Justin Trudeau responds to APC Leadership Questionnaire

March 7, 2013

The Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission of the Liberal Party of Canada was pleased to receive a response to our Leadership Questionnaire from Liberal Leadership candidate and Member of Parliament, Justin Trudeau.

View his responses below:

Q1: Have you had any personal involvement with Aboriginal issues, either through Aboriginal communities in your riding or otherwise?

All my life I have had the tremendous fortune of engaging with First Nations, Metis and Inuit Peoples.  I value the important and intrinsic role that our Aboriginal communities have in shaping the identity of all Canadians.  I am proud to be a honourary Haida – something I celebrate each day through the raven on my arm.”

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?

I do. A cooperative, collaborative nation-to-nation partnership is what the original treaty relationship was founded upon, and must be the foundation of how we move forward in the future.”

Q3: Do you support the establishment of a royal commission to investigate the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women?

I’m proud that Liberals, due in large part to the efforts of Dr. Carolyn Bennett and former MP Anita Neville, have moved this issue forward in the recent years. Dr. Bennett was able to receive all-party support for a House of Commons investigation into the tragedy of missing and murdered Aboriginal women, which is a positive step forward. However all Liberals, including myself believe that a full national public inquiry is still essential to achieving justice, healing, learning and prevention.”

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?

I think that there is a clear role for the federal government to work as a partner with Aboriginal communities to support, and revitalize Aboriginal languages spoken across the country.”

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, I was proud that our party made that commitment in the 2011 election platform.”

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.  The outcome we all want is for First Nations children in challenging situations to get the support that they need so that they are able to succeed and prosper in their lives.”

Q7: Would you support re-introduction of the Kelowna Accord?

Kelowna represented a tremendous step forward when it was introduced in 2005 after an 18 month negotiation process that demonstrated true partnership.  What the Liberal government, provincial premiers, and aboriginal leaders who unanimously endorsed Kelowna understood was that a path to a better future for Aboriginal Canadians begins with a commitment to consultation, and capacity building for economic success.  The next election will take place a full decade after the Kelowna Accord was introduced; I believe that the next Liberal platform should take Kelowna as a starting point for the development of policies in cooperation and full consultation with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit People that reflect the challenges and opportunities of 2015 and beyond.”

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?

I believe that there are countless Canadians, including Liberals, who look at any historical effort that sought assimilation with regret.  That is why Aboriginal success and prosperity is achieved by looking to the future, not in the past, as we develop solutions to the many challenges that still face Aboriginal communities.”

Q9: Would you support efforts to increase understanding within Aboriginal communities of the issues of Two-Spirited peoples?

I would.  My support for the rights of individuals with varied gender identities is strong and steadfast.”

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?

The duty to consult with Aboriginal People is very clear and presents an incredible opportunity to build strong, mutually beneficial partnerships in areas such as resource development.  The lack of proper consultation is one of the reasons that I have serious problems with the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline project.”

Q11: Do you agree that the Government of Canada is legally bound to comply with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples?

This past fall, in recognition of the fifth anniversary of the UNDRIP; I and the rest of the Liberal caucus reaffirmed our duties as parliamentarians to embrace and support the rights of Aboriginal People in Canada.  As the caucus outlined in the fall:

“As we tackle the urgent priorities outlined by Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, including resource development, universal access to high-quality education, economic development, and the provision of safe housing and clean running water on reserves, we must ensure that our actions conform to and respect  the principles outlined in the UNDRIP.“

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?

I would.  It is unacceptable that hundreds First Nations communities do not have access to safe, clean running water.”

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?

I would.  Culture is critical in providing a grounded identity, in which one draws confidence and strength.”

Q14: How would you work to ensure greater participation among Aboriginal people in the Canadian political process?

I believe that it starts with a clear commitment to openness and consultation in the political process for all Canadians on issues that are important to them.  I believe the Idle No More movement represents an exciting opportunity for Aboriginal People, in particular young Aboriginal Canadians, who want a better future for themselves and their children.  The challenge of leadership is to channel this energy in a positive direction. That is what I am hoping to do, alongside all of my parliamentary colleagues, but also by working with the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission in order to identify ways to engage more First Nations, Metis, and Inuit People in the 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?

I believe that Canada must work on a nation to nation basis to resolve outstanding claims to rights and title. The government must pursue these negotiations in good faith, with an objective of reaching solutions which truly benefit both parties, as was the intent of the original Treaty process.”

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?

I would, but calling for a strategy is not enough, we need to identify the concrete steps that we want the federal government to take in order to confront this tragic reality.   The best approach to suicide prevention begins with safe communities and healthy learning environments for Aboriginal youth.”

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?

I would be open to looking at a number of ways with which we could improve health outcomes for Aboriginal Canadians, including the health benefits that Aboriginals receive, particularly those whose health care is under federal jurisdiction.”

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?

I believe that if a Liberal government were elected, we would need to re-examine the litany of confused and unhelpful changes to the criminal justice system that the Conservatives have brought forward, including C-10. Everyone agrees that we need less crime in Canada and I do not believe that the Conservatives’ approach is the best way to achieve that objective.”

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 believe that the government must take the issue of food security more seriously for all Canadians, including Aboriginal Canadians.  I would certainly support measures that ensure such initiatives are culturally relevant for Aboriginal Canadians, particularly First Nations and the Inuit who reside in the north.”

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 believe that the Conservative government has a responsibility to provide the Commission with the resources that it requires to fulfill its mandate.  Likewise the Commission’s mandate should include all subject matters with which truth and reconciliation can be achieved to support the healing process of so many survivors and their families.”

Q21: Are you committed to having at least 10 Aboriginal candidates in the next federal election?

I have made a commitment in this leadership race that I will not appoint a single candidate in any of the 338 ridings.  My personal belief is that we would benefit tremendously from having a very large number of Aboriginal candidates in the next election and I will make every effort to attract such individuals to the nomination processes that will take place across the country.”

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.