Horsman willing to talk

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CALGARY - Although Minister Jim Horsman stopped just short of announcing the Alberta government would amend the Alberta Act to include the entrenchment of Native rights, he did promise to move ahead on tripartite discussions.

Speaking at the annual Metis National Council (MNC) convention in Calgary last week, Horsman, the provincial minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs, said that any amendment to the Alberta Act, part of the Constitution of Canada, had to be discussed between the three levels of government: the Metis Association of Alberta, the Alberta government and the federal government.

Horsman was replying to a question posed by Manitoba President Yvon Dumont, who pointed out that it would be far easier to amend the Alberta Act than the 1982 Constitution to accommodate Metis rights.

"We've had bilateral discussions and some with Minister (of Indian Affairs) Bill McKnight to see if we can get tripartite discussions underway," said Horsman.

"Alberta takes the position that it will continue to take responsibility for your people in the absence of federal jurisdiction," he added.

Horsman spoke shortly after a heated discussion over whether Metis people should come under federal or provincial jurisdiction. Several provinces said they didn't want to make a decision and Manitoba, who supported Saskatchewan's position that Metis should be federal jurisdiction, said they didn't want to jeopardize Alberta's position with the Alberta government.

Horsman added that the jurisdiction question was very important but regardless of any decision, the Alberta government would continue to work on practical issues that affect the lives of Metis people.

The MNC is currently working on its position for the First Ministers Conference set for April next year. During the final session of the FMC, Native people representing Indian, Metis and Inuit people will attempt to get self government, inherent rights and land base entrenched into the Canadian Constitution.

The Canadian Constitution was signed in 1982 by the Queen with a series of amending sessions, First Ministers Conferences, scheduled to entrench Native rights.