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' Page 5,'Néews, Tuesday, Noveinber 12 1991 Ottawa's offer What your municipal government can do for you a Editor's note: the following article is by the Ontario Public Interest Group, a non-profit group that focuses on raising awareness about "environmental issues and other social issues such as housing and education." Although the article NORTHERN arrived a little late to impact on this year's municipal elections, it deals with INSIGHTS issues relevant beyond voting day. by Larry Sanders Municipal election time is here once again. Many people, though, aren't con- cerned about who'll they'll be voting for. Why? Simply because there aren't that Last week, I began to discuss aspects of the federal government's constitu- | | Many people voting. In fact, less than 20 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in tional proposals. I also said I was open to your suggestions. If Mulroney can | | Some regions. do it, so can NORTHERN INSIGHTS. If you have some aspect of the constitu- There are lots of reasons why people don't vote in these elections, but we think tional discussion you think I should talk about, write to me. My address is 72 | |.the biggest one is that people don't see the municipal level of government as hav- Jean Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7A SE9. This week, I'm talking about abo- | | ing a lot of power. riginal self-government. However, they have a whole lot of power. Because they arc close to problems During the dying days of Meech Lake, we all remember the image of Elijah directly affecting their community, they are often the best level of government to Harper clutching an eagle feather and denying the unanimous consent needed | | '™plement change. " to get the Accord through the Manitoba legislature on time. Those who So what can you do to evaluate a candidate? Evaluate their position on issues opposed Meech suddenly realized that aboriginal citizens had been marginal- | | !™POrtant to you -- Pen stands do they take? How hard are they willing to work ized for too long, and there was a short-lived gush of sympathy for long-stand- | | ' byps about change? ee ing native complaints. Elijah Harper now demands a $2,000 speaker's fee and Here's a short set of guidelines to help you evaluate your candidates. must be booked through a Toronto agent. : Education Royal commission 'incorporating environmental principles into the classroom Native issues still command some media attention, but only infrequently. 'funding for more outdoor education programs Instead, a Royal Commission has been created, with a mandate and member- *providing funding for school libraries to purchase environmentally and ship agreed to by aboriginal leaders across Canada. Joe Clark, the minister socially progressive literature responsible for renegotiating Canada, is dickering with the Assembly of First : Nations (AFN) over exactly how to fulfil Ottawa's promise of "ensuring that Land Planning aboriginal peoples participate in the constitutional deliberations." *protection of local wildlife In Ottawa's Proposals for Shaping Canada's Future, Quebec's status as a *preservation of wetlands, forest areas, ravines and ponds "distinct society" is defined, and thus limited, to its right to protect "French as *creation of areas for non-motorized vehicles an expression of its culture and...language." This may not go far enough to satisfy the Quebecois, but at least Ottawa has put a definition of "distinct soci- Waste Reduction and Management ety" on the table, and seems prepared to sell it outside Quebec. *implementing a user-pay system for garbage pick-up Ottawa is not prepared to do the same for aboriginal self-government. starting a permanent salvage yard where residents can exchange goods Instead, the Proposals say self-government cannot be entrenched in this round establishing recyclable depots of constitutional amendments because "the nature and extent of constitutional recognition (for self-government) has been the subject of considerable debate." Ottawa puts off the problem, saying "'it will not be possible to deal with all the issues on the aboriginal agenda within the time allowed for this (constitu- tional) process", before the end of February 1992. This approach has been strongly criticized by Ovide Mercredi, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), as "betrayal", and he's threat- ened to boycott the constitutional discussions. Quite rightly, Mercredi has asked why Ottawa is prepared to defend a definition of "distinct society", but not one for "self-government". At the same time, AFN's position is not shared by other aboriginal groups. The Inuit have indicated they will continue to participate, because the Propos- als recognize their desire for a separate Territory in the eastern Arctic, Nunavut. The Metis have gone so far as to cheer Mulroney in person, because the Proposals say: "The Metis have often been characterized as Canada's for- gotten people; the Government of Canada is committed to addressing the appropriate roles and responsibilities of governments as they relate to the Metis." Ottawa has thus achieved its first goal: effectively dividing the aboriginal leadership. Regardless of what happens from now on, Clark can say that native people are not in agreement over the constitution, or how to define "self-gov- ernment", and proceed with Ottawa's timetable. Transportation *establishing bicycle paths and trails This is really only an outline of how effective your municipal government can be. There are lots of other changes that can be implemented and you need look no further than the election posters to see who is capable of implementing these changes. What do you have to do? Vote! It will only take a few minutes of your time, and the results will last for about three years. re SS Se ee ee ee ee ee Subscription Order Form PLEASE SEND ME A COPY OF THE PAPER EACH Court will clarify definition Within ten years, Ottawa and the provinces are supposed to agree on a defi- nition of self-government "that is consistent with the understanding of both WEEK aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples." If they do, that definition will be entrenched in the constitution right away. If they don't do it within ten years, it Enclosed is my cheque __._________ Biltine lair: 6 SS NEWS Box 579, Terrace Bay, Ontario POT 2wO Within 40 miles...$18 Outside 40 miles...$29 USA...$38 Seniors...$12 Inside 40 mile radius only Please add 7% G.S.T. will be left up to the Supreme Court to clarify the definition. In Ottawa's Proposals, self-government is.left wide open, to include "land and resource use, language and culture, education, policing and administration of justice, health, social development, economic development, and community infrastructure." The Proposals offer: -"a commitment by governments to negotiate self-government agreements with the aboriginal peoples;" -"regularly scheduled First Ministers conferences on this subject;" -"during this initial stage, agreements reached in negotiations will proceed and that agreements reached will receive constitutional protection as they are developed." This is in conformity with the self-government process spelled out by the Chiefs of the Nishnawbe-Aske Nation (NAN). At the Wawatay Forum in continued on page 9 ee Se ss es es ms ee ce es ee ee os me el °c assess sy se sos ss sees eee mee mest mes es mes es mes oes