Paul Martin’s First Nations hypocrisy

[PIK]

As for Mr. Martin, it is a little rich to hear him lecture Canada about native policies. He remains upset that his 2005-era $5-billion Kelowna Accord was never implemented by the Conservatives. But in 2003, Mr. Martin deliberately killed a far more useful piece of legislation: the First Nations Governance Act (FNGA), a law aimed at preventing precisely the sort of management scandal unfolding in Attawapiskat.

The FNGA was the creation of then-indian affairs minister Robert Nault, who realized that First Nations never could become competent in the area of self-government — no matter what their aspirations to “sovereignty” — if they did not respect basic principles of democracy and accountability. His law was designed to set up a process for modernizing band election laws, administrative mechanisms, and financial reporting processes.

The FNGA also would have brought reserves under the Canadian Human Rights Act. But natives had to wait for Stephen Harper’s ostensibly human-rights-hating government before that reform gained traction.

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/01/09/jonathan-kay-paul-martins-first-nations-hypocrisy/

This shows the BS when it comes martin and the rest of the photo op liberals. A good read.

[g_bambino]

Mr. Martin deliberately killed a far more useful piece of legislation

How did he do that?

[PIK]

No opinions from the left on this ? I would say that is martin was successful in getting the money for his accord ,we would still be in the same position we are now, and that 5 bil would be gone.

[Michael Hardner]

No opinions from the left on this ? I would say that is martin was successful in getting the money for his accord ,we would still be in the same position we are now, and that 5 bil would be gone.

Why would "the left" have any reason to defend the Liberals ?

I don't think you can say for sure we'd be in the same position now either.

[Keepitsimple]

The press release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister on the November 25, 2005 outlined $5 billion in spending over 10 years, but did not set out the means for the fiscal distribution between federal departments, provincial and territorial governments, and Aboriginal groups.

Hard to believe that an extra $500 million a year (much less than 10% of the total we spend) would have made any difference at all. The Kelowna Accord threw money at an undefined problem with the same old mealy-mouthed, wishy-washy, feel-good statements that Liberals are famous for. Until First Nations meaningfully unite together and hold THEMSELVES accountable for improving each other's lot in life, all the money in the world will not help. If these guys ever did come together - cared for each other - what a force they could be. Instead, they fight amongst each other. What a waste.

[August1991]

Paul Martin is the son a federal Liberal cabinet minister; Paul Martin's father desperately wanted to become PM. (He lost to Trudeau in 1968.)

In the 1970s, Paul Desmarais made Paul Martin a very, very rich man.

Now that Paul Martin's family is safe & secure, he can afford to be generous with other people's money.

----

Paul Martin's father and David Lewis share this fact: taxpayers made their families (sons and grandsons) wealthy.

As for Mr. Martin, it is a little rich to hear him lecture Canada about native policies.

Indeed.

Maybe it's a North American Jewish/Catholic sense of injustice, combined with guilt: Limousine liberals.

Hard to believe that an extra $500 million a year (much less than 10% of the total we spend) would have made any difference at all. The Kelowna Accord threw money at an undefined problem...

$500 million would make a difference in my life, and in my children's lives.

Then again, I've always liked this phrase: "Leave enough that your kids can do something, but not enough so that they don't have to do anything."

Edited January 20, 2013 by August1991