Blogging Party of Canada
Aboriginal Affairs
Agenda
i) The Need for a
Legislated Framework for Federal Aboriginal Expenditures: The
Parliament of Canada must develop legislation which governs the delivery of
federal governmental programs to Aboriginal Canadians. Both Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal Canadians deserve to know the legislative basis upon which the
Government of Canada is expending funds on Aboriginal health, education,
social welfare and infrastructure.
ii) Self Government – Legal and
Democratic Authority: The Indian Act (and related legislation) should be
replaced by a modern legislative framework which provides for the devolution
of full legal and democratic responsibility to First Nations, including the
Inuit, for their own affairs within the overall constitutional framework of
our federal state.
iii) Transparency: Both Aboriginal
and non-Aboriginal Canadians are entitled to complete transparency and
accountability in the expenditure of all public funds on aboriginal programs,
services and inter-governmental transfers. Aboriginals, like other Canadians,
must have ready access to police and judicial intervention to constrain and
check any exercise of governmental authority (whether aboriginal or
non-aboriginal) which is illegal, corrupt or an abuse of power.
iv) Respecting the Canadian Constitutional
Framework: We are a nation governed by the Constitution Act, under
which the rights of all citizens are protected and advanced by the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms. Our future together as a country must be built upon the
universal application of that framework.
v) A Framework for the Settlement of
Comprehensive Claims and Self Government Agreements: Settlement of
all outstanding “comprehensive claims” must be pursued on the basis of a
clear framework which balances the rights of Aboriginal claimants with those
of Canada – in particular, negotiated settlements must balance the economic
and social needs of Aboriginal Canadians with Canada’s need for certainty
and finality of terms. Self government agreements must reflect Canada’s need
for both efficacy and practicality in institutional structure, and
“constitutional harmony” so as not to impede the overall governance of
Canada.
vi) The Resolution of Existing Specific Claims
and Lawsuits against the Federal Crown: The federal government
should, as a priority, adopt measures to resolve the existing backlog of
“specific” claims so as to provide justice for Aboriginal claimants,
together with certainty for Government, industry and non-Aboriginal Canadians.
Institutional reform in the specific claim area should be pursued in a manner
which resolves claims in a timely manner. The jurisdiction of the Federal
Court should be expanded and the arbitrary ambit of the Indian and Northern
Affairs Canada (INAC) Minister and the Specific Claims Policy contracted to
eliminate the inherent conflict of interest of the Federal Crown in the
resolution of ‘specific claims’.
Land Title
i) The BPOC supports the development of a property regime that would
encourage lending for private housing and businesses. This will
promote economic opportunity and individual freedom.
ii) A BPOC Government, in conjunction with
First Nations, would create a First Nations Land Ownership Act,
which would transfer Reserve land title from the Federal Crown to willing
First Nations.
The BPOC supports, in conjunction with
First Nations, the creation of a matrimonial property code to protect spouses
and children in cases of marriage breakdown.
The BPOC proposes where
available and agreed to by all parties, including provincial authorities, to
offer choice in schooling for First Nations, with
incentives to those pursuing careers in education, health care, and social
services. Assistance will be giving in finding work in Aboriginal areas if they
so desire.
The BPOC will work more closely
with the DIA (department of Indian Affairs)
to assure that funds are being directed to the areas for which they are
intended, and hold accountable those in charge of said funds.
The BPOC will insure the
DIA will work closely with provincial and municipal governments to examine the
different needs of different areas. The needs of aboriginies varies from
location to location throughout our country and this needs to be addressed
The BPOC will improve
dramatically the quality of water and wastewater treatment inFirst Nations
communities, and work with provincial, territorial and municipal governments
to provide affordable off-reserve housing.
