regarding natural resource development on Aboriginal territory and that such development should only proceed with the substantial consent of the affected Aboriginal peoples? Yes. I agree that there should be consultation on currently recognized territory and/or territory being contested. It is essential that a protocol be developed and implemented to ensure there is a dialogue that it is all-inclusive. I suppose in the past there has been a rather romantic, almost mythical notion among non-Aboriginal people that the Aboriginal peoples are guardians of the Earth. The Idle No More movement has definitely changed that. There are many environmental protection groups in Canada, but I don’t believe I have ever seen the kind of groundswell, populist effect that Idle No More has had. This is evidenced by the number of non-Aboriginal people who have joined the movement in solidarity.” Q11: Do you agree that the Government of Canada is legally bound to comply with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples? Yes. The Liberal Party has been emphatic in its support of the Declaration. The Government of Canada must now prove, in substantive ways, that it is willing to collaborate with Aboriginal Peoples.” Q12: Would you support efforts to establish a consultative process between the Government of Canada and Aboriginal communities to deal with the crisis of lack of clean drinking water in Aboriginal communities across the country? Yes. I believe that one-solution-fits- all approach isn’t going to work. It’s all very well for the federal government to announce that it has spent $.25 billion on improving clean drinking water and proper wastewater disposal, but if those funds are not spent making sure a system is complete and up to standard from A to Z, then it is colossal waste. What’s the point of installing a well, for example, but then leaving rusted pipes? It would seem to me that the systems have to be designed so that they can be maintained by Aboriginal communities. You don’t want situations where it takes 6 or 8 weeks to get a replacement for a part that, when broken, effectively shuts down things down.” Q13: Recognizing that some of the largest Aboriginal communities now are in urban centres, would you support efforts to promote Aboriginal culture within the larger community and increase opportunities for urban Aboriginal people to stay connected with their Aboriginal heritage? All levels of government can help facilitate a positive experience for Aboriginal communities in urban centres. To be self-sustaining, though, the Friendship Centres and other organizations must move beyond reliance on financial assistance from governments. The Wabano Centre, which opened in Ottawa recently, has received sponsorship funding from the federal and Ontario governments, is actively soliciting donations from the community at large. To my mind, that still makes it vulnerable. Ultimately, ownership for promoting Aboriginal culture must come from within Aboriginal communities.” Q14: How would you work to ensure greater participation among Aboriginal people in the Canadian political process? Education of all Canadians is the best way to address this. I’m often amazed at how little Canadians know about their system of government. There isn’t enough emphasis on civics in our schools. The malaise in the general population is profound. Again, I don’t see this as a particularly Aboriginal-specific problem. It’s true that Aboriginal peoples are under-represented but so are many other communities. Women, for example, make up 52% of the Canadian population but only 24% of current Members of Parliament. Any group struggling to enter the political arena faces many of the same challenges. It takes persistence, courage and a willingness to work through the frustration. I would work with all Canadians, including Aboriginal peoples, to ensure they participate more fully in our political process.” Q15: How do you envision the path forward between the Crown and Indigenous Nations with respect to Aboriginal title and inherent Treaty rights? Meaningful consultation and discussion on the best possible way to respect and keep the rights outlined in the Treaties going forward. Because there are so many treaties with so many First Nations, perhaps the way to approach it would be for an all-inclusive strategic framework, maybe in the form of a treaty with the Government of Canada that will specifically lay out the present situation and the way forward, to be signed by all Nations, Bands, and/or Tribal councils. We require a long term plan, perhaps a twenty plan that could be reviewed every five years by a panel of individuals who would represent: the government of the day, the Opposition, First Nation, Métis, and Inuit communities and perhaps an ‘honest broker’ who would ensure that things moved positively into the future. The federal government has the assets and resources to aid in the drafting of a plan in concert with the First Nation, Métis, and Inuit communities, who must be the lead on any strategic plan that concerns their future.” Q16: Canada is home to the suicide capital of the world: the community of Pikangikum. In Canada, suicide rates among Inuit youth are 11 times the national average. For First Nations youth, they are five to seven times higher than non-First Nations. Would you support an Aboriginal suicide prevention strategy? Absolutely. The Ontario Coroner’s Report in June 2011 which arose from the tragedy in Pikangikum, made some very comprehensive recommendations. Aboriginal suicide has to be addressed at all levels of community and government and involve First Nations and non-First Nations people. Suicide doesn’t happen in isolation. Well-intentioned initiatives often perpetuate the problem. The solution lies in the development of strong, healthy communities.” Q17: The Government of Canada provides a Non-Insured Health Benefits program for certain Aboriginal groups. Considering the dramatically lower general health outcomes for Aboriginal Canadians, would you support an expansion of the program? There is not a straightforward solution to this very complex and extremely important issue that is multi-faceted. First, there needs to be recognition of the problem. It is not simply a case of adding another medicine or piece of medical technology. One must get to the root cause. There are socio-economic determinates that should be addressed. Dealing with the benefits themselves in isolation will not be enough. There must be a general understanding of why First Nation, Métis, and Inuit communities have dramatically lower general health outcomes than other Canadians – is it due to health education, health facilities on or near the communities, the lack of basic services in homes and communities?. These sub-issues must be investigated and understood. The Romanow Report stated that “surprisingly, this is largely not due to a lack of funding; there is simply a mismanagement of assets.” This leads back to education and personnel trained in the administration thereof, and the 47 recommendations made by Romanow in December 2002 are equally valid today.” Q18: Recent statistics have shown that a young indigenous person in Canada is more likely to go to prison than to graduate from high school. With the recent introduction of Bill C-10 the statistics will only get worse for Aboriginal incarceration. Would you support repeal of C-10 and the appointment of a “Deputy Commissioner for Aboriginal Corrections” to the Correctional Service Canada Executive Committee? Yes, Bill C-10 is problematic for all Canadians but does have a particularly hard impact on the aboriginal community. It ignores the fact that many inmates, especially Aboriginal people, have grown up in poverty, in communities with high unemployment rates, and who have lower-than-average education levels. I honestly don’t know whether a “Deputy Commissioner for Aboriginal Corrections” would solve anything – at least under the present federal government. This is something about which I would consult Aboriginal peoples.” Q19: Aboriginal people in Canada – especially those living in the North – face serious problems of food insecurity due to climate change and the of the high cost of food. Would you support development of a culturally sensitive food security program for Aboriginal people of Canada? I see a culturally-sensitive food security program for Aboriginal Canadians being part of the solution but the real problem lies with the lack of all-weather transportation infrastructure. Granted, there have been some projects completed in the North, yet federal funding has expired or is about to expire. I’ve addressed this in the leadership debates and would welcome the opportunity to discuss sustainable solutions to these problems with Aboriginal Canadians. The current federal government’s attitude towards Aboriginal health is ambivalent, to say the very least.” Q20: The Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada has expressed concern that the funding provided will not be sufficient for the completion of its mandate. Would you support an increase in funding for and an expansion of the TRC mandate to include day schools? I would consult and seek guidance from Elders and communities in general on whether the plan adopted has been successful. If yes, what are the methods employed that are best-suited for a way ahead? If no, what should change and how should it be changed? The consultation should include an evaluation of whether the funding to date has been well spent. Has it had a positive result in the community? It’s not all about money. If it’s a good investment with positive outcomes, that heals communities then funding can always be found.” Q21: Are you committed to having at least 10 Aboriginal candidates in the next federal election? I want as many people from all communities to participate in the political process. I don’t have a problem committing to having at least 10 Aboriginal candidates in the next federal election. The question is whether this is a realistic goal, given the present state of affairs in Canadian politics. If we can get at least 10 Aboriginal candidates in the next federal election, that would be wonderful. A great deal of the impetus is going to have to come from within Aboriginal communities and I will work with them to enable a higher degree of participation by Aboriginal Canadians in the political process.” Note 1: Additional posts from the leadership candidates will be posted upon receipt; Note 2: This post does not constitute an endorsement of the candidate by the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission.