Littlechild's bid to be minister backed by Liberal senator

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Willie Littlechild's bid to become Indian affairs Minster has drawn support from an unusual source - the Liberal side of the Senate.

Sen. Len Marchand, a B.C. Indian and former Trudeau-era cabinet minister, says he thinks the time is right for a well-qualified Native to be given the portfolio.

And Littlechild, a Hobbema Indian who is the Tory MP for Wetaskiwin, fits the bill, says Marchand. "Willie would make a good Indian affairs minister."

In fact, he says he'd be "surprised" if Littlechild, an accomplished lawyer and athlete, isn't given the job when Prime Minister Brian Mulroney next shuffles his cabinet.

Littlechild, who says he agonized all summer before announcing his desire to seek the portfolio, claims he wouldn't want the job unless Natives had direct input into running the ministry, and the post is elevated to a senior cabinet position from its current status as a junior ministry.

Marchand agrees. He says the Indian affairs post is one of the most important - and toughest - in the country today.

Despite the summer of Native discontent, he says both Natives and government are "in a good mood to negotiate."

Marchand doesn't limit his demand for change to a single cabinet post.

He'd like to see parliamentary reform that covers both the House of Commons and the Senate.

It's time aboriginal people were guaranteed a minimum number of seats in the Commons - at least nine, he says, adding that the Senate should be elected rather than appointed.

Marchand says he's "angry" the Queen is still allowed to decide how Canada is governed.

Mulroney needed the Queen's approval before recently using an obscure constitutional clause allowing him to swamp the senate with enough appointees to endure it would approve the government's Goods and services Tax (GST).

"Monarchs haven't ruled for over 700 years (in Great Britain). Why here?" he asked.