Express support for chief, NDP urges premier
As 2012 drew to a close, NDP Leader Liz Hanson called on Premier Darrell Pasloski last Sunday to add his voice to the growing contingent of Canadians standing behind Chief Theresa Spence.
As 2012 drew to a close, NDP Leader Liz Hanson called on Premier Darrell Pasloski last Sunday to add his voice to the growing contingent of Canadians standing behind Chief Theresa Spence.
Spence, chief of the northern Ontario Attawapiskat First Nation, has been on a hunger strike since Dec. 11, camped on Victoria Island on the Ottawa River, not far from Parliament Hill.
Her initial goal was to secure a treaty meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Governor General David Johnston and First Nations leadership.
“There is a powerful, and growing, resonance within both the First Nation and non-First Nation citizens of Canada of the need for an expression of an open mind and generosity of spirit to create the common ground upon which a relationship of trust can be established,” Hanson said in an email to the premier.
“Much emphasis has been placed on the pivotal role the prime minister can, and should, play in reconciliation. However, as premier of Yukon, you, along with your provincial and territorial counterparts, have a significant role to play.
“Canada has changed. Our modern day treaties in Yukon demonstrate, daily, the challenges and opportunities of making real the promises made in good faith,” she continued.
“As we enter this new year, I urge you to take a stance. When you call the prime minister to wish him a happy new year – call upon your good relationship with him: urge him to convene a meeting headed by the prime minister, aboriginal leaders, provincial and territorial leaders to begin, without precondition, the serious work of reconciliation.
“It is the work that Canadians expect from our elected leaders.”
Pasloski was not available for an interview Monday or this morning.
Hanson added her call for action from the premier to the voices of the federal NDP and other prominent Canadian leaders who have publicly urged the prime minister to meet with Spence.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair sent a letter to the prime minister on Dec. 18 urging him to see Spence.
Since then, multiple NDP MPs have met with the chief.
Federal Liberal leadership candidates Justin Trudeau and Marc Garneau have both met with Spence and have called on Harper to respond favourably to her request for a meeting. So has Carolyn Bennett, the Liberal critic for Aboriginal Affairs.
Former Conservative prime minister Joe Clark has also met with Spence.
According to a Canadian Press report, Clark said: “Chief Spence expressed a humble and achievable vision – one which I believe all Canadians can embrace.”
Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan has sent several invitations to Spence to meet with him, and other federal ministers, including Health Minister Leona Aglukaaq, have encouraged her accept.
Spence maintains the meeting should be with the prime minister, though some reports from last weekend had her softening that stance.
Idle No More protests have been held across the country in support of Spence.
Dan Davidson
Jan 2, 2013 at 5:00 pm
Joe Clark was a PROGRESSIVE Conservative Prime Minister. That was an entirely different political party that the current Harper Conservatives.