Premiers meeting in Iqaluit address Canada's "third solitude", Aboriginal people
Western premiers to tackle aboriginal 'third solitude' - Must close gaps between aboriginal Canadians and rest of country, leaders say
July 5, 2007
Leaders attending the western premiers conference in Iqaluit on Thursday and Friday say they plan to focus on ways to improve the lives of Canada's aboriginal people.
Canada, which has long focused on the "two solitudes" between its English and French populations, must now address a "third solitude" between aboriginal Canadians and the rest of the country, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell said.
"There are enormous gaps in health care and education and economic opportunity and in social opportunities for aboriginal Canadians, whether they're Inuit, First Nations or Métis people," Campbell said as the premiers gathered on Wednesday.
The conference, which runs through Friday, has brought premiers from western provinces and the three northern territories together — for the first time, in Nunavut — to talk over a variety of issues before all premiers meet in Moncton, N.B., in August for the Council of the Federation's summer meeting.
Manitoba Premier Gary Doer said many of the western premiers have stayed committed to the principles behind the Kelowna Accord, an agreement that then-prime minister Paul Martin's Liberal government worked out with aboriginal leaders in 2005.
It would have dedicated $5 billion over five years to improve areas such as education and housing.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper backed away from the Kelowna agreement after being elected in early 2006, instead committing $450 million for aboriginals in that year's budget.
Doer said Canada must still develop a firm commitment to closing the gap in living standards between aboriginal people and other Canadians.
"The issues of treaty land entitlements and resolving outstanding treaty issues are important to all of us," Doer said.
"We've all been very committed in the past to the objectives, especially in the Kelowna Accord, and how do we move forward on that issue."
Doer said premiers attending this week's gathering want to develop concrete ideas on the issue, then bring them to their meeting with the other premiers next month.