Canadians on Native issues

Page 10

According to a recent poll, most Canadians do not consider improving the quality of life of Aboriginal Canadians to be a high priority for the federal government.

The poll, conducted by the Centre for Research and Information on Canada (CRIC), suggests almost one in two Canadians (49 per cent) believe that Aboriginal Canadians are on an equal footing with, or better off than, other Canadians. Forty-four per cent say Aboriginal people are worse off than other Canadians.

Twenty-nine per cent of Canadians rated improving the quality of life of Aboriginal Canadians a high priority, the same as rated increasing military spending a high priority.

People polled were asked to place, in order of priority, a list of government tasks. Protecting the environment was on top, followed by health spending, and co-operation between federal and provincial governments.

In tenth spot was improving Aboriginal people's quality of life, a priority that beat out increasing spending on big cities.

"It's a reflection of what the future holds," said Lorena Fontaine, professor of Indigenous studies at the First Nations University of Canada in Regina.

"Unless the issues are definitely affecting the public, why would they place it high in terms of their considerations?"

An ominous aspect of the poll was the views held by Canadians ages 18 to 34. The poll found that group to be the least likely to rate improving the quality of life of Aboriginal Canadians a high priority. Twenty-nine per cent said it should be a low priority, the most of any age category.

The interim director of research for CRIC, Gina Bishop, said the centre was disappointed by the findings. It seems efforts to educate Canadians on Aboriginal issues are falling short.

"It doesn't seem to be working yet. And the fact it doesn't seem to be getting through to young Canadians is troubling, Gina Bishop."

The survey's co-director, Amanda Parriag, said that, since 1998, concerns over Aboriginal quality of life have been "relatively static. Aboriginal issues come at the bottom of the list."

She added there are spikes of interest, though. The recent Aboriginal round tables and Prime Minister Paul Martin's Aboriginal Affairs cabinet committee got attention, and public sympathy increased. But otherwise, most Canadians seem indifferent.

"It's not right in front of their faces," Parriag said.

Campbell Morrisson, press secretary for Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott, said he didn't think the poll's results were negative. The twenty-nine per cent of Canadians rating Aboriginal issues high was "pretty good," he said.

"The department is always looking for better understanding. I think the public can always be better informed. There's always work to do."

Asked whether public support of the department's public education initiatives was important, Morrisson said "Public support helps the department achieve its objectives. That's certainly true. The more public support we get, the better off we are."

The department, however, does not operate on public whims, Morrison said.

"We do what's right."