Do PC's see us as part time citizens?

Page 6

EDITORIAL

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced last Tuesday the long awaited establishment of a western provinces diversification program. The business communities have expressed some optimism that this plan, coupled with steadily rising oil prices, holds hope for an economic revival in the west.

Nor surprisingly, the special needs of Native people were given only lip service in the document. There is slight mention made about funds designated to enhance Native food fisheries in B.C., and another about "the exciting multicultural heritage of the west" which will provide tourism opportunities and hence increase sales in the Indian arts and crafts industry, but that's about it.

However, what is far more disturbing is the appointment of Bill McKnight, federal Indian Affairs minister, to head up the economic renewal scheme. Surprisingly, McKnight maintains his Indian Affairs portfolio ? or perhaps we should say that he retains a "part time" interest in Native affairs.

Self-government, education cutbacks and Bill C-31 are pressing issues. How can McKnight possibly devote his full attention to these increasingly complex situations when he is saddled with the demanding task of assisting western provinces with their economic renewal dreams? We may well ask whether the Conservatives have written off the relatively small Native vote in their desperate attempts to shore up their image and electability with a federal election only a year or so away.

With this latest move, it is clear that Native concerns will continue to drop on the federal government's priority list. A part-time minister cannot be expected to do any serious business with Native people while other interests occupy his time.

With the recent failure to achieve a constitutional amendment guaranteeing Native self-government, Brian Mulroney seems to have relegated our people to representation by a part-time minister. Native people are not second class citizens in this country and deserve better full-time representation, albeit by a minister who has continually been slammed for his inability to deal with Native issues, within the federal government.

We should not let this insult go unchallenged.