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Evidence indicates law Native priority

Author

Windspeaker Staff

Volume

4

Issue

7

Year

1986

Page 6

EDITORIAL

If the record of debate in the Alberta Legislative Assembly - "Hansard" - is any indication, our concerns that Native issues have been downgraded by the new provincial government are confirmed.

In the first 20 days of debate since the new session of the Legislative Assembly began sitting, there appears to be only one reference to Native people.

That reference came during Committee of Supply debates on the Department of the Attorney General, when Leo Piquette, the new Democrat MLA for Athabasca-Lac

La Biche, wondered what was being done to address alcohol-related crime among Native people and policing of isolated areas (See Page 3).

A further indication of the low priority for Native issues is the official listing of cabinet ministers printed in each issue of Hansard. Nowhere does this indicate that Neil Crawford is responsible for Native programs, or that Jim Horsman is responsible for Native legal matters.

Native Secretariat, the government agency formerly responsible for Native programs, would appear to be in limbo, still waiting to see which of the responsibilities

it handled in the past will be continued, and who will handle them in the future.

There is no indication whatsoever of new directions this government intends to pursue in meeting the special needs of Native people.

Meanwhile, numerous unacceptable conditions are still being endured by Native people as they continue to struggle to raise themselves to partily with other Canadians in all aspects of the socioeconomic.

To too many Native people, their inferior position in society - and the poor prospects of ever rising above it under present circumstances - means that they will continue to suffer from the disparity.

If the government is really seeking assimilation of Native people, and there are many indications that such is the case, they must recognize that they must be given the resources to become equal in all aspects of their lives - housing, incidence of social problems, education, training, employment, economic development, etc, - if they are to become fair and equal members of society at large.

What is more the government must recognize that there is a time factor involved here. If government does not move now to deal decisively with the many problems facing Native people, additional unnecessary suffering will occur.

No situation stands still. Conditions will get better if they are dealt with prop4rly. but if they are ignored, they can only get worse.