Inuit Leader Sends 12 Questions to Party Leaders in an Open Letter

Mary Simon has selected twelve questions that are important to Inuit and are current in our nation’s political dialogue.  These questions have been sent to the five party leaders for comment before the upcoming election.  We will be posting the replies we receive from each party during the first week of October.

President Mary Simon will be speaking about these twelve questions on the next leg of her cross Canada speaking tour.

“We want Canadians in the south to understand our issues and take them up with their local candidates. We are asking Canadians throughout this wonderful country to help us Inuit in our efforts to improve the Arctic, our communities and society and hence make this a better Canada.” -Mary Simon

Responses have been received from all five major federal parties.

A list of all candidates running in Inuit Nunaat ridings is posted with the party responses.

Here are the 12 Questions:

1. Does your Party agree that following the historic June 11th, 2008 Apology by the Prime Minister to Aboriginal Peoples in Canada that the next Government should embark on a bold new path in partnership with Inuit to close gaps in housing, health, economic development, and education needs by 2015?
   

   Response from the Liberal Party of Canada

   Liberals fully agree with the Apology to Aboriginal Peoples for the Residential Schools legacy. On June 11th, 2008, the date of the official apology, Stéphane Dion said: “As the leader of the party that was in government for more than seventy years of the last century, I acknowledge our role and our shared responsibility in this tragedy. I am deeply sorry.”

   But even before Mr. Dion’s apology, Liberal governments were taking action. The former Liberal government which signed the Kelowna Accord in November 2005, committing $5.1 billion over five years to close the poverty gap between Aboriginals, Inuit, Métis, and the rest of Canadians. The Accord addressed education, health, economic development, and housing and infrastructure.

   The Conservatives killed the Kelowna Accord upon taking office, and have offered little in its place. A new Liberal government would fully honour the spirit of Kelowna.

   Response from the New Democratic Party of Canada

   In Jack Layton’s response to the formal apology delivered in Parliament, he pointed out that this was the moment when we start to build a shared future--a future based on equality, mutual respect, and truth. I share the opinion of all those who agree that the apology should be a beginning and not an end.

   Canada's NDP have raised issues relating to the ongoing plight of First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Throughout Canada , New Democrats have met Aboriginal children who go without proper schools, inadequate housing or clean water, adequate food, their own bed, good health care, safety, and proper rights and hopes for the future. Looking forward, the NDP will continue to stand up for fairness and respect for our Aboriginal Canadians. You can find a copy of Jack Layton’s speech, as well as a video recording of the speech, by visiting: http://www.ndp.ca/page/652.

   Response from the Bloc Québécois

   (Traduction) Votre Parti est-il d’avis qu’à la suite des excuses historiques du 11 juin 2008 présentées par le premier ministre aux Peuples autochtones du Canada, le prochain gouvernement devrait entreprendre un nouveau cheminement audacieux en partenariat avec les Inuits pour combler les lacunes dans les besoins en logement, en santé, en développement économique et en éducation d’ici 2015?

   (Texte original) Le Bloc Québécois croit que les excuses du Premier ministre aux victimes des pensionnats fédéraux ne doivent pas être que symbolique. Il doit d’abord ratifier la Déclaration des droits des Peuples Autochtones des Nations Unies et, par la suite, investir pour permettre aux Peuples Autochtones de s’épanouir. Ceci étant dit, le Québec et les provinces, par le biais du Conseil de la fédération, veulent un investissement du gouvernement fédéral pour permettre aux Peuples Autochtones d’obtenir des conditions de vie dignes de nos sociétés. Le Bloc Québécois demande un réinvestissement du fédéral à cet effet.

   (Translation) The Bloc Québécois believes that the Prime Minister’s Apology to the victims of federally funded residential schools should not only be symbolic. He must first ratify the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and then invest to allow the Aboriginal peoples to flourish. That being said, Quebec and the provinces, through the Council of the Federation, want a federal government investment allowing the Aboriginal peoples to enjoy living conditions worthy of our societies. The Bloc Québécois requests a reinvestment to this end from the federal government.

   Response from the Conservative Party of Canada

   The Statement of Apology to former students of the Residential Schools was made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the House of Commons on Wednesday, June 11, 2008.  This was not only an expression of sincere regret by the Prime Minister on behalf of the Canadian Government, but also a moment of awakening and realization for all Canadians to the difficulties endured by aboriginal peoples.  It was an important moment in convincing me to run for the Conservatives in this election.

   The Apology reinforced numerous other government initiatives designed to address the tragic legacy of Indian Residential Schools, including the ongoing implementation of the historic Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement which includes: a Common Experience Payment; an Independent Assessment Process; Commemoration Activities; measures to support healing; and the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).  The TRC will lead an independent, public process to acknowledge the injustices and harms experienced by Aboriginal people during the Indian Residential School Legacy. The Commission will also promote greater understanding amongst Canadians and help build new relationships through mutual recognition and respect.  Part of the role of the TRC will be to gather the stories of Inuit survivors. These important initiatives are in addition to the Common Experience Payments and Independent Assessment process which were established to provide compensation for the harms suffered by residential school survivors.
   The Conservatives know that we must move forward with strength to address outstanding social and economic challenges facing the Inuit and the North.  We have refused to follow the vague and ambiguous approach of the Liberals.  The Conservative approach has been, and will be, one of real results and concrete action in partnership with the Inuit.
   In the area of housing we have established Northern Housing Trusts of $300 million to respond to the need for affordable housing in the North.  Over the three-year life of this initiative, we can expect to see more than 1,200 new housing units constructed, with over 700 in Nunavut where the need is particularly acute.

   In addition, we are actively working in collaboration with the Inuit on innovative and sustainable solutions to increase the supply of affordable housing in the North.

   Health is also an important issue, especially in remote and northern communities.  It is for that reason that Budget 2008 committed $147 million over the following two years to strengthen First Nation and Inuit Health programs.  We are taking an integrated approach in partnership with Northern governments to achieve results that will bring the maximum benefit to Inuit people and communities.

   The list of economic development projects that we are embarking upon with the Inuit and in the North is extensive.  These projects include the following:

   • Under the Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) initiative, the Conservatives have invested in a total of $27 million towards economic development initiatives that support stronger, more sustainable economies and communities and capitalize on economic development opportunities. 
   • In Nunavut, through SINED the Conservatives have invested a total of $2.51 million in the 2007/08 fiscal year in areas including fishing, arts and crafts, mining and mineral exploration, tourism and parks, communities and connectivity.

   These are only some examples of the many specific and results-oriented initiatives we are embarking on with the Inuit and in the North.  We have also committed to launching a new Aboriginal Economic Development Framework by the end of 2008.  $70 million over two years has been earmarked for the new framework.  In August 2008, the Government launched an engagement process to seek input into the development of the new project.
   On September 20th, I was present in Iqaluit when Prime Minister Harper announced that a re-elected Conservative Government would:

   • Establish a new stand-alone regional development agency for Northern Canada, bringing together existing northern development activities into one focused agency with one focused vision: a prosperous future for those who call the North home.
   • Establish a satellite office in the North to specialize in dealing with the unique challenges of Northern projects, as recommended by the Major Projects Management Office created by the Conservative Government.
   • Improve the regulatory process for Northern natural resource projects, as recommended by The Road to Improvement, a report commissioned by our Government.

   Prime Minister Harper believes that Canada’s success in the next century depends on the ability to create the right conditions for flourishing Northern development that properly balance the importance of growth with our responsibility to keep the North pristine for future generations.  I think that greater economic development is the answer to many of the issues facing our community.

   In the area of education, the Conservatives are working with Inuit education authorities and Northern governments on drafting an Inuit Education Accord.  Through this accord, the expertise and resources of all government and Inuit education authorities will be brought together in a way that will allow for significant advances in education for the Inuit people. 

   Unlike the hazy and broad – stroke promises of the Liberals who make vague commitments, we continue to take concrete actions that address the individualized needs of the Inuit people.  The Liberals seem to have little understanding that the needs and desires of the Inuit are not the same as those of First Nations or Métis. 
   I recognize, and the Conservatives recognize, that we must work in direct partnership with the Inuit in order to achieve concrete and measurable results that address the specific needs and desires of the Inuit.

   Response from the Green Party of Canada

   Yes.  The Green Party fully supports the Prime Minister’s apology to Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. and firmly believes that it should signal the beginning of a new era of constructive cooperation between Aboriginal/Inuit Peoples and the government of Canada.

   In recognition of the government’s apology, Green Party leader Elizabeth May publicly remarked, “The Prime Minister is to be commended for issuing this long-overdue apology to Aboriginal victims of abuse in residential schools,” said Ms. May. “The recognition that the residential schools assimilation program affected Aboriginal people in a very significant negative way is an important step in the healing process. However, we cannot stop here. We must work to right the wrongs that were committed. Canada needs a comprehensive healing strategy developed jointly with Aboriginal people so that we can move forward to share in a better future, away from this dark chapter in our country’s history.”

   The Green Party believes that federal government-Inuit collaboration is essential to improving Inuit social and economic development.

2. Does your Party support expanding the Truth and Reconciliation Commission by adding an Inuk Commissioner to recognize the many Inuit who were impacted by the dark period in Canada of Aboriginal Residential Schools, and would your Party further support the inclusion of Inuit (for example in Labrador) who attended residential or day schools who were subject to abuse but have been excluded from the Indian Residential School Settlement?
   

   Response from the Liberal Party of Canada

   In consultations with stakeholders, a new Liberal government would be open to the possibility of including both an Inuk and an Inuit Commissioner on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

   Response from the New Democratic Party of Canada

   To be respectful of the independence of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission a New Democrat government would work in cooperation with them to facilitate the inclusion of an Inuk on the commission.

   New Democrats also believe that those Aboriginal people, such as people from Nunatsiavut, who suffered abuse at residential and day schools but have been excluded from the settlement process should be included.

   Response from the Bloc Québécois

   (Traduction) Votre Parti soutient-il l’élargissement de la Commission de vérité et de réconciliation par l’ajout d’un commissaire inuit en vue de reconnaître les nombreux Inuits touchés par la période sombre des pensionnats autochtones au Canada, et de plus, votre parti soutiendrait-il l’inclusion des Inuits (par exemple au Labrador) qui ont fréquenté des pensionnats ou des écoles de jour et qui ont été victimes d’abus mais ont été exclus du règlement relatif aux pensionnats?

   (Texte original) Les membres de la Commission de vérité et de réconciliation sont désignés par décret comme des « commissaires » par le gouvernement fédéral, en application d'un règlement sur les nominations spéciales. Trois personnes y sont élues, soit le président désigné et de deux commissaires, dont une Autochtone. Le Bloc Québécois croit important que les Inuit soient représentés au sein de cette Commission. Nous aborderons la question ainsi que les raisons pour lesquelles les Inuit du Labrador ont été exclus de l’entente sur les Pensionnats fédéraux au comité des affaires autochtones et du Grand Nord.

   (Translation) Members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are appointed by decree as ‘Commissioners’ by the federal government in compliance with the regulations on special appointments. Three members are elected, the President and two Commissioners, including one aboriginal. The Bloc Québécois believes it is important that the Inuit are represented at this Commission. At the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, we will deal with this issue and the reasons why the Inuit of Labrador were excluded from the Residential School Settlement.

   Response from the Conservative Party of Canada

   The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was launched by the Conservative government as part of the court – mandated residential school settlement.  As an independent entity, the TRC, is not under the authority of the government as it must be able to conduct its important work free from any external pressures.  The government cannot change the composition of the Commission. This is a court mandated process and the number of commissioners is fixed at 3. 

   Anyone who says they will change the composition of the commission is lying.

   Part of the make-up of the TRC is an advisory committee that will advise the TRC commissioners throughout its mandate.  TRC Commissioner, Justice Harry Laforme has indicated that he intends to have a strong Inuit component on this advisory committee.  I would applaud such a move by Justice Laforme and the Conservative government would certainly applaud it as well.

   The inclusion of schools under the residential schools settlement has occurred according to the specific direction of the courts.  I am prepared work at opening a dialogue between the Conservative Government, Inuit organizations, and the relevant Provincial governments on the issue of schools that were excluded by the court ordered process.

   Response from the Green Party of Canada

   Yes.  The Green Party supports the expansion of the Truth and Reconciliation to include an Inuk Commissioner.  The Green Party believes that it is essential to shed light on any abuse endured by Canada’s Inuit in residential schools and provide appropriate compensation.

3. Would a government formed by your party call a meeting of First Ministers and national Aboriginal Leaders, within one year of its election, to agree on clear targets and commitments sufficient to overcome gaps between Aboriginal and other Canadians in basic measures of social and economic well being?
   

   Response from the Liberal Party of Canada

   A new Liberal government would be willing to meet as soon as possible

   Response from the New Democratic Party of Canada

   A New Democratic government would be willing to call a meeting between National Aboriginal Leaders and First Ministers to develop solutions to the problems facing Aboriginal people.

   Response from the Bloc Québécois

   (Traduction) Un gouvernement formé par votre Parti convoquerait-t-il une réunion des premiers ministres et des leaders nationaux autochtones, dans l’année suivant son élection, pour convenir de délais et d’engagements clairs et suffisants pour combler les lacunes entre les Autochtones et les autres Canadiens dans les mesures de base relatives au bien-être social et économique?

   (Texte original) Le Bloc Québécois fera effectivement pression sur le gouvernement fédéral pour qu’il rencontre les Premiers ministres du Québec et des provinces au sujet des Autochtones comme le Conseil de la fédération l’a demandé.

   (Translation) The Bloc Québécois would effectively lobby the federal government to meet with the Premiers of Quebec and the provinces concerning the Aboriginal Peoples, as the Council of the Federation had requested.

   Response from the Conservative Party of Canada

   Improving the basic measures of social and economic well-being for Aboriginal Canadians is personal priority for me.  I recognize that the Prime Minister has maintained an open dialogue with Aboriginal leaders.  I will encourage the Prime Minister to continue to meet with Aboriginal Leaders within the broader context of First Ministers meeting, to discuss their issues and concerns.  I believe that the Prime Minister should then carry their message forward to discuss with the First Ministers.

   Improving the living conditions of Inuit will require hard work at all levels.

   Response from the Green Party of Canada

   Yes.  The Green Party supports greater cooperation between Aboriginal Leaders and First Ministers.  A meeting of these officials would be a good starting point towards building trust and constructive working relationships.

4. Does your party support the reform of federal policy in relation to the implementation of modern land claims agreements along the lines recommended in the May 2008 report of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples?
   

   Response from the Liberal Party of Canada

   The leader of the Liberal party indicated in his leadership platform his support for and independent, specific claims body. Stéphane Dion also called for an independent claims body for comprehensive claims. The Liberal Opposition supports the Specific Claims Tribunal Act, however we remain wary of the cost cap which may limit the number of claims the tribunal can deal with.

   Response from the New Democratic Party of Canada

   Despite the hope for the future envisioned in the recommendations of the report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, federal policies about Aboriginal people have been bogged down in endless processes that go nowhere. It’s more of the status quo, more broken promises, more litigation – more denial of rights. Costly negotiations with no results, self-government discussions that go nowhere, round tables that just go round and round, First Ministers’ meetings to make commitments without mechanisms to guarantee delivery and accountability, and lofty promises in Speeches from the Throne that await budgets and lead to meetings and more promises. Everything but concrete results.

   Jack Layton’s New Democrats believe these policies are nothing but a denial of justice and are designed to maintain a colonial system that seeks only to keep communities in dependency and denies more than a million people the opportunity to contribute to their own well-being and Canada’s prosperity.

   The Harper Government has continued these policies such as failing to implement the 1993 Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and refusing to address the recommendations of the 2006 conciliation report - specifically with regard for the need for funding for bilingual Inuktitut-English education. As a result, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated is suing the Harper Government in court and the Government is fighting back instead of seeking to negotiate a solution.

   Speaking at the 2007 National Day of Action, Jack Layton called for the implementation of a truly independent land claims body. New Democrats also support the full funding for the implementation of land, resources, self-government and specific claim agreements, at levels determined through negotiations with all parties to these agreements and with the objective of implementing these agreements according to their spirit. To achieve this New Democrats would work to reform the Canadian government’s policies about Aboriginal people to end this colonialistic approach.

   Response from the Bloc Québécois

   (Traduction) Votre Parti soutient-il la réforme de la politique fédérale par rapport à la mise en œuvre des ententes de revendications territoriales des temps modernes inspirées par le rapport du Comité sénatorial permanent des peuples autochtones en mai 2008?

   (Texte original) À première vue, le rapport du Comité sénatorial permanent des peuples autochtones, « Respecter l’esprit des traités modernes : Éliminer les échappatoires », reprend les inquiétudes du Bloc Québécois sur la mise en œuvre des ententes sur les revendications territoriales. Il sera nécessaire d’en pousser l’analyse en comité.

   (Translation) At first glance, the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal peoples Report, “Honouring the Spirit of Modern Treaties: Closing the Loopholes”, recaptures the concerns of the Bloc Québécois regarding the implementation of land claims agreements. It will be necessary to make a further analysis at the Committee level.

   Response from the Conservative Party of Canada

   The Conservative Government has acknowledged the need to accelerate the land claim resolution process by implementing the Specific Claims Tribunal Act, which changes the way land claims are handled.  It also speeds up resolution of claims by implementing time limits for assessing claims.

   While the necessary changes are being made, the government will continue to negotiate and make progress in settling outstanding comprehensive claims. 

   Response from the Green Party of Canada

   Yes. A Green government would begin negotiations with the Inuit peoples to establish a modern land claims agreement.

5. Does your party support the development of a new Arctic Strategy to guide federal policy for the Canadian and international Arctic, and agree that such a policy must extend to all of the lands and marine areas of the Inuit Homeland in Canada (including Arctic portions of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador), and to engage Inuit as co-partners in the development of such a strategy?
   

   Response from the Liberal Party of Canada

   The Conservative government has abandoned the commitments made by previous Liberal governments on the environment and to the international community on Arctic affairs. By eliminating the position of Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs, the Harper government confirmed that Arctic issues would play no real role in his foreign policy. By auctioning off permits to explore for oil in the Beaufort Sea, the same territory that has already been classified as environmentally sensitive, Mr. Harper has shown that he is willing to support development at all costs.

   A Liberal government will engage the Inuit to develop economic, environmental, and internationalist policies that will enhance the quality of life for Northerners, without sacrificing the Arctic environment, or our reputation on the international stage.

   Response from the New Democratic Party of Canada

   Harper’s one-dimensional, militaristic approach to Arctic Sovereignty leaves many urgent Northern issues unaddressed. It is unacceptable for Harper to come to the North for a photo-op and not announce federal investments in much-needed infrastructure, like a deep water port for Nunavut’s capital, new money for housing, or a real commitment to fight climate change whose effects are immediately apparent all across the north.

   We agree the emphasis on the military is just one of Stephen Harper's wrong-headed approach in the North. For too long, Northern policy has been made up on the fly, and has had more to do with partisan positioning in the south than about overall nationbuilding. Prior to his past northern trip, I called on the Prime Minister to protect Canada's sovereignty by making immediate strategic investments and recognize that, along with military challenges, the North also faces social, economic and environmental problems. Northern issues are a priority for the NDP. Last fall we issued a press release demanding that Parliament have a debate on how to address Arctic Sovereignty. The NDP team is presently working on a series of policy initiatives to protect the Arctic based in large part on ideas coming from Northern Canadians whom I met with during my travels there last summer. No one knows more about what's going on in the North than the people living there, yet the Harper government in Ottawa is taking a "we know best" approach.

   Our policy initiatives, developed in cooperation with all Northern Canadians and their governments, will address the need to protect the Arctic by following the lead set by the three Northern Premiers in their document A Northern Vision, which calls on the federal government to help create a “prosperous, sustainable and secure North.

    

   Response from the Bloc Québécois

   (Traduction) Votre Parti soutient-il l’élaboration d’une nouvelle stratégie sur l’Arctique afin d’orienter la politique fédérale sur l’Arctique canadien et international, et est-il d’avis qu’une telle politique doit concerner toutes les terres et les secteurs maritimes de la patrie des Inuits au Canada (y compris les parties arctiques du Québec, de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador), et de faire participer les Inuits à titre de coassociés à l’élaboration d’une telle stratégie?

   (Traduction) Votre Parti est-il d’avis que l’affirmation de la souveraineté canadienne dans l'Arctique doit être planifiée pour intégrer une dimension humaine veillant à une population saine, bien éduquée et économiquement viable dans l’Arctique dont la population est majoritairement inuite?

   (Texte original) Réponse aux questions 5 et 6 :
   Pour le Bloc Québécois, toute solution dans l’Arctique doit impliquer et mettre à contribution les Inuits qui y habitent. D’une part, il faut les intégrer au processus de négociation et, d’autre part, les aider à développer leur économie. Le Canada est mieux placer pour défendre sa souveraineté dans l’Arctique si des communautés humaines dynamiques et vivantes occupent le territoire.

   Aussi, le Canada doit travailler avec les États arctiques dans le cadre du Conseil de l’Arctique. Ce Conseil est habilité à protéger l’environnement et à assurer un développement durable pour les populations habitant la région circumpolaire. Ce Conseil, regroupant entre autre la Conférence Circumpolaire Inuit, est le mieux placé pour promouvoir le développement durable des Inuits.

   En conséquence, nous sommes parfaitement d’accord avec votre présidente, Mme Mary Simon, qui affirmait le 18 octobre 2007 : « La pierre d’assise de la souveraineté canadienne dans l’Arctique, c’est l’histoire, l’usage et l’occupation millénaires des terres et des eaux de l’Arctique par les Inuits. Les Inuits et le gouvernement doivent partager le pouvoir au sein d’un partenariat crédible, et montrer une détermination commune à résorber le décalage évident qui sépare les Inuits de l’ensemble des autres Canadiens en ce qui concerne la mesure du bien-être. »

   (Translation) Response to questions 5 and 6:
   For the Bloc Québécois, every solution concerning the Arctic must engage and involve the Inuit who live there. On the one hand, they must be included in the negotiation process; on the other hand, we must help them develop their economy. Canada is in a better position to defend its sovereignty in the Arctic if dynamic and lively communities live on the land.

   Canada must also work with the Arctic States within the framework of the Arctic Council. This Council is empowered to protect the environment and to ensure sustainable development for the populations living in the circumpolar region. This Council, comprising the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, among others, is in the best position to promote the sustainable development of the Inuit population.

   Consequently, we totally agree with your president Mrs. Mary Simon who stated on October 18, 2007: “The bedrock of Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic is the history, use and occupation of Arctic lands and waters by Inuit for thousands of years. There must be a credible power-sharing partnership between Inuit and the government, and a determination to overcome the obvious gaps in basic measurements of well-being that separate Inuit from all other Canadians.”

   Response from the Conservative Party of Canada

   The Conservative Government has developed a Northern Strategy which is made up of 4 pillars:

   • Strengthening Canada’s Sovereignty
   • Promoting Economic and Social Development
   • Protecting our Environmental Heritage
   • Improving and  Devolving Governance

   A Conservative Government believes that Inuit are a vital component to each of the pillars.  A Conservative Government will continue to actively engage and work with the Inuit as we move forward in developing and implementing the various pieces to each pillar. 

   I believe that the Inuit want to play a role in the development of the North.  They see that the Conservatives have made Nunavut and the North a priority and they realize that that is better than the neglect they have suffered from the previous government.

   Response from the Green Party of Canada

   The Green Party has articulated its plans for a new artic strategy and believes Inuit participation/collaboration is essential for the implementation of any new strategy.  We agree that this artic strategy must extend to provinces with significant Inuit populations.

   As part of our arctic strategy, Green Party MPs will:

   • Ask the United Nations to rule on the sovereignty of waters between our islands, and the sovereignty of the land off the Yukon coast, including the validity of oil and gas leases issued by the United States for land near the Yukon.
   • Support the United Nations draft declaration on human rights of Indigenous peoples.
     Support the training and equipping of rangers, Canadian Inuit who live throughout the Arctic and are experienced survival experts on land and sea. They would comprise the backbone of the emergency support groups on thousands of Arctic islands.
   • Develop a comprehensive pan-Arctic waste management strategy that addresses issues like dumping of wastes into water and open dump burning on land and that integrates community, mining, fishing, cruise ships, tourism, commercial shipping and military waste management strategies.
   • Commission a major class of icebreaker, capable of rescue work with any likely depth of ice.
   • Require that any foreign ship passing through the six Northwest Passages, or into any Canadian water within 200 miles off any Arctic island, be registered for using the passage.
   • Fund installation of listening devices throughout waters of the Arctic, intercept ships not registered, fine any failing to cooperate, fine any discovered to be polluting the ocean or fishing and hunting without a license, and provide all forms of law and order.
   • Establish terrestrial and marine protected areas in an ecologically representative network in the three northern Territories.
   • Improve and increase monitoring of “indigenous food (e.g. caribou meat, etc.” to ensure Inuit and Dene people, particularly pregnant women and nursing mothers, are not being over-exposed to persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals that build up through the global food chain and pool at high levels in the Arctic.  Work to develop collaborative community based education programmes to promote the use of food with less toxicity.
   • Invest in renewable local energy sources (wind and solar to avoid the hugely expensive and polluting dependency on imported diesel.
   • Restore funding to the Northern Climate Exchange (recently cut by the Conservatives) and expand funding for Arctic science, particularly critical in light of the climate change threat in this, International Polar Year.
   • Restore the post of Ambassador to the Circumpolar North.
6. Does your Party agree that asserting Canadian Arctic Sovereignty must by design include a human dimension that ensures a healthy, well educated economically viable Inuit majority population in the Arctic?
   

   Response from the Liberal Party of Canada

   Arctic Sovereignty is about far more than flexing muscle and sending in the Army. That is why Mr. Dion made an announcement in December 2007 outlining a comprehensive strategy for Arctic Sovereignty. Mr. Dion committed to: re-start the land claims negotiation process and ensure full implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Implementation Contract;

   • reinstate literacy funding cut by the Conservatives in order to ensure Northerners have the tools they need to succeed;
   • honour the education funding commitments made under the Kelowna Accord and look for new ways to help First Nations, Métis and Inuit Canadians succeed;
   • stand with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Mary Simon and Nunavut Environment Minister Patterk Netswer in calling on the Conservatives to promptly reject a proposal to allow Canadian navy ships to dump waste into the Arctic Ocean;
   • work with Northern communities to mitigate the effects of climate change and to fund centres for research and development in the North;
   • improve the capability of Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue aircraft in the North by basing four of them north of 60 to make the region safer for Northerners and the people who travel there;
   • re-establish the Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs position created by the previous Liberal government in 1994;
   • create Small Craft Harbours in Nunavut;
   • ensure the completion of seabed mapping to better protect Canadian sovereignty; and
   • increase the Northern Residents Deduction to better reflect the rising cost of living.

   This strategy acknowledges the diversity of the north, and helps give northerners the tools to build their economy and the well being of northern communities.

   Response from the New Democratic Party of Canada

   As stated above, New Democrats believe that the best way to ensure Arctic Sovereignty is to build the North. This election, Jack Layton and his team of New Democrats have a better plan to build the North and will be announcing a Northern Platform.

   Response from the Bloc Québécois

   See Question 5

   Response from the Conservative Party of Canada

   Absolutely.  I will encourage continued investment in the people of the North. An educated and viable population is necessary to not only contribute to the economy, but to our sovereignty. 

   The Conservative Government has already made significant investments in the North on education and training.  The Conservatives have been working with the three territories to help build capacity, increase investment and develop skills.  We will continue to work with the Governments of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut towards devolution.  Giving both territories control of their destiny is also an important piece of Canadian Arctic Sovereignty.  The 4 pillars of our Northern Strategy clearly indicate that we have a plan not only to promote and assert Canadian Arctic Sovereignty, but to also invest in education, skills and training, and well-being of Northerners.

   Response from the Green Party of Canada

   Yes.  The Green Party believes that the economic security and social development of Inuit is an indispensable aspect of Canada’s Artic Sovereignty strategy. 

   The Green Party would work to:

   ·  Promote Inuit culture, language and history.
   ·  Support the development of Inuit education curricula that is language and culture specific.
   ·  Support the delivery of health care, education and other services in a way that incorporates traditional practices and recognizes the role of extended families and elders.

7. Does your party agree that any new federal policy aimed at combating carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases must contain a set of adaptation and adjustments factors for Inuit communities sufficient to ensure that implementation of the policy would not have a net negative effect on regional economies in the Arctic?
   

   Response from the Liberal Party of Canada

   The Liberal Green Shift plan will help Inuit communities by cutting income taxes, putting a price on pollution, fighting poverty and positioning Canada to be a leader in the 21st century sustainable global economy. We recognize that energy requirements are often higher in rural Canada and in the North due to higher transportation use and because the residents have fewer options than urban residents to adapt to a new greener climate (i.e. no public transit, no hook-ups to natural gas, etc.) That is why we will also provide specific assistance to rural and Northern Canadians to help them adjust to higher fuel prices.

   Proposals by the Conservatives and NDP to reduce greenhouse gases will also raise costs of energy and goods and services. Only the Liberal plan includes progressive, offsetting tax cuts.

   No new taxes will be levied on gasoline at the pump. Our plan will shift Canada’s tax system away from income and towards pollution, and in a revenue-neutral way – putting it in law that every dollar that is raised from carbon pollution will be returned to Canadians in tax cuts.

   We are offering a broad-based income tax reduction program to offset any increased cost in heating bills. Using the revenue generated through carbon pricing, a Liberal government will introduce broad-based and progressive income tax cuts, and implement tax measures to protect low-income Canadians and those who live in rural and Northern communities from rising energy costs. These include:

   • cutting the lowest income tax rate to 13.5 percent from 15 percent, a 10 percent reduction. We will also cut the two middle-income tax rates to 21 percent from 22 percent (a five percent reduction) and to 25 percent from 26 percent (a four percent reduction);
   • a new, universal child tax benefit worth $350 per child, per year, on top of all existing child benefits which will be available even to those who do not pay federal income tax;
   • a $850 increase to the Employment tax credit (from $1000 to $1850) targeted at Canadians who earn less than $50,000 per year which will also be made fully refundable – putting up to $250 back into the pockets of working Canadians who need it most even if they do not make enough to pay federal income tax;
   • an increase to the value of the Working Income Tax Benefit to help low-income Canadians get off of welfare;
   • tax incentives for business to encourage investment in green technology and innovation and the creation of jobs in the new green economy; and,
   • a Green Rural Credit worth $150 for every rural tax-filer regardless of whether they make enough income to pay federal income tax.

   We will also provide specific assistance to rural and Northern Canadians to help them adjust to higher fuel prices.

   In addition to the significant tax measures already described, every rural Canadian tax filer will receive up fromt an annual Green Rural Credit of $150. This applies to everyone, whether they actually pay taxes or not.

   For those Canadians who live in Canada’s North, we will also immediately boost the Northern Residents Deduction (NRD) to a new maximum of $7,000 per year from just over $6,000 and index it going forward. This represents an immediate tax savings of nearly $150 per year and over $200 per year within four years for those who fully benefit from the NRD.

   Seniors living in rural Canada will also receive targeted relief to absorb any increase in the cost of heating. In addition to the $150 Green Rural Credit, we will be introducing a boost to the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), steadily rising to an additional $600 per year in the fourth year of our plan. The GIS provides additional money, on top of Old Age Security, to low-income seniors living in Canada.

   Some rural and Northern Canadians families will also benefit from the new Guaranteed Family Supplement which will provide a maximum of $1,225 for an estimated 500,000 low-income families with children under 18.

   We will provide further assistance to lower-income families with children by ensuring that all families with incomes up to $26,000 keep all of the National Child Benefit Supplement which is currently phased out at approximately $21,000.

   Be sure to visit www.thegreenshift.ca to calculate how much your family will save under The Liberal Green Shift plan

   Response from the New Democratic Party of Canada

   When it comes to global warming, most people are far ahead of their politicians and business leaders. To ensure a healthy Canada for future generations, families like yours are ready to move from a polluting economy to a sustainable one now.

   Science tells us that unchecked greenhouse gas emissions invite catastrophe—vanishing polar ice caps, rising sea levels, altered agriculture, massive deforestation, species extinctions, virulent diseases, extreme weather events, economic hardship. Faced with this conclusive evidence, successive Prime Ministers promised you and your family that they would act—but kept pandering to big polluters instead.

   After years of Liberal failure, Stephen Harper abandoned Canada's obligations under the Kyoto climate change treaty. Then he worked with George Bush to block consensus on post-Kyoto commitments. And his own “clean air” legislation would have given his friends in big oil another unlimited license to pollute. It’s time for a Prime Minister who will take on big polluters, meet real targets and invest in sustainable solutions. It’s time for a Prime Minister with a record of environmental achievement who will tackle climate change and seize the opportunities of the new energy economy.

   In the 2008 election, Jack Layton is taking the lead in offering a comprehensive plan for the environment. New Democrats’ Better Environmental Plan implements a new energy economy strategy and builds on Jack Layton's Climate Change Accountability Act (C- 377) that was adopted by Parliament on June 4, 2008. This bill sets the target of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and provides the enforcement tools needed to do the job. Our proposal introduces Canada Environment Action Bonds to raise capital for the plan’s goals and we’ll make polluters pay for the real costs of pollution through a cap-and-trade system that rewards big polluters who reduce emissions, and punishes those who don't. We will help families make the transition to a sustainable economy with a $750 million green-collar jobs fund and ensure greener homes and communities with an average of almost $1 billion a year for public transport and an energy efficiency retrofit program. New Democrat’s environment plan differs from those of the Liberals and Green parties as it does not place the burden of cleaning up the environment on the backs of ordinary Canadians. Rather the NDP’s plan makes the biggest polluters pay to clean up the mess they have made while assisting ordinary Canadians, including Northerners avoid any negative effects. Combined with our soon to be announced plan to build the North, the NDP’s environmental plan will help Northerners build better and cleaner lives and communities.

   Response from the Bloc Québécois

   (Traduction) Votre Parti est-il d’avis que toute nouvelle politique fédérale visant à lutter contre les émissions de carbone et d’autres gaz s à effet de serre doit comprendre un ensemble suffisant de facteurs d’adaptation et d’ajustement pour les collectivités inuites afin de veiller à ce que la mise en œuvre de la politique n’ait d’effet négatif final sur les économies régionales dans l’Arctique?

   (Texte original) L’approche territoriale est également l’avenue qui permet au Québec, qui dispose déjà d’un plan – encore perfectible mais néanmoins le plus élaboré au Canada – d’aller de l’avant rapidement et d’adopter des mesures qui sont spécifiquement adaptées à sa réalité économique, sociale et régionale, fort différente des provinces maritimes et de l’Ouest. Cela veut donc dire, qu’il est nécessaire de mettre en œuvre des mesures spécifiques pour les Inuits qui sont aux premières loges du réchauffement climatique et dont le mode de vie est directement affecté par les bouleversements qui surviennent.

   (Translation) The territorial approach is equally the method allowing Quebec, who already has a plan – still perfectible but nevertheless the most detailed in Canada – to move quickly forward and adopt measures specifically adapted to its economic, social and regional reality, and very different from the Maritime Provinces and the West. Therefore, it is necessary to implement particular measures for the Inuit who are in the fromt row of the climatic warming and whose life-style is directly affected by the disruptions taking place.

   Response from the Conservative Party of Canada

   We know that no region will be more affected by climate change than Canada's Arctic that is why we need a government that is prepared to tackle mitigation and adaptation.  Across the country, we have seen the impacts of a warming climate first hand. For example, the pine beetle infestation that has ravaged our boreal forests and the melting of permafrost in the north that has destabilized the foundations of homes and schools.

   We also recognize that all the economies in all three territories are heavily reliant on the use of fossil fuels to not only supply communities with the essentials, but to provide the basic necessities such as heat for their homes.

   The Harper Government has taken real action on climate change by investing $85.9 million to help Canadians increase their capacity to adapt to a changing climate.  New initiatives will enhance the scientific knowledge and tools needed to take further action against climate change and reduce the risks to our northern communities.

   • $14 million for Northern and Aboriginal Communities to assess Key Vulnerabilities and Opportunities.  Aboriginal and northern communities are uniquely affected by an already changing climate with greater changes expected in the future.  Indian and Northern Affairs Canada will build on current work to advance risk assessment, planning and community-based adaptation projects.  A project undertaken could, for instance, address the need for community access to regionally-based climate change scenarios.
   • $7 million to address Health Adaptation in Northern / Inuit communities.  Health Canada will work with Aboriginal communities, other key stakeholders and government departments to establish a community-based research program to assess key vulnerabilities and health impacts related to climate change in Northern / Inuit populations.  The results will be used to develop innovative human health risk management plans and tools, including culturally sensitive educational and awareness materials, to improve decision-making regarding health adaptation in the North.
   • $15 million for Improved Climate Change Scenarios.  Environment Canada's expertise in predicting environmental changes, weather patterns and future climate extremes will be enhanced through improved climate change scenarios. The information gathered through climate change scenarios will be used to protect the health and property of Canadians, such as, improving the design of bridges and telecommunications structures to withstand extreme rainfall, ice and snow loads, and sea level changes.
   • $35 million to develop Innovative Risk Management Tools and to develop Regional Adaptation Work Programs.   Natural Resources Canada will develop new infor­mation and tools to help decision-makers effectively use new knowledge to develop adaptation strategies.  The adaptation tools (using guidelines, analytical models, etc.) will guide non-climate change experts through a series of steps to examine the implications of climate impacts on their policies, plans, and operations, in order to determine appropriate response options. Similarly, Regional Adaptation Work Programs will facilitate regional adaptation and collaboration between key players in government, economic sectors, and local communities and organizations.
   • $14.9 million to develop Climate and Infectious Disease Alert and Response Systems to Protect the Health of Canadians.  Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada will work with partners on developing climate and infectious disease alert and response systems to protect the health of Canadians from impacts associated with a changing climate.  The results will be used to produce tools, best practices, guides and reports for use and implementation by provinces and municipalities.

   Besides being the most impractical policy for northern Canada, the Green Shift completely fails address the realities in which most northerners live.  The North as a whole produces minimal greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, most of it comes from southern Canada and Asia.

   Implementing the Green Shift in northern Canada will not reduce the amount pollution produced by other countries that currently pollutes our Arctic air. 

   The Liberal party contends that Northerners will see a net benefit on their taxes if the green shift is implemented.  This fails to take into consideration that a majority of the northern population is aboriginal and either do not file or do not know how to take advantage of Canadian income tax system and will not reap the tax “benefits” touted by the green shift.  The Liberal Carbon Tax will increase in the cost of everything in the north (all the way from food, to fuel, to heating their homes).  This will impact every northerner, but especially northern elders on fixed incomes. 

   The Green Shift does not and will not provide any benefit to northerners instead it will harm them.

   In contrast, the Conservative Government is acting to help Canadians’ adapt to a changing climate, and the Turning the Corner Action Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Air Pollution, will have the toughest regulations in Canadian history, putting Canada on the path to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 and by 60-70% by 2050.

   Response from the Green Party of Canada

   Yes.  The Green Party will ensure that Canada supports and implements the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

8. Does your party support the Government of Canada endorsing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2007 and endorsed in a resolution of the House of Commons during the last Parliament?
   

   Response from the Liberal Party of Canada

   Liberals wholeheartedly support Canada endorsing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We were shocked and angered that Canada, under direction of the Conservative government, rejected the historical Declaration, without explanation or legal basis.

   Response from the New Democratic Party of Canada

   Jack Layton and the New Democrats feel it is shameful that the government of Canada did not vote in favour of this important declaration. NDP has demanded that the government apologize and Canada ratify the convention immediately. In contrast to the poor leadership displayed by the Harper Conservatives, New Democrat MPs Dennis Bevington (Western Arctic), Northern Development Critic; Jean Crowder (Nanaimo-Cowichan), Aboriginal Affairs Critic; and Alexa McDonough (Halifax), Foreign Affairs Critic at the time, signed a copy of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. At the signing Jean Crowder said, “The Conservative government has said many times it supports human rights for Aboriginal people, but failing to support this Declaration would seriously undermine their credibility on human rights, and Canada’s reputation on the world stage will be the first casualty of their hypocrisy.”

   Response from the Bloc Québécois

   (Traduction) Votre Parti soutient-il la ratification par le gouvernement du Canada de la Déclaration des Nations unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones adoptée par l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies en septembre 2007 et approuvée par une résolution de la Chambre des communes lors de la dernière législature?

   (Texte original) Le Bloc Québécois comprend que le projet de Déclaration est un texte de compromis entre les États membres et les Autochtones, mais c’est un compromis acceptable et nous estimons qu’il doit être appuyé. Le Québec compte déjà plusieurs ententes positives avec les nations autochtones et il a tout à gagner d’une telle adoption. Le Bloc Québécois a été le premier parti à avoir donné un appui clair à ce projet de déclaration.

   Le Bloc Québécois est d’avis, qu’il n’y a pas d’instrument universel protégeant les droits des peuples autochtones qui continuent d’être parmi les plus pauvres et les plus marginalisés de la planète.

   (Translation) The Bloc Québécois understands that the draft Declaration is a compromise version between member States and the Aboriginal peoples, but it is an acceptable compromise and we believe that it must be supported. Quebec has already many agreements in place with the aboriginal nations and there is everything to be gained from adopting it. The Bloc Québécois was the first party that seriously supported this draft Declaration.

   The Bloc Québécois agrees that there is no universal instrument protecting the rights of Aboriginal peoples who continue being among the poorest and the most marginalized people in the world.

   Response from the Conservative Party of Canada

   The Conservative Government worked to have the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples take a format that would be compatible to with its own world-leading progressive approach to Aboriginal constitutional and treaty rights.

   Unfortunately, the final version was left in a format that included passages that are in conflict with current Canadian law and precedent.

   Because of this, we were unable to sign the declaration without first altering all of the above listed legal documents.  The Liberal party is aware of these obstacles, and they are being less than honest when they claim that they would sign the declaration.  It should be noted that former Liberal governments under Martin and Chrétien also opposed the text of the declaration as it now stands.  They opposed it for the same reasons.

   The Conservative commitment to Aboriginal rights is clear.  It is for that reason that we introduced and passed bill C-21, An Act to repeal section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act.  This historic action marks a concerted effort by the Conservative Government to bring to an end a legislative gap that has left many individuals, mainly those living on reserves, without full legal access to the Canadian Human Rights Act.  It should be noted that the Liberals consistently hampered the progress of this bill in committee.  After almost a year of delaying the bill, and under extreme pressure from Conservatives, they finally allowed the bill to leave committee.

   Response from the Green Party of Canada

   Yes.  The Green Party recognizes that the federal government has an important role in improving access to mental health services for all Canadians including Inuit people. 

9. Does your party support additional federal funding to allow for the construction and operation of Mental Health Centre’s for the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse and other mental health issues for Inuit in the Arctic?
   

   Response from the Liberal Party of Canada

   A new Liberal government, in consultations with the provinces, territories, and the Public Health Agency of Canada, would be open to consultations on how to best address mental health in the Arctic.

   Response from the New Democratic Party of Canada

   New Democrats are well aware of the lack of appropriate facilities for not only mental health but all forms of health care in Canada’s North. We are committed to investing in improvements to all forms of health care in the North. Later in this election the NDP will be releasing a Northern platform with more details on how a New Democratic government would help Northerners build a better North.

   Response from the Bloc Québécois

   (Traduction) Votre Parti soutient-il un financement fédéral supplémentaire pour permettre la construction et le fonctionnement de centres de santé mentale pour traiter l’abus d'alcool et de drogues, et d’autres questions relatives à la santé mentale chez les Inuits dans l’Arctique?

   (Texte original) Le Bloc Québécois est d’avis que le gouvernement fédéral doit assumer ses responsabilités face aux Peuples Autochtones.

   (Translation) The Bloc Québécois agrees that the federal government must assume his responsibilities towards Aboriginal peoples.

   Response from the Conservative Party of Canada

   The Conservative Government is very sensitive to mental health issues.  We created and funded the Mental Health Commission of Canada to deal with these issues and to focus on:

   1. Developing a national mental health strategy;
   2. Sharing knowledge and best practices fir the benefit of Canadians from coast to coast to coast; and
   3. Undertaking public awareness and education in order to combat the hurtful stigma associated with mental illness.

   Ultimately the decision to build an addictions and mental health centre in the Arctic would belong to the Territorial government.  If they want to create such a centre, I will work with them to make a convincing case for the need for such a project.  

   Response from the Green Party of Canada

   Green Party MPs would

   • Increase transfer funding for non-institutionalized mental health patients including children and youth to provide adequate community-based support and outpatient and inpatient care by mental health practitioners
   • Require greater involvement of people dealing with personal mental health problems in research planning, policy development, program evaluation and other decisions that affect their lives and communities.
   • Address drug addiction as a health problem by legalizing marijuana and focusing efforts on harm reduction, treatment and prevention.
10. Does your party support the renewal, and expansion of the following federal initiatives vital to Inuit in the Arctic: a) Food Mail, and b) Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development Programs?
    

    Response from the Liberal Party of Canada

    A new Liberal government fully supports the Food Mail program, and will consider renewing the Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development Programs, which was started in 2004 with a $90 million investment by the former Liberal government.

    Response from the New Democratic Party of Canada

    Reports of a $55 watermelon in Nain clearly show that there is need for a better system of getting healthy food to people in Canada’s North. These high costs, combined with the health risks of Arctic residents of consuming country foods containing PCBs as evidenced by the Broughton Island surveys, create a situation where Northerners quite often make poor nutritional choices. Poor nutrition is a central cause of chronic health problems like diabetes, heart disease and obesity. New Democrats believe all Canadians should have access to affordable, healthy foods and would support improving the food delivery systems for Canada’s North through improvements to the Food Mail program and the creation of a deep water port at Iqaluit and other infrastructure which would reduce costs by improving the operation of the sealift. New Democrats believe assisting the economic development of the North will help Northerners build a better North. Later in this election campaign the NDP will be releasing more initiatives to aid Northern economic development.

    Response from the Bloc Québécois

    (Traduction) Votre Parti soutient-il le renouvellement et l’expansion des initiatives fédérales suivantes dans l’Arctique : a) le Programme Aliments-poste et b) les investissements stratégiques dans des programmes de développement économique du Nord?

    (Texte original) Le Bloc Québécois appuie le Programme Aliments-poste qui réduit les coûts de transport des aliments périssables nutritifs et d’autres produits essentiels, pour ainsi améliorer l’alimentation, la santé et le bien-être des gens dans les communautés isolées.

    (Translation) The Bloc Québécois supports the Food mail Program that reduces the transportation costs of nutritious, perishable foods and other core commodities, thus improving the nutrition, health and well-being of people in remote communities.

    Response from the Conservative Party of Canada

    We support investing in programs that deliver results for Canadians. Both these programs provide benefits to Northerners in terms of cost savings (Food Mail) and strategic investment in infrastructure (SINED).  Food Mail needs to provide greater benefits to Northerners in terms of supplying healthy food and ensuring the cost savings are passed onto Northerners and not the people in between. 

    Response from the Green Party of Canada

    The Green Party of Canada is committed to supporting economic and social investments necessary to provide the Inuit with greater independence and opportunity. Any new initiatives will only be developed in partnership with the affected communities and peoples to ensure that only appropriate, respectful, and effective solutions are adopted.

11. Does your party support the appointment of an Ombudsperson for Aboriginal Children?
    

    Response from the Liberal Party of Canada

    The Liberal Party of Canada has no plans to appoint an Ombudsperson for Aboriginal Children at this time.

    Response from the New Democratic Party of Canada

    New Democrats support the creation of an Ombudsperson for Aboriginal Children, similar to the role of British Columbia’s Representative for Children and Youth.

    Response from the Bloc Québécois

    (Traduction) Votre Parti soutient-il la désignation d’un médiateur pour les enfants autochtones?

    (Texte original) En mai 2008, la vérificatrice générale réitérait le manque de financement criant du fédéral envers les Autochtones. « En vertu des politiques fédérale et provinciale, les enfants autochtones, y compris les enfants des Premières nations, doivent pouvoir bénéficier, en toute équité, de services comparables en quantité et en qualité à ceux qui sont fournis aux autres enfants. Le financement des services doit correspondre aux exigences des politiques et appuyer la prestation de services adaptés aux particularités culturelles des Autochtones et des Premières nations. La prestation de tels services nécessite généralement plus de temps et de ressources. Les pratiques de financement actuelles donnent lieu à des iniquités en ce qui a trait à la répartition des fonds au sein des collectivités autochtones et des Premières nations. »

    Le Bloc Québécois fera de l’éducation et de la protection de l’enfance ses 2 enjeux principaux au comité des affaires autochtones et du nord afin de soutenir adéquatement les services destinés aux jeunes des communautés.

    (Translation) In May 2008, the Auditor General reiterated the severe lack of federal financing for Aboriginal peoples. “Under federal and provincial policies, Aboriginal children, including First Nations children, should have equitable access to a level and quality of services comparable with those provided to other children. Funding for the services needs to match the requirements of the policies and also support the delivery of services that are culturally appropriate—which is known to take more time and resources. Current funding practices do not lead to equitable funding among Aboriginal and First Nations communities.”

    The Bloc Québécois will ensure that the education and protection of children are its two main issues at the Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, in order to support adequately the services intended for young people in the communities.

    Response from the Conservative Party of Canada

    I am seriously committed to taking concrete action for the benefit of Inuit Children and families. The Conservative Government has already had key achievements in helping Inuit families and children, namely the Universal Child Care Benefit.  This is a concrete program that directly assists Inuit families and children by providing $1200 per year for every child under six.  This is also a program the Liberals and the opposition have threatened to cancel.

    I am committed to moving forward to make further strides that will guarantee the welfare of Inuit children.

    I find it unfortunate that the Liberal party response to this question refused to commit to any action at all for Inuit children.

    Response from the Green Party of Canada

    Yes.  The Green Party of Canada recognizes that our children are our most important asset.  We would appoint an Ombudsperson for Aboriginal Children who would be required to produce annual reports grading the government on how Aboriginal children are doing in terms of a number of indicators of such as education, health, and poverty levels

12. Does your party support the goal of making the Inuit language the primary working language in the Arctic, and support providing federal funding support for the Inuit language at a level at least as generous as provided francophone and anglophone minorities in the Arctic?
    

    Response from the Liberal Party of Canada

    The Liberal Party has great respect for the preservation of the Inuit language. We acknowledge that it is very important for a nation that its language be supported and stay alive. We certainly support that the Inuit language be an important part in the artic where it is spoken by many people. As for funding, we think that programs like the Aboriginal Languages initiative are important and we will surely build on such programs to ensure the preservation and the development of Inuit language.

    Response from the New Democratic Party of Canada

    Enhancing official languages like Inuktitut, and Innuinnaqtun in Nunavut and Inuvialuktun in the Northwest Territories are essential to the preservation of traditional cultures. Past funding agreements for language preservation in the North have resulted in important community projects like the Holman dictionary project, the Innuinnaqtun Moms and Tots program, and the Tuhangnarvik radio show. New Democrats believe funding initiatives like these should be continued and enhanced to ensure the continued survival of the languages which have long been spoken in the North for thousands of years.

    Response from the Bloc Québécois

    (Traduction) Votre Parti soutient-il l’objectif visant à faire en sorte que la langue inuite soit la langue de travail principale dans l’Arctique, et à fournir de l’appui financier fédéral pour la langue inuite à un niveau au moins aussi généreux que celui fourni aux minorités francophones et anglophones dans l’Arctique?

    (Texte original) Pour le Bloc Québécois, la Charte de la langue française s’impose au Québec. Cependant, nous reconnaissons l’importance de l’apport culturel des différents groupes qui la compose. C’est pourquoi, à l’époque du référendum de 1995, le gouvernement du Québec a pris l’engagement d’enchâsser dans la Constitution d’un Québec souverain les droits de la communauté anglophone, à savoir : le droit d’étudier dans sa langue, dans des écoles administrées par ses propres membres, de recevoir des soins de santé et d’avoir accès aux cours de justice en anglais, et de pouvoir s’exprimer dans leur langue à l’Assemblée nationale.

    (Translation) For the Bloc Québécois, the Charter of the French Language is imperative in Quebec. However, we recognize the importance of the cultural contribution of its different groups. This is why, at the time of the referendum in 1995, the Government of Quebec committed to entrench in the Constitution of a sovereign Quebec the rights of the Anglophone community, namely the right to study in their own language, in schools administered by their own members, to receive health care and to have access to courts in English, and to be able to speak their own language at the National Assembly.

    Response from the Conservative Party of Canada

    The Conservative Party has a great respect for the vital role that languages play in the safeguarding and restoration of culture and society, especially in the wake of the residential school apology.

    The Conservative government already funds many aboriginal languages program.  For example, I was delighted when Minister Strahl announced funding for the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.   The provision of $216,050 over two years will help the Qikiqtani Inuit Association fund Pigiarvik, a project that will help preserve, protect, and promote the Inuktitut language among the younger generations of Inuit. This project will have three components: Katiqsuiniq Qaujimajaujutuqarnik--traditional knowledge interviews, to ensure that regional variations of Inuktitut and traditional knowledge and stories are preserved for future generations; Katiqsuiniq Innarnik Apiqsuutivinirnik--the digitization of traditional knowledge; and Pivut and Kaakuluk--Inuktitut magazines for Children and Youth as resources for the classroom.

    I was also pleased to see Minister Oda announce funding for the Inuit Heritage Trust (IHT). The funds will support two projects in Nunavut that will help preserve, enrich, and protect Inuit cultural heritage and identity.

    I am committed to fighting for additional funding and programming for the renewal of Inuit languages and recognize that that the federal government will need to work with the territorial governments to implement these programs.

    Response from the Green Party of Canada

    Yes.  The Green Party is committed to supporting Inuit language and culture.  We envision Inuit communities which have a strong sense of their own identity.  Central to achieving this goal is maintaining and promoting Inuit language.  Green MPs would ensure that the federal funding necessary to ensure that it thrives for future generations.  We would cooperate with local communities to ensure that federal money.

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