Ottawa Report

Page 2

Canadian gov't not painting pretty picture at Meech Lake

What do the Conservatives, the Liberals and the NDP really think about Native people and the Constitution? The answer is in this week's report of the parliamentary committee that studied the Meech Lake Accord. It's not a pretty picture.

But first, think back to March 27; the last day of the constitutional conference on Aboriginal rights, the day the first ministers refused to entrench the Native right to self-government. Just 34 days later, though, Brian Mulroney and the premiers met again at Meech Lake, Quebec. They made a deal that day to bring Quebec into the constitutional family of Canada.

To make that deal, Mulroney accepted all five of Quebec's constitutional demands. He also gave in to other demands from other provinces. He promised the premiers two first ministers conferences a year. The first two topics they've agreed to discuss are fisheries and Senate reform. There was no mention in the accord of another conference on Aboriginal rights. It was no accident.

Native leaders were outraged when the deal was announced. That didn't stop Mulroney and the premiers from giving the accord final approval just one month later.

Next, Parliament got into the act when it created a special committee to study the accord. The committee hearings became a farce, however, after Mulroney said that it didn't matter what the committee recommended ? he would not change the accord.

In its report, the committee rejected most of the Native arguments. For example, the committee said there is no need to recognize Native people in the Constitution as distinct societies. (It's interesting to note that the committee is willing to recognize Quebec as a distinct society even though no one knows exactly what that means.) The committee also refused to add Native rights to the list of topics the first ministers should have to discuss. Even though many topics ? such as fisheries ? touch on the everyday lives of Native people, the committee said Native leaders have no right to be invited to such a conference.

But some Native suggestions did get some support. Teh committee recommended : (1) that the constitutional talks should continue; (2) that the federal government set a timetable and workplan for the next conference; (3) that the next conference be held by April 17, 1990, and; (4) that the federal government restore funding to the Native groups to allow them to continue their constitutional work.

The parliamentary committee, a committee controlled by the Conservatives, made those recommendations. Mulroney ignored them. In the House of Commons, he was asked if he would set a timetable for the next conference. He was also asked if he would restore constitutional funding for the Native groups. Mulroney dodged both questions. He did say that he's still committed to constitutional change for Native people.

The chance of a constitutional deal on Native self-government is better than ever, he also said, because Quebec will soon be at the first ministers table. The reason he's so confident is "Quebec's quite impressive record over many decades in dealing with its own Native people." Hah! Mulroney obviously wants to ignore the fact that just one decade ago the Bourassa Government tried to bulldoze Native rights in the rush to build the James Bay power project.

So much for the Tories. The trouble is that the Opposition parties aren't much better even though they have called for some changes to the accord.

The Liberals say Native people should be recognized in the Constitution as a "distinctive characteristic of Canada". They also want the accord changed so Native rights will be added to the agenda of future first ministers conferences.

The NDP wants that too ? and more. They say Native leaders should be invited to every first ministers conference if the topic involves Aboriginal rights.

The problem is that it's hard to take the Liberals and the NDP seriously. The accord needs tobe changed, they say, but if it isn't, they both say they will still vote to adopt it. Their reasons are the same as the government's: they want to heal the split between French and English Canada. The best way to do that, they say, is by adopting the Meech Lake Accord.

In other words, all three federal parties say the national interest must come first. The Native interest, they say, can be dealt with later.

It's hard to argue against the national interest, I admit. But when ? just when ? in this country is the Native interest going to become the national interest? If the story of the Meech Lake Accord is any guide, the answer to that question is ? don't hold your breath.