Manitoba election signals more of the same

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On the day that Gary Filmon's third-term Progressive Conservative

government opened the legislature in Manitoba, Northern and Native

Affairs Minister Darren Praznick predicted that the next five years

would bring few changes. He denied responsibility for many issues

involving Native people, saying they are a federal matter.

"I think it's important to appreciate the jurisdictional boundaries,"

Praznick said, referring to the phasing out of the federal Department of

Indian Affairs and Northern Development, in which Manitoba is leading

the country.

"The chiefs haven't invited us nor do they expect us to be involved in

the discussions," he said. "The negotiations are a federal-First

Nations bilateral process. Manitoba is not involved, but we are open to

subsequent administrative matters." He expects the province to get

involved only when necessary, and after the main discussions.

On the other hand, he said that his government was unfairly portrayed

in the controversy over provincial parks creation before the settlement

of treaty land entitlement.

"Each of the three new parks is a long way from any community that has

land claims," he said. The provincial duty in this area, too, is

limited: entitlement are a federal responsibility and the province is to

maintain sufficient unencumbered land. Praznick pointed to

Saskatchewan's First Nations forced to buy land to satisfy settlements.

"Our record on this thing is pretty good," he claimed. "We've been

trying to be fair." In creating the parks, the province is trying to

serve another of its masters, the international requirement that

Manitoba set aside 12 per cent of the area of each natural habitat in

the province.

"We've also indicated our willingness to accommodate claims with

boundary adjustments, if needed," he said.

On other issues, Praznick forsees little change, although he does

forsee some progress.

"There is a growing recognition of the Metis contribution to our

society. And so we'll see the lack of recognition of the Native

contribution to the heritage of this province remedied over the next fee

year."