Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Uncertainty about Harper’s attendance tainting First Nations conference

When Stephen Harper sits down with the Assembly of First Nations for a long-awaited conference Tuesday, much of his front bench will be with him. But aboriginal leaders are wondering if that gives credence to emerging reports that the prime minister will only stay for the morning.

The names of 11 ministers attending the one-day meeting was released by Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan’s office Friday. It lists Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, Treasury Board President Tony Clement, Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose, Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield, Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney, Environment Minister Peter Kent, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Peter Penashue and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency minister of state Bernard Valcourt.

Linda Duncan, the NDP’s aboriginal affairs critic, had called for the big portfolios to come to the table with Harper. The list met her approval.

“The significant ministers are there,” she said. “But what role will they be playing?”

Friday’s announcement comes as the summit’s final agenda is clouded in uncertainty. While a draft version seen by chiefs indicated Harper would give an opening and closing address, they are now hearing the prime minister may leave the conference early, in order to prepare for the Davos Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland, which begins Wednesday.

“We’ve heard that at lunch he’s going to leave,” Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, told iPolitics.

This would mean Harper is present only for the opening ceremonies and speeches, and not the break-out sessions, which are scheduled for the afternoon.

Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, said Tuesday now represents just a small window of opportunity for First Nations.

“The prime minister knows that there’s very high expectations on him for this meeting, and the fact that he’s scaled back his time commitment to us, that’s what’s disappointing,” Nepinak said. “He’s going to come out, he’s going to take some pictures, he’s going to make a grand announcement of some sort that’s intended to appease the First Nations participants.”

Given the constraints, Nepinak wants to focus on an achievable goal – getting Harper to organize a First Minister’s meeting on First Nations issues.

“I think there’s a lot of efforts in the Harper government’s media strategy to try to make a big deal out of an event like this,” he said. “We’re kind of treating this as a starting point.”

Many First Nations chiefs had high expectations for the summit, and are upset by the news.

“I’m getting calls from the B.C. union chiefs, and they want to know what’s going on. They want to know if they should invest scarce resources in making this trip, if he’s only going to be there for a very brief period,” Phillip said.

The schedule has been changing frequently in the lead-up to the conference, and the final version has not yet been distributed. The Prime Minister’s Office would not say Friday whether or not Harper would be present for the full day.

“The Prime Minister looks forward to attending next week’s gathering and addressing and engaging with chiefs from First Nations across Canada. The government, which will also be represented at the gathering by at least 11 ministers and many high-level officials, welcomes the opportunity for a constructive dialogue with First Nations and to identify the ways we can make progress on key issues like economic development, education and accountability,” spokesman Andrew MacDougall said in an email.

Duncan said it was “pretty insulting” that Harper might leave the long-anticipated meeting early.

“He just wants to go to Davos and get accolades for his supposedly wonderful economic agenda,” she said.

The reports that Harper may leave before the closing ceremonies are distressing, because the chiefs wanted to hear him reflect on their presentations at the end of the day, Phillip said. With all the uncertainty about the agenda, many aren’t even sure they will have the opportunity to present.

“We were hoping for something with more substance, something that provided the opportunity for us to convey our concerns and issues to the government of Canada at the highest level,” he said. “There was a sense that we were going to have a day with the prime minister.”

Phillip will be attending the conference, but added, “Quite frankly, I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

Original Article
Source: iPolitics 
Author: Sonya Bell 

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