NOOR JAVED
Wed Jun 27
Canadian Press
TORONTO (CP) - Staging illegal activities on Friday's national aboriginal day of action would do nothing but "tarnish" the efforts of peaceful protesters hoping to further the case for improving the lives of aboriginal Canadians, former prime minister Paul Martin said Wednesday.
Martin, who was speaking at a public forum on aboriginal rights, said illegal actions would only divert the attention of the Canadian public from the real and more important issues at hand.
"I think it's so important that this day not be marred by illegal activities and blockades," he said.
"I think the case for fairness, equality of opportunity, education and health care are just simply too important to be diverted by such acts."
Martin also linked some of the objectives of the day of action to his previous efforts to implement the Kelowna Accord, a $5-billion stalled agreement he signed on to at the end of his tenure.
The accord sought to improve the education and employment opportunities and living conditions of aboriginals through government funding, with promises to measure the outcomes over a 10-year period.
"Kelowna's objectives are not theoretical - they are very real," Martin said.
"They are to eliminate the gaps in housing, water, education and health."
The Conservatives had said they were committed to meeting the accord's goals, but did not support a private member's bill backed by the Liberals, Bloc Quebecois, and NDP that passed in March. As a result, the government was not obliged to support the accord financially.
But federal Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice said Martin's latest plug for the Kelowna Accord is nothing more than empty rhetoric.
"It just shows how little Paul Martin actually accomplished that he holds up the Kelowna Accords as his record of achievement - an agreement that was made three days before an election call he knew was coming, and for which money was never budgeted," Prentice said in a statement.
At the forum, Martin called the delay in implementing the accord a "tragedy" because it had received the support of aboriginal leaders, provincial and territorial leaders, and all levels of government.
"The rejection of Kelowna was a return to the old ways of doing things, an imposition as opposed to working together," Martin said, adding he would be devoting the rest of his life to aboriginal issues.
But he said he is still hopeful that the accord, which took 18 months to create, will eventually be put into action.
"I believe Kelowna will be implemented one way or another," he said.
While most national and regional chiefs have called for peaceful demonstrations on Friday, there are concerns some communities may resort to illegal measures such as highway or railway blockades - acts that could spark confrontations with law enforcement.
Via Rail is taking the threat seriously and is warning passengers about possible delays to its services if blockades appear.
But Martin said he is convinced most people will protest peacefully.
"I think that on June 29, the case to get aboriginal Canadians access to what we consider basic values is going to be made peacefully and strongly," he said.