OTTAWA– Liberal Leader Bob Rae made the following statement today in response to Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence ending her hunger strike:
“I am encouraged that Chief Theresa Spence has decided to end her hunger strike. Chief Spence and those who have joined her fast have helped bring about substantial change, but their cause – however just – should not endanger their lives or their health. Liberals join with Canadians across the country who are deeply committed to carrying on the fight for justice, dignity and reconciliation, and we salute Chief Spence’s courage.
The commitments we are making flow logically from the work of the Charlottetown and Kelowna Accords, numerous Supreme Court of Canada decisions, and our commitments as a country made when we signed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. They represent the strongly held values of the Liberal Party of Canada.
On behalf of our Parliamentary Caucus, I would like to express our party’s continued resolve to work inside and outside Parliament – on a nation-to-nation basis – to address the gross inequalities facing First Nations, from the disparity in education outcomes and poor health to the lack of clean running water and safe housing.”
Mr. Rae,
I was very disappointed in the position you took today with chief Spence. You know as well as I do that he Governor General does not met in working meetings between the government and any group. Furthermore, why are you dealing with someone that has not followed the appropriate course of action, that is, scheduled a proper meeting with the government of the day to have her voice (the alleged voice of her reserve) heard. It seems to me that this is a very calculated political move to try and discredit the government and an attempt to position the liberal party as the only party listening to Aboriginal concerns. As far as I am concerned it is very transparent and confirms my decision to remove my support of the liberal party.
Danny Olson
I think that the issues of the aboriginal can’t be solved by the calculating political strategy but ironically, it can’t be out of a political arena.
It was a brave, bold, and liberal step taken by Mr. Rae, with no concern for politics, but for human life. Bravo Bob.
I, like most concerned Canadians, am dismayed with the plight of the individuals living on the Indian reservations. But I honestly believe that Teresa Spence was doing a disservice to the people that she purports to represent. IMO she is a poorly informed and overpaid individual that represents all that is wrong wrt the governance of most Indian bands in this country.
I supported Paul Martin’s effort to put this behind us. I certainly hope that the current Liberal leadership and the leadership hopefuls can recognize the need to deal with aboriginal issues in the larger picture. The implication here that you are prepared to deal individually with 600 + chiefs suggests that the Liberal party that I have backed for many years may not be ready to govern this country for many years if ever again.
I am really struggling with this issue. Many years ago I lived on a James Bay reserve for a summer as a volunteer trying to help with housing. I have tried to read up on treaties and treaty negotiations. I read First Nations – Second Thoughts and other books. I have tried to listen to the various voices. There is no question there are huge issues of inequality and multi-generational suffering that cry out for focussed resolution. And yet,I feel recent statements and events are a bridge too far. “Nation to nation” seems either to be insulting paternalism to humour people by accepting their use of words without bothering to ensure we share a common interpretation, or it is naive. I also struggle with matters of accountability, rule of law and ill-defined use of “consultation” and “resource-sharing”. I am hoping our leadership will be much more definitive in what precisely they intend by their words.
I used to vote Liberal and I will never vote liberal ever again. What you are saying is because the PC’s signed a UN declaration that we are now somehow subject to what that declaration says. I remember when they signed the declaration it was made cla=ear to everyone it was a symbolic gesture and would not be applied incanada because we already had treaties. What you are now saying is a Liberal goverment would now honour that splitting canada up into over 600 nations with each of those nations having veto power over the rest of us. No legislation without their approval no development nothing at all the goverment of canada would have to beg and negotiate with these nations on everything.
When the original treaties were signed they gave up all rights to the land and became subjects we have paid out billions of dollars in land claims and benefits and now the Liberal party of canada wants to turn all of us into second class citizens slaves to the FN’s
By the way Bob we are not ruled by the United Nations (of crooks) If the Liberal party believes that we should let the united nations run our country it proves that you are truly not ready to govern our’s. I hope someone with common sense truly looks at what is good for all of canada as a whole.