WHAT ABOUT AN “EQUALITY ALTERNATIVE” FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE?

by Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, Saskatchewan - December 4, 1996

For two years I lived on an Indian reserve at Wollaston Lake in northern Saskatchewan while serving as the principal of the local school.  I saw the damage done by paternalistic Aboriginal policies, and that’s why I was so disappointed by the recently released Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. It is truly unfortunate that so much work, so much time, and so much money, went in to proposing more of the same treatment and more of the same misery.  The Commission’s so-called “solutions” offer only false hopes to Natives and non-Natives, and will only serve to divide us further rather than unite us under the proud title: Canadians.

Aboriginal people are offered the false hope that they can continue to receive special status and treatment based on their race.  Non-natives are offered the false hope that this fatally flawed approach will bring an end to dismal social conditions in aboriginal communities.  The best scenario is that predicted by the Globe and Mail, that the recommendations would lead to “separation, both political and economic.”  The worst is the continuing violence and unrest promised by the national Aboriginal political organizations.

The Royal Commission report urges a separate aboriginal parliament; five new acts of Parliament; more money, dual citizenships; recognition of 50 to 60 Aboriginal Nations; more money; a land base for Metis people; renewal of old treaties; negotiation of new treaties; more money; more commissions; more public inquiries; more reports; and still more money.   In fact, they recommended the government spend another $2 billion a year on top of the $13 billion a year government already spends on aboriginal people and programs.

My own calculations show that the federal government spends approximately $61,300 a year per household for Indians living on-reserve and provincial governments spend about $46,600 a year per household for aboriginal people living off-reserve.

We desperately need to consider new approaches, instead of throwing more money at the problem.

Equality has not been tried in Canada.  Here are some of the crucial steps we need to take towards this goal:

•         The Indian Act must be repealed and replaced with legislation that will move us closer to true        equality.  Maybe we should call it the “Equality for Indians Act.”

•        We need to agree on a definition of self-government.  I believe the majority of Canadians, including grassroots Indian people, will support aboriginal self-government as long as the federal government’s relationship with Indian reserves is similar to the relationship between provinces and municipalities.  Most of  Canada’s aboriginal people (about 500,000) already live in municipalities under provincial jurisdiction.  The federal government retains responsibility for about 350,000 Treaty Indians currently living on reserves or crown land across Canada.   I believe Treaty Indians deserve the same rights and freedoms, and should share the same duties and responsibilities enjoyed by the tens of millions of municipal residents across the country.

•         For self-government to work, Canadian law, including the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, must apply equally to aboriginal people and Indian governments.

•         Local Indian governments will never be truly democratic nor financially accountable until, and unless, a normal local government-to-taxpayer relationship is established.  The federal government must make treaty entitlements payable, in part, directly to individual Treaty Indians living on-reserve.  The local band administration could then establish a local tax system to pay for the local services.  Government payments for welfare and housing could easily be transferred in this manner.  All treaty entitlements and benefits should be considered a taxable benefit in accordance with the Income Tax Act.  Every Treaty Indian should pay income taxes, excise taxes and the GST just like every other Canadian.

•         Every Treaty Indian entitled to compensation, benefits, or services promised by treaty should have the choice of receiving those entitlements directly from the federal government or through their local Indian government and should be able to exercise this option at any time.

•         Both the federal government and the Indians should fully honour the commitments they made to each other in the treaties.  Land claim settlements should be negotiated publicly, should outline specific terms, should be final, should conclude within a specific time frame, and should be affordable to Canada and the provinces.  All reserve or settlement lands should remain part of a sovereign Canada.  Public disclosure of the value and extent of all land claims should be the first step in addressing Indian land claims.  For the equality alternative to work, every Treaty Indian entitled to land under the formula articulated in each treaty should have the choice of taking personal possession of their property or having their land held in common and administered by the local Indian government.

•         Finally, any Treaty Indian who wishes to permanently move off the reserve should have the option to negotiate with the government a personal compensation package to help with the transition to a job and a new life living off reserve.  This compensation package should constitute a fair exchange for treaty entitlements.

There is not enough space here to touch on all aspects of the “Equality Alternative”,  but I encourage all Canadians to look closely at the ideas and real alternatives to the status-quo put forward in this article.  You won’t find any of these ideas in the report presented by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.

Solutions to the problems created by failed government policies over the last 130 years will not be found just by rejigging the policies.  We need a complete overhaul.  I sincerely believe the government and the royal commission are on the wrong track.  Something different and something effective must be done to relieve the appalling conditions in many Indian communities.  Aboriginal people deserve to be treated equally.  What do you think?

If you would like to have more information about how the equality alternative would actually work or if you have any comments, ideas or suggestions please call, write, fax or  e-mail me.:  

Garry Breitkreuz, MP (Yorkton-Melville) House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6                  

Phone: (613) 992-4394  Fax: (613) 992-8676 

E-Mail: breitg@parl.gc.ca