Senate reform may scuttle agreement

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The constitutional deadlock over Senate reform shouldn't be allowed to scuttle the tentative agreement on aboriginal self-government, Native leaders say.

"I'm not going to see aboriginal issues go down because of the Triple-E issue," Native Council of Canada president Ron George said.

Leaders from the four organizations representing Native concerns at the constitutional table met with Prime Minister Brian Mulroney last week on the eve of the latest round of talks between Ottawa and the provinces.

The federal-provincial meetings are being portrayed as an 11th-hour bid to remove the final barriers standing in the way of a constitutional package.

Senate reform has become a potential deal-breaker, with four provinces standing firm in their demand for a Senate based on the so-called Triple-E model, a reform that would make the upper house equal, effective and elected.

If a compromise is not reached on Senate reform, Ottawa could forgo a deal with the provinces.

Nayive leaders fear the federal government could water down the current agreement on the inherent right if it unilaterally presents its own set of constitutional proposals.

Assembly of First Nations chief Ovide Mercredi said Senate reform could be set aside for future discussion if the current talks cannot break the impasse.

"There are only two, in my mind, burning issues for resolution," he said. "One is issues affecting Quebec and the second one is the issues affecting the aboriginal people. The Senate is an issue we can defer to a future process."

Constitutional Affairs Minister Joe Clark admitted putting off Senate talks is a "tempting thought," but dismissed the idea as impractical.

Meanwhile, the provinces holding out on reforming the upper house - Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Manitoba - do not appear to be softening their positions.

Before leaving for the latest round of negotiations, Alberta premier Don Getty

said his position was based on principles of "equality and fairness" that Ottawa isn't recognizing.

"I don't see people who have had power for 125 years showing any indication

that they want to give up any.

"And that's what it is all about - in the name of equality and fairness you give up

a little power."

Mulroney has said he will ask Parliament to draft its own constitutional offer to Quebec if the premiers haven't reached an agreement by July 15.