Marc Garneau responds to APC Leadership Questionnaire February 12, 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, and Member of Parliament, Marc Garneau. View his responses below: Q1: Have you had any personal involvement with Aboriginal issues, either through Aboriginal communities in your riding or otherwise? Yes, recently I visited Chief Theresa Spence during her hunger strike bringing attention to many of the plights First Nations and indeed all Aboriginal peoples face in Canada. It was a privilege to meet with her. In addition throughout my campaign I have visited a number of First Nations communities including the Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation in Saskatchewan as well as Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba.” 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? Yes, Canada must work with First Nations to determine what the appropriate steps are to replace the Indian Act. These steps must not be completed on a unilateral basis such has been found in Bill C-428 that was introduced by Rob Clarke in the House of Commons.” Q3: Do you support the establishment of a royal commission to investigate the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women? Following the findings of Sisters in Spirit, former Liberal MPs Todd Russell and Anita Neville first called for a National Inquiry into the matter of the hundreds of missing and murdered Aboriginal women across the country – I will continue this push and would work with Aboriginal women’s organizations such as the Native Women’s Association of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations Women’s Council to determine what the terms of reference would be for the Inquiry.” 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? The Government of Canada needs to provide resources for the preservation of Aboriginal languages. But it is up to Aboriginal groups to develop the programming to ensure their own languages are preserved.” 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? First Nations are the youngest and fastest growing sector of our population. We must invest in First Nations Education by working in collaboration through consultation. Yes, I do support lifting the 2 per cent cap on education funding for First Nations.” 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? There are more First Nations Children in care today than at the height of Residential Schools. This cannot be tolerated, the inequities are unfathomable, and the system is broken and must be fixed. First of all, the children in care are vulnerable, these children must be protected, and the first step to improving their protection is to ensure there are no funding disparities. Solutions must be made with First Nations and the Provinces.” Q7: Would you support re-introduction of the Kelowna Accord? The signing of the Kelowna Accord was the first step in a long road to finding solutions with First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities. I would not simply re-introduce the Accord, but I would begin with the same dialogue that Prime Minister Martin led prior to the signing of the Accord to bring forth similar measures to assist Aboriginal communities.” 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 it would be appropriate to acknowledge many of the wrong doings and paternalistic measures many governments have made in the past that affect Aboriginal peoples, particularly First Nations. I would not formally apologize for the introduction of the White Paper, but I would commit to always work with Aboriginal communities on pieces of legislation that affect their rights and title.” Q9: Would you support efforts to increase understanding within Aboriginal communities of the issues of Two-Spirited peoples? I am proud of our parties’ history regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. I will continue to advocate for all LGBT rights.” 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? We have recently seen anger and protests from Aboriginal peoples across Canada. The relationship between the Crown and Aboriginal peoples has deteriorated. Trust and good will between the two has evaporated, and this mistrust affects us all. As we grow, particularly in the West, development will increasingly encroach on Aboriginal lands. While the Duty to Consult is still evolving in the Canadian Court system, we must come to the realization that our national economic success is tied to Aboriginal success. As a growing proportion of our labour force, as a key owner and stakeholder in resource development and the protection of our environment, Aboriginal peoples must be partners in our economic success, or none of us will succeed. Part of this partnership is to respect the Duty to Consult.” Q11: Do you agree that the Government of Canada is legally bound to comply with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples? The document is non-binding, however, Canada must uphold the treaties it signed with our First Peoples and therefore I respect the UN Declaration and support its implementation in Canada.” 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? Canada must work with Aboriginals on all matters that affect them, including the crisis of lack of clean drinking water and we must review the legislation the Harper government has passed and make changes where needed.” 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? Yes, through funding local friendship centres etc.” Q14: How would you work to ensure greater participation among Aboriginal people in the Canadian political process? Ensuring Aboriginal people are involved in all levels of the party and within government. Talk about the issues that matter most to Aboriginal people such as the issues from the questions brought up in this questionnaire.” Q15: How do you envision the path forward between the Crown and Indigenous Nations with respect to Aboriginal title and inherent Treaty rights? As stated in previous answers in this questionnaire, I envision a partnership. The Crown must renew its relationship with Aboriginal peoples and rebuild trust by taking measures that are in good faith where decisions are made through collaboration.” 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? There have been too many tragedies in this country when it comes to suicide, and specifically with regards to youth suicide. We need to address the factors that may lead to these suicide rates in First Nations communities from the generational affects of residential schools to drug and alcohol abuse, and inhumane living conditions in these communities. These factors are linked together and in working with First Nations, we can build a multifaceted strategy to address many of the issues facing First Nations 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? Upon a review of the program to ensure its effectiveness we can expand it.” 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? These statistics have been moving in this direction for a number of years. We need more prevention strategies, and more rehabilitation programs implemented in the Corrections system. Canada must take recommendations from our Correctional Investigator and find ways to bring the incarceration rates of Aboriginal peoples down. If there are recommendations to appoint a Deputy Commissioner for Aboriginal Corrections, I would be open to do so.” 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? Yes, Aboriginal Canadians face special challenges with respect to food security especially in the North and we must do better. I would work with leaders in our Party such as Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett who has previously worked on these issues to take further action and address these issues.” 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? The Truth and Reconciliation Commission needs to be done not only respectfully, it must be completed in a correct manner, that was the intent. We need our words from the government’s apology to not be empty – if the Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission makes recommendations to have an increase in funding, we need to take it seriously and do what we can to make an increase to ensure the Commission is able to be completed properly.” Q21: Are you committed to having at least 10 Aboriginal candidates in the next federal election? Aboriginal Canadians are among the most under represented segments of our population in the House of Commons today and as Leader I will work tirelessly with the APC to recruit more Aboriginal candidates. As Leader, I would also work with the APC to make sure that these candidates are well resourced and positioned to have the greatest chance of electoral success possible. I have publicly committed to letting local riding associations choose the candidate that best reflects their values and concerns by not appointing candidates. In dozens of ridings across Canada it will be Aboriginal Canadians that best reflect the values and concerns of their ridings. However, I do commit to working side-by-side with local riding associations, the APC, and First Nations communities to not only recruit more Aboriginal candidates but to get them elected to the House of Commons.” 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.