Metis man says Liberals want more Aboriginal MPs

Page 12

Aboriginal people need to get more involved with federal politics since many decisions affecting First Nations happen in Ottawa, says a Metis member of the Liberal party.

"The bottom line for us is to elect more Aboriginal MPs," John Dorian said during an interview in Prince Albert. "It's really important to get involved with political parties - they can change things."

The Prince Albert man attended a Liberal convention in Ottawa earlier this March where Prime Minister Jean Chretien assured more than 2,000 party faithful he, not Finance Minister Paul Martin, would continue leading the party. The Liberals also debated such issues as gay marriages, legalizing marijuana and getting more Aboriginal people to run for the party in the next federal election.

Dorian said the Liberals held a fund-raising dinner for the party's Aboriginal Peoples' Commission, an Indian, Inuit and Metis wing of the party that helps set policy.

About 200 people, including Chretien, Heritage Minister Sheila Copps and Human Resources Minister Jane Stewart, attended the $300-a-plate meal, said Dorian.

"It felt good, a lot of cabinet ministers showed up," said Dorian.

The money raised will be used to support Liberal Aboriginal candidates in 10 ridings across Canada, said Dorian, adding Saskatchewan should see Liberal Aboriginal candidates in the Churchill River and Fort Qu'Appelle ridings.

With high unemployment in those ridings making fund-raising difficult, Dorian said the money will help get some Aboriginal candidates started in the next election - which the prime minister said during the convention he would call within the next 15 months.

The 10 candidates will also encourage more Aboriginal people to vote and get involved in federal politics since those ridings have a high Aboriginal population, said Dorian, adding he isn't sure yet if he will run in the next federal election.

The 53-year-old ran as a Saskatchewan Liberal in 1995 but lost to the New Democrats' candidate, Keith Goulet, who is currently the province's minister of northern affairs.

Dorian said by encouraging more Aboriginal people to go into federal politics, he isn't competing with existing Aboriginal political organizations such as the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan.

Rather, he said, if more Aboriginal people are elected federally, it will create a greater understanding between the Canadian government and Aboriginal people who will have a stronger voice in Ottawa.

Peter Rudyck, area director for the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan Western Region II, said he was happy to attend the Liberal convention because it gave him first-hand knowledge of policy decision making.

"That's where all the decisions are made is Ottawa," said Rudyck, adding it can only benefit Metis people if they get more involved with federal politics.