Anna Gainey responds to APC Presidential Questionnaire February 14, 2014 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 Presidential Questionnaire from LPC Presidential candidate, Anna Gainey. View her responses below: Q1: What is your knowledge and understanding of the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission of the Liberal Party of Canada? In the 24 years since its founding, the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission (APC) has contributed greatly to the party’s understanding of Indigenous peoples and the issues they face. Q2: Over the last two years there has been much rebuilding in the Liberal Party, this includes the APC. Do you support a revived and strong Indigenous wing in the party? Absolutely. Our party works best when all its commissions are active, viable and engaged. As a national party, it is essential that our policies and priorities reflect the needs of all citizens, and our party’s commitment to respective diverse perspectives and experiences should begin with supporting strong Indigenous voices in our own organization. I also believe that our party needs a strong APC to support our outreach efforts to Indigenous communities across Canada. Q3: Additionally, over the last two years the APC has worked hard to rebuild its structure and presence here in Canada (Turtle Island) amongst Indigenous and non-Indigenous Liberals/non-Liberals. Would you support a sufficient budget for the APC in order to achieve its mandate of outreach, communication, enlisting Indigenous delegates at conventions, and future Indigenous Candidates to carry the Liberal banner? As a party, our focus must be on organizing to win in 2015. I will support APC initiatives that contribute to this objective. The APC cannot function without adequate resources and its funding needs should be reviewed by the new executive to ensure that it can most effectively fulfill its mandate. Q4: Would you, as the next President of the Liberal Party of Canada, support the continued existence of the APC within the Party structure? Commissions play an important role in our party. As President, I would fully support the APC’s continued existence and look forward to working with its executive and members. The APC, like the Women’s Commission, must be tasked with providing pathways for quality candidates from their respective communities/constituencies to stand for the Liberal party. Party organizers should support this goal with similar policy used to increase the number of women candidates. Q5: Have you had any personal involvement with the Indigenous nations, communities, and peoples, as well as an understanding of the issues Indigenous peoples face? Yes. My husband and I had a small off-grid cottage in the Georgian Bay that was only accessible through the traditional lands of the Wasauksing First Nation. We spent several summers working on the cottage with our Anishinaabe friends. I have also been a long time volunteer at Chez Doris, a woman’s shelter in my riding committed to serving homeless and indigent Inuit woman in Montreal. In May 2012, I was invited by Chez Doris to Chair a fundraiser that would raise money to hire an Inuit Case Worker. We continued to advocate for Chez Doris through the Westmount Ville-Marie riding association. Q6: As the potential President of the Liberal Party of Canada, how do you see yourself working with the APC in relation to the Board of the Party as well as to the Leader and the Leaders’ office? As President, my focus will be winning in 2015. To be successful in the next election, our party needs to strengthen the organization at all levels. My approach with all members – from the grassroots on up and the Leader’s office on down – will be a collaborative one based on open and ongoing communication and cooperation. Q7: Do you believe that the Liberal Party of Canada, when constructing policies relating to Indigenous peoples, should work with the APC in doing so, not to mention holding proper and appropriate consultations with Indigenous peoples? Yes, I do. As President, I would advocate that our party take a collaborative approach to policy making. Our party can only stand to benefit from listening and learning from Indigenous voices. Q8: How will you assist the APC in supporting current Indigenous organizations to address the current experiences of Indigenous women and girls, or specifically, the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women? The stories of missing and murdered Indigenous women are deeply disturbing, as is the lack of attention paid by many to these cases. As President, I would ensure that the APC has the support required to be a strong advocate for both the missing women and all Indigenous women and girls. Q9: Can the APC count on your support for many of the ten (10) policies that have come forth, through consultation and public forums, from APC members and non-membered Indigenous peoples? The role of the president of the party is to ensure that the party functions well internally. In the interests of fairness, I will remain neutral on questions of policy heading into the biennial convention. That said, if elected, I will strive to maintain an ongoing, open and inclusive policy process. Q10: How would you work to ensure greater participation among Indigenous people within the Liberal Party of Canada as well as in the general Canadian political process? If elected, I would ensure that the party looked to the APC for advice on how to strengthen our outreach to Indigenous communities. The depth and breadth of experience within the APC is a tremendous resource for our party and deserves to be respected as such. While fostering engagement outside our party is not traditionally part of the President’s role, I am confident that our party’s commitment to openness and transparency in all that we do will inspire many more citizens to be a part of the political process. Thank you for your questions and for your many contributions to the APC and the Liberal Party of Canada over the last two years. I look forward to meeting both of you at biennial. Anna Note 1: Additional posts from the Presidential candidates will be posted upon receipt; Note 2: This post does not constitute an endorsement of the candidate by the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission.