One job too many? Indian Affairs minister takes on additional economic tasks

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Bill McKnight, the Minister responsible for Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND), is now more closely attached to western Canada, but is also in a capacity which is not directly related to his responsibility for Indians.

Recently, he was assigned the additional portfolio of Minister responsible for the Western Diversification Office. His Deputy Minister, Bruce Rawson, has been given the task of manning the head office located in Edmonton, which will be served by sub-offices in Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Vancouver.

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney was in the city to officially announce the new initiative during a luncheon at the Convention Centre August 4. The luncheon, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, drew hundreds of customers but the number of Natives present were few.

The new initiative is the fulfillment of a commitment made in Prince Albert three years ago, said Mulroney. At the time, the west was undergoing far less activity in the oil, timber and fishing industries.

The purpose of the diversification package is to provide an alternative for dealing with the downturn in Canada's western economy and involves a $1.2 billion tab. The funds are to be spread out over a five year period across the four western provinces. This amounts to an average of $60 million per year for each of them. However, the actual sharing of the money has not yet been determined.

The prime minister lauded the concept as "an important step" attaining "profound long term benefits for all western Canadians."

Whether benefits will flow to the Native sector is questionable as Mulroney's speech proved vague and fraught with generalities. There was no explanation offered as to what the requirements would be to tap into the fund or who might be able to access them.

The program is designed to turn western Canada's economic situation around by focusing on alternative solutions to sagging, major industries. What those alternatives might be have not been defined by the PC government, albeit small and medium sized businesses were mentioned as potential beneficiaries.

Windspeaker asked member of parliament Jack Shields whether the initiative might have any significant implications for Alberta's Native communities.

"Absolutely!" exclaimed Shields, adding that Natives are as much citizens of the west as are white citizens. "Aboriginal people will be able to access the diversification funding the same as anybody else."

Shields views the windfall as a "blessing" for Native people. He implied that it is one more step in fulfilling the government's commitment "to get more of the activity and responsibility for Indian affairs into the hands of Native people."

McKnight found favor with Shield's comments. "The creation of jobs, the expanding of the economic base of western Canada is also part of my responsibility," he stated.

The minister admits that there may be an outcry from the Indian community over his additional duties which some may view as a displacement of his role in Indian Affairs.

"There have been concerns issued by Indian leaders about my ministry without this additional responsibility," he said. However, he argues that the extra work will not impair his ability to do his job in Indian Affairs.

Shields explained that the move is not an unusual one. When McKnight was the minister of Labour he was also responsible for the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Shields provided examples of other ministers who also wear more than one hat.

He expressed no undue concern over the possibility of McKnight thinning himself out at the expense of Native issues, concerns or programs. "His primary responsibility is still with Indians and his total , absolute commitment is still to Indian Affairs and Northern Development, to the Indian people of Canada . . . he can't negate that at all and he won't," added Shields.

McKnight sees his dual responsibility as "a very exciting initiative" that will "benefit all Canadians and that, naturaly, includes people of Aboriginal origin."

Just how much work the minister will have to do in his new capacity was also explained by Shields who said that the technocrats will do most of the initial start-up and that any effort from McKnight will be "in a general way."

(Reaction to the additional portfolio given McKnight and what it means to the Indian community will be addressed in the next issue of Windspeaker.)