Leaders lobby for input into reforms

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Native women across Canada are being urged to seek out the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development as it travels the nation, to let their opinions of social security reform be known.

Janis Walker of the Native Women's Association of Canada said women will be among the most affected by the reforms so it's very important they make their voices heard. The reforms were proposed by Human Resources Minister Lloyd Axworthy in a discussion paper released Oct.. 6 entitled Agenda: Jobs and Growth, Improving Social Security in Canada.

Walker has several concerns on how NWAC will gather a response about the paper from the 350,000 members she represents. She said the government has provided a woefully inadequate amount of money for her group to consult with its members. Coupled with a short three-month time frame in which to gather the information, it would be difficult to ensure everyone has input into the process, she said.

Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Ovide Mercredi joins Walker in her concern.

In a letter to the chiefs and regional First Nations leaders, Mercredi said funding the AFN at $50,000 for the purposes of presenting testimony to the standing committee was "totally reprehensible." He informed the leaders the organization had asked that consultation funding be increased for genuine First Nations participation.

"First Nations must be given the real opportunity to improve our quality of life and to advance the recognition of our rights by becoming equal partners in the review and reform of the social security system," Mercredi wrote.

Mercredi slammed the government for not being serious about Aboriginal participation in the process. This causes grave concern because Native people have the most at stake in almost every area of reform under consideration, he said.

Axworthy's team is prepared to discuss housing and criminal justice issues, but not the inherent right to self-government and jurisdiction issues, which could involve social security concerns, wrote Mercredi.

"Once again, the fundamental reforms we have been seeking to empower our First Nations governments through our treaties, the inherent right to self-government and asserting jurisdiction are in danger of being swept off the SSR table."

Mercredi has called upon the chiefs to support him in securing a federal commitment to a First Nations-Human Resource and Development bilateral process for reform, and in gaining the financial funding required to carry it out

There will also be a discussion on reform at the AFN Special Chiefs and Confederacy of Nations meeting Nov. 8 - 10 in Ottawa.