Detailed plan of action comes out of FMM

Only one region-British Columbia-actually sat down and signed an implementation agreement (the Transformative Change Accord) with the province and federal government after the two-day first ministers' meeting (FMM) on Aboriginal issues was held in Kelowna Nov. 24 and 25. For the rest of the country, things will be worked out in the coming months and years.

But the prime minister of Canada and the premiers of her provinces and territories issued a communiqué as their historic meeting with Aboriginal leaders concluded. While it showed generally how much money will be committed toward improving the lives of Aboriginal people in the country and where it will go, their words spoke of their commitments made to progress.

As the press and public were admitted to the main room at the close of the meeting, it was clear the mood was buoyant, even celebratory.

Prime Minister Paul Martin kicked things off.

"I believe that we have an unprecedented step forward. Aboriginal Canadians have no desire for more rhetoric. They have needs and those needs demand attention. It's as simple as that. That's what these two days have been about. And that's what all of the work that went into this gathering over the last year-and-a-half has been about. We all know that there are serious problems in too many Aboriginal communities.

"Here in Kelowna, we have agreed to a detailed plan for action. A plan that will include concrete, five and 10 year targets for better health, better education, economic opportunity, housing and clean water. Put simply, targets mean progress. And progress means a better way of life for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. What we seek to do will cost money. It also requires, however, an effective partnership, innovative solutions, the objectives to measure and ensure results, and full accountability, transparency and good governance. This is the course that we are pursuing.

"The future of Aboriginal Canadians ... is an issue that I care about very deeply, and I know this: the federal government will not solve the challenges facing Aboriginal Canadians by fiat or decree.
We have the prime fiduciary responsibility. It is our responsibility and we will live up to that responsibility in full. We will succeed because of the drive of the Aboriginal leaders and of the Aboriginal communities themselves with the co-operation and the very strong commitment of the provincial and territorial leaders that were here.

Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, the chairman of the Council of Confederation, the premiers group, praised B.C. host Premier Gordon Campbell for his efforts in pushing the FMM forward.

Campbell singled out National Chief Phil Fontaine for his "exceptional leadership." The B.C. premier reminded his colleagues of the need to follow through on their commitments.

"Minutes from now this table will be empty, this room will be empty and there will be silence.
Our job now and our abiding commitment to one another and to the citizens we serve is to ensure that the memory of this moment finds its voice and its force in history through our actions," he said.

"Our duty now is to ensure that when this room goes dark, the light of hope that has been lit over the last two days lives on and burns brighter month after month, year after year, in our hearts and in Canada's corridors of power. Mr. Prime Minister, the honor of the Crown depends on our meeting these commitments. The honor of the Crown has been a silent partner in this room here and now and with our words its import is at stake."

Campbell said jurisdictional overlaps or uncertainties should not be an excuse for inaction.
"Constitutional wrangling must not become a refuge or an apology for inaction."

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Fontaine seemed overcome by emotion at one point as he discussed the residential school compensation announcement that preceded the FMM.

"We've reached a landmark agreement on residential schools this week. We must now deal with issues like land claims, treaty making and treaty implementation. We've seen how far we can go in just two days. Imagine how far we can go in 10 years. We must close the gap in the quality of life between our people and other Canadians. That will be our legacy to the coming generations.
There's a lot of hard work ahead of us but it is a workload we will share with our partners in Confederation just as we originally agreed to share the riches and the beauty of this incredible land," he said.

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer praised Paul Martin and the Aboriginal leaders for the positive outcome of the meeting.

"This prime minister and the Aboriginal leaders have made more progress in bread and butter items-or bannock and butter-in the last week when you count residential schools, than I've seen over my political life and reading history in the last 20 or 30 years," he said. "It is not going to reverse 100 years of Canadian history but... let's give credit where credit's due. The prime minister has made more significant bread and butter commitments that will make a difference for Aboriginal people than, I think, any Prime Minister in the last number of decades."

And it was Doer who reminded the prime minister of the strong presentation made during the meeting by Native Women's Association of Canada President Beverley Jacobs.

"Beverley Jacobs raised some very, very, I think for all of us, very disturbing analysis of the situation in Canada for Aboriginal women," Doer said, adding that the federal government has agreed to hold a summit on the disappearance of Native women and other related issues.

"I should have raised that," Martin said. "What has happened here is just overwhelming conviction that this country, rich as it is, simply cannot allow the condition of a huge gap in health care and education and opportunity and housing to exist in one segment of society. This is a moral issue. We will meet as often as it takes to make sure that those gaps are eliminated. I think that the point that was raised in terms of Aboriginal women, as Gary has just said, is one that I think struck every one of us and whatever the issue, let there be no doubt, we're going to solve it."