[Indigsol] Fontaine warns of Indian protests

[Ben Powless]

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/307548

Feb 27, 2008 05:38 PM
THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA–Canada's top chief is warning that another summer of protest
and potential disruption will follow a federal budget that all but
ignored grinding poverty.

A furious Phil Fontaine said today that plans for a national day of
action have been stepped up after this week's Conservative spending
blueprint offered little for First Nations.

"It is not responsible to spend billions of dollars to rebuild
Afghanistan while ignoring the poverty of First Nations here at home,"
he said.

No date has been set for this year's day of action. Last year's
protests on June 29 forced a police shutdown of Ontario's Highway 401
near Kingston for 11 hours.

"There are many, many situations that are in a precarious state at the
moment that could very easily deteriorate," Fontaine told a news
conference.

"Our people are becoming more frustrated. They're losing hope and
losing patience.

"We're looking for a day of solidarity with Canadians. We need
Canadians. We are asking Canadians to stand up and tell the
Conservative government that this neglect, this disinterest, does not
reflect the values of Canada."

It's "irresponsible" for Ottawa to place higher priority on ``reducing
the price of a toaster by a couple cents" than it does on dismal
native living standards, Fontaine said of cuts to the GST.

The two per cent GST reduction alone will suck about $12 billion from
federal coffers a year. Corporate and personal income tax cuts will
drain another $60 billion over the next five years. There isn't much
left for social spending, even for the poorest of the poor.

Yesterday's budget included money to clean up dirty drinking water and
improve some education, employment and health services on reserves.

The Conservatives say they're already spending about $10 billion a
year for native programs and aren't convinced it's well used.

But Fontaine points out that Auditor General Sheila Fraser has said
cash-strapped First Nations are over-audited. Federal funding hasn't
kept pace with inflation, let alone population growth, he added.

Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said it's not just a matter of
throwing more money at native problems. His government has cut the
number of First Nations most at risk from polluted water to about 100
from 193, he said today.

The Conservatives have also moved to speed up and overhaul settlement
of specific claims and land disputes – flashpoints for a number of
ugly confrontations in parts of the country.

"I just think we should work together on projects that are going to
make a difference in the lives of First Nations," Strahl said. ``I
don't think the protest idea is going to advance that cause."

Fontaine counters that years of patience and conciliation haven't
gotten aboriginal people nearly far enough.

"First Nations are very concerned that this budget eliminates almost
any opportunity to move forward and make progress. We are being told
once again to wait until next time. It's unacceptable that the only
way we can get fair treatment is to agitate or go to court and force
the government to do it."
-- 
"In life we meet extraordinary people who follow us wherever we may
go" - Trisha Nagpal