Appointment pinpoints government trend

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The appointment of Bernard Valcourt as junior minister responsible for DIAND confirms a trend that has been growing for several months, says members of Aboriginal organizations in Ottawa.

Valcourt, already Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism, was appointed last week to the department responsibilities under senior minister Bill McKnight.

The appointment, while Valcourt is still small business minister, continues the government's trend towards commercializing the country's Aboriginal peoples, says a senior policy analyst with the Assembly of First Nations.

"Nothing's certain yet, but it would be logical to assume that his responsibilities will be extended to cover all the Native economic programs," said Ted Montour.

As small business minister, Valcourt was already responsible for the Native Economic Development Program.

He, along with McKnight and Employment and Immigration Minister Benoit Bouchard, were cited for duplicity by leaders of the AFN and the Native Council of Canada when a leaked briefing document showed that consultation on a new Aboriginal economic policy was a sham.

The document, leaked in early August, said the Cabinet would be deciding on the policy, before talks with Aboriginal leaders had even started.