I used to be so proud of being Canadian

leaffan

Well-Known Member
...but sadly I am feeling less and less pride with each passing year.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/10/02/canada-un-indigenous-rights_n_5918868.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular&ir=Canada+Politics


Canada Is The Only UN Member To Reject Landmark Indigenous Rights Document
Posted: 10/02/2014 4:52 pm EDT Updated: 10/03/2014 9:59 pm EDT



Canada singled itself out as the only country to raise objections over a landmark United Nations document re-establishing the protection of the rights of indigenous people last week. It was a gesture one prominent First Nation leader called “saddening, surprising.”

“Canada was viewed always as a country that upheld human rights,” said Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde. “For Canada to be the only nation state to get up to make a caveat on the vote – that’s very telling.”

Bellegarde travelled to New York City to attend a special UN General Assembly meeting of more than 1,000 delegates and heads of state for the first-ever World Conference on Indigenous Peoples on Sept. 22 and 23.


On day one, nations voted on the adoption of the document – the first vote of its kind after the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was introduced in 2007.

In his opening remarks, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke about the document’s significance, saying it helps “set minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of indigenous peoples” – more than 370 million around the world.

“I expect member states to meet their commitments, including by carrying out national action plans to realize our shared vision,” he told delegates.

The United States, who was among four nations (including Canada) who opposed the adoption of the original declaration seven years ago, notably reversed its position. President Barack Obama threw his administration’s support behind the declaration, regarding it as one that will "help reaffirm the principles that should guide our future."

The document was adopted by all nations by consensus last week, but Canada was the only country to file its objections, flagging the wording of “free, prior and informed consent” as problematic.

Free, prior, and informed consent is commonly upheld as a key principle in international law. But according to Ottawa, it’s tricky wording that could be interpreted as “a veto to aboriginal groups and in that regard, cannot be reconciled with Canadian law, as it exists.”

“As a result, Canada cannot associate itself with the elements contained in this outcome document related to free, prior and informed consent,” the government explained in a statement.

‘Deeply Concerning’

Interim Assembly of First Nations Chief Ghislain Picard called the government’s objections “deeply concerning,” adding “Canada continues to embarrass itself and isolate itself on the world stage by offering to explain their vote.”

In the feds’ explanation, the word “veto” pops up three times, and Bellegarde says that’s inaccurate.

“Veto does not exist in the declaration anywhere,” Bellegarde said. “Why are they misleading and using that word?”

In 2007, Ottawa first used the same “veto” explanation in its statement rejecting the UN declaration.

Then in 2010, despite rejecting the declaration three years earlier, the federal government issued a statement saying: “We are now confident that Canada can interpret the principles expressed in the Declaration in a manner that is consistent with our Constitution and legal framework.”

Fast-forward to today and First Nation leaders, including Bellegarde, say they’re flabbergasted over the government’s flip-flopping and contradictory statements.

Bellegarde, who announced his candidacy for Assembly of First Nations chief on Wednesday, told The Huffington Post Canada in an interview the Harper government failed to consult with aboriginal groups in “any forums, any meetings, any dialogues” prior to the two-day UN conference.

He brought up recent decisions from Canada’s own Supreme Court which upheld aboriginal rights and titles and reinforced the necessity to obtain consent from aboriginal people on issues pertaining to property rights and claims.

In Tsilhqot’in Nation vs. British Columbia, a ruling written by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, it clearly states government and other agencies who desire access to land conferred by aboriginal titles “must obtain the consent of the Aboriginal title holders.”

“This relationship between this government, our Crown, and Canada and its indigenous peoples does not have to be so unnecessarily adversarial,” Bellegarde said.

Strained Relations ‘Persistently Unresolved’

Prime Minister Stephen Harper did not join Bellegarde at the UN conference, nor did Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister Bernard Valcourt. Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq was in New York at the time, but opted to attend UN climate summit meetings.

Instead, new aboriginal affairs deputy minister Colleen Swords was sent to represent Canada.

Bellegarde said he pressed Swords for a clearer explanation of what “veto” means in the context of the non-legally binding UN outcome document and its application to Canadian law.

“No adequate response given back,” Bellegarde said.

The Huffington Post Canada asked Valcourt’s office for an explanation of Canada’s stance on the outcome document and received a written response.

“Our government is focused on working with aboriginal communities on our shared priorities, and we have in place a constitutionally-entrenched framework that ensures the consultation and accommodation, as appropriate, of aboriginal interests. This framework also balances the interests of non-aboriginal Canadians and it has served as a model for nations around the world,” read the statement.

Valcourt’s office also repurposed one line from UN human rights investigator James Anaya’s 22-page report from earlier this year about Canada’s relationship with its indigenous peoples.

“To quote the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ‘…Canada has taken determined action to address ongoing aspects of the history of misdealing and harm inflicted on aboriginal peoples in the country, a necessary step towards helping to remedy their current disadvantage,’” read the email.

However, Valcourt’s office failed to acknowledge that in the same July 2014 report, Anaya concluded: “The numerous initiatives that have been taken at the federal and provincial/territorial levels to address the problems faced by indigenous peoples have been insufficient.

“The well-being gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in Canada has not narrowed over the past several years; treaty and aboriginal claims remain persistently unresolved; indigenous women and girls remain vulnerable to abuse; and overall there appear to be high levels of distrust among indigenous peoples towards the government at both the federal and provincial levels.”
 

torontoke

Well-Known Member
Can i ask why u would be proud anyway??? I mean dont get me wrong i consider myself a proud canadian too but really what exactly does that mean?
We are proud or glad our parents had sex and or stayed somewhere til we were born???
Its one of those things that i dont think people think enough about.
Canada as a country is too young for us to have a deeply bred and intrenched history and were basically usa jr and no one else in the world cares.
My family has traced our roots to like 1807 but does that mean im more canadian or deserve different treatment then someone born here last week to parents that were born somewhere else?
 

CannaReview

Well-Known Member
Well problem is there is no true democracy in the world and people are too apathetic to doing anything about a government that cares more about corporate profits and establishing new powers for corporations then what its people want.
 
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leaffan

Well-Known Member
Can i ask why u would be proud anyway??? I mean dont get me wrong i consider myself a proud canadian too but really what exactly does that mean?
We are proud or glad our parents had sex and or stayed somewhere til we were born???
Its one of those things that i dont think people think enough about.
Canada as a country is too young for us to have a deeply bred and intrenched history and were basically usa jr and no one else in the world cares.
My family has traced our roots to like 1807 but does that mean im more canadian or deserve different treatment then someone born here last week to parents that were born somewhere else?
Sure you can ask, good question...
Why would I be proud of being Canadian in the past?...The way we were perceived by the rest of the world, and how I felt inside about how we conducted ourselves. Kinda like when your kid scores the winning goal or gets a scholarship.
I feel Canada had a very unique political view. Peacekeepers, but ready to stand up when required. Democratic. Caring. Not afraid of voicing our opinion and standing alone if required.
Our work in Cyprus and in Africa made me proud. Saying no to the USA made me proud. Our healthcare system is a source of pride.
I am proud we are a mosaic versus a melting pot.
I am for the most part proud of our history, there are some exceptions...

I think a lot about it...

I've probably got a few more years on you....I can see a shift over the decades...
 

leaffan

Well-Known Member
Can i ask why u would be proud anyway??? I mean dont get me wrong i consider myself a proud canadian too but really what exactly does that mean?
We are proud or glad our parents had sex and or stayed somewhere til we were born???
Its one of those things that i dont think people think enough about.
Canada as a country is too young for us to have a deeply bred and intrenched history and were basically usa jr and no one else in the world cares.
My family has traced our roots to like 1807 but does that mean im more canadian or deserve different treatment then someone born here last week to parents that were born somewhere else?
I am glad (most days) that my parents fucked and as a result I came to be.
I don't think Canada is too young to have entrenched history, we've had a lot packed in to the last two hundred odd years.
How long we have been here is irrelevant. If you have citizenship you are a citizen.
 

torontoke

Well-Known Member
Ya u must have seen more in the past than me.

I used to feel the same way til i got a lil older and watched the government give the usa whatever they wanted.
Since ive gotten older i am sooo tired of being let down by politicians on all levels.
Only in north america can a political candidate go on the record saying he wont raise taxes then a week after hes elected make a "new tax" and say well see i didnt raise taxes.

I lost all hope for our government and i find it intriguing that people are still surprised.

The main problem with governments in general is that only the elite/wealthy can ever run so essentially everything stays the same... The rich do whatever they can to keep the rich...rich
 
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rnr

Well-Known Member
well get out of Toronto! that's half the prob, its a shit hole, I lived there and Hamilton for 23 yrs, then moved to bc and I love my life once again, ignore the fucked gov, nothing you can do anyway!
get the fuck out and vote if you don't like our gov, I do every time, stll not thrilled lol
I smoke weed and live my life nice and quiet in a town of 3000 and don't watch tv or read the paper cause technically it don't effect me, and what does effct me we cant seem to do much about. so why get pissed every day.
you need change!
 

vostok

Well-Known Member
I would be Canadian over being Gambian if that draws comfort, then I would be Australian over being Canadian ...sorry I don't like them winters
but I'd be Gambian over being a Texan, electric chairs and spit I just don't like ...lol
 

texasjack

Well-Known Member
Well problem is here is not true democracy in the world and people are too apathetic to doing anything about a government that cares more about corporate profits and establishing new powers for corporations then what its people want.
Hey that sounds like my country, the good old U.S. of A.
 

texasjack

Well-Known Member
I am glad (most days) that my parents fucked and as a result I came to be.
I don't think Canada is too young to have entrenched history, we've had a lot packed in to the last two hundred odd years.
How long we have been here is irrelevant. If you have citizenship you are a citizen.
And this is kind of it. A country is more than it's politics. It's history, shared experience, culture etc. Canadians have plenty to be proud of just like Americans.
 

torontoke

Well-Known Member
I plan to get out of toronto asap if i had the money id leave now.
But that being said there arent many places that are without their politics.
I vote everytime theres something to vote for but the problem is all our votes are wasted because essentially you are choosing one guys haircut over the next. None of them can single handedly change anything. And all the people that they need to vote for things are their rich friends.
 
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rnr

Well-Known Member
id rather be Canadian than to live many other places, we might be fucked but were happy pot heads (most of us),
I agree the gov is all the same, just different hair cuts. witch needs to change as soon as someone with balls steps up.
we do what we can with what we are given! make the best of what life gives ya!
if not heres some tissues
 

torontoke

Well-Known Member
Cops are still breaking down doors and charging kids ledt and right.
The cops will keep charging regardless what the laws say.

Cops are the lowest of the low....
 

oddish

Well-Known Member
I beg to differ.
I've talked to enough compassion clubs, recreational users, recreational "dealers" and guys that ship it all over Canada.. they don't get any grief.
 
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