NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. (CP) - Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice has reaffirmed the new Conservative government's commitment to the objectives of the Kelowna Accord to end aboriginal poverty.
But he's giving no hint on how much of the $5.1 billion the Liberals promised when they signed the agreement before election will be funded in the first budget of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's administration.
"This current prime minister and I have said repeatedly that we are supportive of the targets and objectives," Prentice told the B.C. First Nations Summit in his first public speech since joining the cabinet.
"What we're now focused on is building a sustainable plan that will achieve the Kelowna targets."
The Calgary MP, an expert in aboriginal land claims negotiations, called the alleviation of poverty among First Nations "the most pressing issue that we face as a nation."
He said he also wants to push ahead on improving education opportunities for aboriginal youth, another element of the Kelowna agreement.
But he asked the B.C. aboriginal leaders to be patient while the neophyte government orders its priorities, noting the Liberals also committed no money to the goals of the agreement they signed last November before calling the election.
"The Parliament of Canada has to appropriate those monies by way of a budget," he said. "Until the Parliament does so, there is no fiscal plan to put wheels on Kelowna."
Prentice told reporters later that while the Liberals outlined funding for five years, the Kelowna process involves a 20-year commitment.
"We're working on building a fiscal plan around that," he said. "Stay tuned and you will see in our budget and our throne speech where the government is headed."
First Nations leaders at the meeting seemed inclined to give Prentice the breathing space he asked for.
"I think we need to understand there's a transitional aspect to this," said Chief Stewart Phillip, head of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. "We're dealing with a newly elected government.
"It's going to take weeks and months for us to know what the government is actually going to do in terms of the throne speech and the budget and so on."
Phillip, often outspoken and cynical about government promises, said he appreciated Prentice's candour.
"I think at first blush I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt," he said. "We'll be far better positioned in the fall to know what the relationship will be like between ourselves and this new government."
Grand Chief Ed John of the First Nations Summit agreed frank talk was better than lofty platitudes that mask inaction.
"If we have differences, we should know what the nature of those differences are," he said. "If we're on the same page, we'd like to know that. That way we can move these agendas forward."
B.C. aboriginal leaders handed Prentice a nine-page letter listing issues B.C. aboriginal leaders want the minister to review and act on, including agreements on First Nations jurisdiction over education, a health blueprint, aboriginal tourism development, fisheries and a plan to deal with the impact of the massive mountain pine beetle infestation in the B.C. Interior.
They also pressed Prentice for commitment on the compensation package for native residential school abuse victims negotiated under the Liberals.
Prentice said the government was prepared to move ahead if final wording of the settlement conforms to an agreement-in-principle reached last fall and once the courts approve it.
But he was noncommittal on the chiefs' concern the Tories proposed accountability legislation might impinge on their sovereignty as First Nations when it comes to receiving federal tax dollars. Prentice said the law hasn't been drafted yet.
Prentice's background in aboriginal issues and acquaintance with many top First Nations leaders make him one of the most experienced people to take on the Indian Affairs portfolio and may explain the cordial welcome he's received since his appointment last month.
Chief Phil Fontaine, head of the Assembly of First Nations, told the summit Tuesday the organization has had three productive meetings with Prentice.
First Nations have "a new partner, a strong Conservative government that is disciplined and is focused and excited about the future of this country," Prentice said.
"We need strong First Nation partners at the table."
Prentice, a onetime candidate for the Progressive Conservative leadership, reminded the meeting that Conservative regimes have often been good for First Nations.
The John Diefenbaker government gave aboriginals the right to vote and it was Brian Mulroney's Tories who launched the now-contentious aboriginal fisheries strategy and the current treaty-negotiation framework.
But John also pointed out it was Conservative Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald who ordered the hanging of Louis Riel and the Mulroney government that sent in the military during the 1990 Oka crisis.
After the meeting, Prentice joined B.C. counterpart Tom Christensen to sign an agreement-in-principle with the 141-member Yale First Nation leading to final negotiations of a treaty after 12 years of
http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/NationalNewsArticle.htm?src=n030943A.xml
Now how will the Conservative government pay for this if they don't want to follow the Kelowna Agreement? Andf if they are going into debt?
But he's giving no hint on how much of the $5.1 billion the Liberals promised when they signed the agreement before election will be funded in the first budget of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's administration.
"This current prime minister and I have said repeatedly that we are supportive of the targets and objectives," Prentice told the B.C. First Nations Summit in his first public speech since joining the cabinet.
"What we're now focused on is building a sustainable plan that will achieve the Kelowna targets."
The Calgary MP, an expert in aboriginal land claims negotiations, called the alleviation of poverty among First Nations "the most pressing issue that we face as a nation."
He said he also wants to push ahead on improving education opportunities for aboriginal youth, another element of the Kelowna agreement.
But he asked the B.C. aboriginal leaders to be patient while the neophyte government orders its priorities, noting the Liberals also committed no money to the goals of the agreement they signed last November before calling the election.
"The Parliament of Canada has to appropriate those monies by way of a budget," he said. "Until the Parliament does so, there is no fiscal plan to put wheels on Kelowna."
Prentice told reporters later that while the Liberals outlined funding for five years, the Kelowna process involves a 20-year commitment.
"We're working on building a fiscal plan around that," he said. "Stay tuned and you will see in our budget and our throne speech where the government is headed."
First Nations leaders at the meeting seemed inclined to give Prentice the breathing space he asked for.
"I think we need to understand there's a transitional aspect to this," said Chief Stewart Phillip, head of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. "We're dealing with a newly elected government.
"It's going to take weeks and months for us to know what the government is actually going to do in terms of the throne speech and the budget and so on."
Phillip, often outspoken and cynical about government promises, said he appreciated Prentice's candour.
"I think at first blush I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt," he said. "We'll be far better positioned in the fall to know what the relationship will be like between ourselves and this new government."
Grand Chief Ed John of the First Nations Summit agreed frank talk was better than lofty platitudes that mask inaction.
"If we have differences, we should know what the nature of those differences are," he said. "If we're on the same page, we'd like to know that. That way we can move these agendas forward."
B.C. aboriginal leaders handed Prentice a nine-page letter listing issues B.C. aboriginal leaders want the minister to review and act on, including agreements on First Nations jurisdiction over education, a health blueprint, aboriginal tourism development, fisheries and a plan to deal with the impact of the massive mountain pine beetle infestation in the B.C. Interior.
They also pressed Prentice for commitment on the compensation package for native residential school abuse victims negotiated under the Liberals.
Prentice said the government was prepared to move ahead if final wording of the settlement conforms to an agreement-in-principle reached last fall and once the courts approve it.
But he was noncommittal on the chiefs' concern the Tories proposed accountability legislation might impinge on their sovereignty as First Nations when it comes to receiving federal tax dollars. Prentice said the law hasn't been drafted yet.
Prentice's background in aboriginal issues and acquaintance with many top First Nations leaders make him one of the most experienced people to take on the Indian Affairs portfolio and may explain the cordial welcome he's received since his appointment last month.
Chief Phil Fontaine, head of the Assembly of First Nations, told the summit Tuesday the organization has had three productive meetings with Prentice.
First Nations have "a new partner, a strong Conservative government that is disciplined and is focused and excited about the future of this country," Prentice said.
"We need strong First Nation partners at the table."
Prentice, a onetime candidate for the Progressive Conservative leadership, reminded the meeting that Conservative regimes have often been good for First Nations.
The John Diefenbaker government gave aboriginals the right to vote and it was Brian Mulroney's Tories who launched the now-contentious aboriginal fisheries strategy and the current treaty-negotiation framework.
But John also pointed out it was Conservative Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald who ordered the hanging of Louis Riel and the Mulroney government that sent in the military during the 1990 Oka crisis.
After the meeting, Prentice joined B.C. counterpart Tom Christensen to sign an agreement-in-principle with the 141-member Yale First Nation leading to final negotiations of a treaty after 12 years of
http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/NationalNewsArticle.htm?src=n030943A.xml
Now how will the Conservative government pay for this if they don't want to follow the Kelowna Agreement? Andf if they are going into debt?