PAGE 14, wiuykm iRm~E '<, wt;mir;bAy, Auuut1' 8, lm) Government meets native obli atio By R ene Sceten Ontario rifing Mw CANA&DA A»D TEABORGINAL P' The fedleral govenment end the Parleament cf Canada have a very special and important relationship and obligation te the native peoples cf Canada. The end of the Meech Lake Accord doesenet signal an end te, the governrnets responsibilities te Indien people, or cf our comminiment te, continue te, work with Cenada'e aboriginal people on non-constitutionai issues. lI Edmonton on July 4, the federal government reaffirmed its commitment te, working with aboriginai -people te achieve social and economic progrese despite the termination cf the contitutionel process. The governmente commitment te Canada'e aberiginal peoples han neyer been strenger. During a period when other departmente have been directed toecut their expenditures, the op~tin budget for the Department cf Indien Affaire and NÃŽorthern Deveiopment bas grcwn each year. Spending under the Indian and Inuit Affairs program uin 1990-91 wiii ho more then $2.4 billion - close te $1 billion more thon it was in 1984-85. This represents an increase cf over 60 per cent in seven yeers. As a resuit cf the gcvernrnente devolution policy, rneny Indian bande now manage the deliverof such essential community progremes as education, child and social welfare services, housing and community infrastructure. Twenty yeare ago, few Indien businesssexisted. Today, there are about 5,000, half of which have been establiehed in the lest six yeare. This increase je directly related te governnxent efforts te, guarentee native business boans. In the 1960's, most Indiens lived un seriously inedequate housing. Today two-thirds of Indien homes are connected te sewers or have septic tanks. Electricity is now aIse, available un aimast every Indien community.-More thon 30 par cent cf the current housing stock has been built since 1984 and a further 35 par cent renovated. Access te education is iclearly a kçy te, a more prosperous and equitable future for Indien people. Evey aboriginal parson has the right te obtain free university educetion. The budget fr native post-secondary education han grown te $145 million in 1990-91 with the number cof participants increas,,ing te epproxirately 18,000. Cabinet hans approved a revised management regime for child welfare and famiiy services. Discussions are underway with some provinces that wiii lead te a hotter planned, stable and e more effective approach te chiid and farnily services. Indien people want te mun their own affhirs and I strongly endorse that objective. Both government and native leaders must work together in identifying a framework for change that will allow Indien first nations te choose from a range cf options. Changes include revision of the Indien Act te, allow Indien communities te take greater control of their communities et a pace they choase. We are aise committed te pursuing self-government outside cf the Indien Act with Indien communities on an individuel basis. This year alone, it je enticipated thet 14 communities wil engage in negotiations for somte ferm cof self-government. The impatus for change ultirnately muet come from the leaders cf Cenada's eboriginal people. The Oovernment cf Canada is comritted te working with the aboriginal people for a better quality cf lie and a just place in Canadien society. Offcii lan re v iew.-ll FROM PAGE 4 until Ueoember. Phase tziree wiii run from December te May, 1991. Phase four, formulation cf Whtyeurban structure and ofaic plan policies wili ho car- ried out frorn May te August, 1991. The final p hase, pDreparation cf the officiel plan up date, wili take place hotween Jenuary and May 1992. Open houses wili ho heid et each phase cf the study te gather as much public input as possible. Persons wiehing more informa- tion about: the review or wünti te edd their commenta are askeg to, contact the Town's planning department or Day. The latter can ho reached et M.M. Dillon Ltd., Box 1850, Station A, Wiliowdale, Ont., M2N 6H5,(416) 229-4646. .Meanwhile, coinciding with the review je a comprehensive hous- ing study te hoe undertaken by th e Town's planning department. The study wili examine pre- sent and future housing needs, anticipated supply and recom- mend a housing strategy for Whitby. As part cf the study a survey will ho distributed in ëeptember te varioùis groupe te determine the neeà for non-profit e!nd ce- operative housing in Whlýby. Experts on exports FROM PAGE 12 c um~sswhocen goethe exprtngbusiness. &Ontario je exeience a psitive reaction one cf the biget tradoets in the when theGT cornes in. It U.S. and I think big tr4iders in should ho revenue neutrai.» « the marketpiace. He eaye reaction te the Expert 'Tis le a trernendouà oppr Initiative has been very posiltive tunity,» seys Tuck. "If yeu can te date, and that there are many understand the rnarketplece, you government progranis desige have a goid mine te play with.» te help businesees move inte the For more information about ,e rti;market. ,]~rçe t4'9p caîl Tuck at 57§- a -ÃŽÃ keU Jlead honchos. rank low on totem pote To- the editor. Re: The GST, shyster tax the gouge and XRent Up $50 on average. Books up 7 per cent on average. It bouls down te, more inadequate, scarce housing and more illiteracy, more rnonetary trauma for university students i acquiring textbooks, as well as alI those faoets of education invoived in programs of literacy and adult education. Mr. Mulroney and Mr. Wilson both live in their political worlds - influence, experîse accounts, governrnent-facilitated residences (maids, chauffeurs, nannies and nurseries) and are cilvicus te the common herd, namely, the citizens cf Canada. It is an old belief that the self-made maxi who bas worked his way up from poverty or low ranks through the rigors cf seif-deprivation and stringent living te levels cf heirarchy in business or politics makes a much better leader than a leader lxirn with a silver spoon in his mouth. Obviously, Mr. Mulroney and Mr. Wilson have neyer partaken of the. hardahipe of the worldng man and neither have in *al likelihood ever boarded public transoraton atrw ai g in inciement weather; neither, have they likely searched their pocket for enough te buy a "cup of coffee" and likely neither have had te sou.efor the "end-of-the- month7 commnitmnent commonly known as rent. Mr. Mulroney and Mr. Wilson, please take note cf the foliowing terms M ordinary lingo: Bell - does net mean the dinner bell, it mearas a bill monthly for use of a communication lime, comonly known as a telephone; Rogers - does not mnean "yes" as in 'Rager in a government-paid- for-and-staffed ai-plane, it means paying tithe to, Rogers Cable eh gan every month for a meagr home entertairment; Grocery chain - does not mean holding stock in Oshawa Whoiesale (IGA) or Loblaws, it means sustenance for one's family and a major deduction from the working man's incarne; Medicine - daes not mean heirarchy <medicine mani) cf Canada's aboriginals, such as thoseatOka and the Okal ndian confrontation, it means medical needs for the eveiyday sustenance cf =en, women and children, needs ranging from Týylenol te toilet tissue from vitamine te Vicks Vaporub. One could go on and on but when will it escape the tabloids and research surveys and filter through the thick skulls i Ottà awa mte the grey matter cf the politician's craniuin? "Action speaka louder thon words," but when it cornes te -a citizen'. revoIt,, it seems that our only choice is te take a cue fiom the powwows of our native brothers iOka.. Barbara Black Oshawa A pink. slip for Rene To the eeitor. Ccçy et letter te Ontario riding MP Rene Soetens Dear Mr. Soetens: Re: Your letter cf July 16, 1990 I am. given te understand that the' opinion polis referred te by the Senate Cornmittee Soctens: To thi.e eitur Copy of letter to David Barber Dear Mr. Barber: Your further correspondence on my rôle as your representative is somewhat puzzling. You suggest you know the views of ail rny constituents and I wiIl respect your thoughts. But I catn tell you that I do have many constituents who in fact support the initiatives of the government I amn a member of. I appreciate that you do flot expect me to be a marionette and a u can be assured thet I will ot one. I have neyer hesitated to represent the views of my constituents whether I agre with them or not. lI conclusion, most government legislatian hes an impact on someone and if we questioned those affected the, probable conclusion would be that they oppose the legisiation. We would in the end have no decisions by governinent end that ts flot our role. Sometimes it is thé rôle of a MP to support toughl decisions because they are right for the overail benefit of Canada. The goods and services tex is one of thase cases that I can support because it does remove an unfeir burden on the manufacturing sectur, the eisting federal sales tax, and it places a much' more equitable and broader tex on the whole Canadien economny. As your member of parleament The War Amiputationsi of Canada... Safcty Is CHAMP No Accident ipLAS investigating the proposed GST, indicate that the public does net support the legisiation. I ama further given te understand that i many meetings you have had with your constituents, it bas been made plain thst you are coinmitted te the G&T regardless of their opposition toit. You have supported Meech Lake and the GST., Your gevernment continues te overspend. Your government continues te support outdated language policies and a vision cf Canada that does net reflect the will cf the people.,.* Your decisions have been made based on the dictates cf the perty. Therefore, I "submit te you a pink slip for failure te represent rny iterests in the parHement cf Canada. David Barber .Whitby No strings attached I listened te al cf the available evidence, on the GST, pro and con, and then made a knowledgeable decision. That is whet I holieve I was elec.ted to do and I lesu. hope you wouid expect no Ontario Riding, Crime Steppers and Durharn Regional Police are asI gfor .he publies help in solving two break, enter and thefts which have occurred at the Trulls Road Methodiat'Church i Bowmanville. The flrst break and enter occurred during the night cof June 13 -14 and the second during the night of July 16 -17. Stolen were three personal computers, printers, a dictaphone, a calculator, a JVC stereo cassette player, an RCA 20-n. color TV, a Roland synthesizer, four Roland microphones, cables, manuels and a substantial amnount of cash, including a safe. The total velue is approxmnately $20,000. Have you any idea who broke into the church? HaUve you any idea where the property is? Have you been offered any of the stolen property? If so, you cen call Crime Stoppera. YouIl neyer have to give your name or go te court. A cesh rewrard of up te, $1,000 is being offered for information leading te the arrest of the peple involved and the return cf the stoen roerJy.The Crime Stoppers phone number à e 436-8477 (athlats 436-TIF). Long distance cail câllect. A citi~e board admnisters the Crime Stoppera prgams cf whichtfr are now more than,850 in North America The reward noey ie raised t ahtx deductible donations which may h e nt to Durham IÃgonal Crime Stoppers, P.O. Box 54, Osawa, Ontario, LIH78 A c .izes' oad .minstrs he -ri e op.r deucib*doatos -ihma * e nt.io Durha * .. lCrrnSopp ,PO o 4 saa