Tories ignore ITK questions on Inuit priorities

Four of Canada’s five major political parties have responded to a list of questions from Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami about how they would address Inuit priorities if they form a government after the May 2 federal election.

In an open letter to federal parties April 5, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami invited them to comment on issues ranging from health to housing to environmental pressures.

Earlier this month, ITK president Mary Simon said many Inuit communities are left out of the federal election campaign because of the vastness of northern ridings.

“There has been little national discussion of Inuit issues during this campaign,” Simon said. “These 11 questions are ITK’s way of ensuring these issues are addressed and that Inuit across Canada are given the opportunity to make an informed choice on May 2.”

The Conservative Party did not respond to ITK’s invitation.

The Bloc Québécois, Liberal Party, New Democratic Party and Green Party answered ITK’s questions.

Here’s how the four parties responded to some of those questions:

On housing:

• The Bloc Québécois advocates for a one per cent increase in the federal annual revenues to be directed towards housing. The Bloc also wants to see the Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation’s surplus transferred to the provinces and territories;

• The Liberal party says it will work with provincial, territorial and municipal partners to put in place a renewed Affordable Housing Framework, established a decade ago, but currently under review by the Harper government. The Liberals want to increase federal investment in affordable housing by $550 million;

• The New Democratic Party would enact Libby Davies’ National Housing Strategy to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for all Canadians, backed by $800 million in new funding for affordable and social housing;and,

• The Green Party would spend $2.4 billion over the next three years to improve First Nations, Métis and Inuit access to housing as well as invest an additional 2.5 billion dollars to create a national affordable housing program.

On mental health care facilities:

• None of the four parties specified if and how they would commit for the construction and operation of mental health centres to promote wellness in Inuit regions, although they all said they supported the idea.

On promoting Inuktitut:

• The Bloc Québécois said “the Charter of the French Language is enforced in Québec. However, we recognize the importance of the cultural contribution of other groups;”

• The Liberal Party would work with Inuit leaders to build on programs such as the Aboriginal Languages Initiative;

• New Democratic Party said MP Denise Savoie tabled legislation in the last Parliament to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canadian law, including Article 13, which talks about the revitalization of indigenous languages; and,

• The Green Party supports the development of Inuit education curricula which are language and culture specific.

On protecting Inuit communities from the impacts of climate change:

• The Bloc Québécois says it will continue to pressure the federal government to allow Quebec to implement its own environment protection plan, which the party says is one of the most innovative in the country;

• The Liberal Party would review a 2010 House of Commons report on sustainable development and adapting to climate impacts and work to implement its recommendations;

• The New Democratic Party would implement its Climate Change Accountability Act, which sets science-based targets for greenhouse gas reductions in law. The party’s 2011 Green Platform includes over $20 billion in initiatives, paid for through revenues of a cap-and-trade emissions program; and,

• The Green Party would take direct action to avert a “climate catastrophe” by reducing Canada’s carbon emissions; the party would also work with Inuit (government, communities and local experts) to prepare an adaptation strategy.

On protecting Inuit hunters from wildlife restrictions, such as the European Union seal product ban:

• The Bloc Québécois has requested that the federal government actively promote seal by-products. The party supports Canada’s measures objecting to the ban with the regulatory authority of the World Trade Organization;

• The Liberal Party supports a seal hunt that is “sustainable and humane.” The party supports free trade with the EU, although it would work to ensure that a Canada-EU free trade agreement defends Canadian interests, including the market for Inuit wildlife products;

• The New Democratic Party says it supports a humane, market driven commercial market for Inuit wildlife products. The party’s policies would be driven by close consultation with the affected communities; and,

• The Green Party would negotiate and legislate primary hunting, fishing, trapping and logging rights for Inuit peoples on traditional lands, especially on lands under federal jurisdiction, subject to standards of sustainable harvesting, where not covered by existing land claims.

On uranium mining:

• The Green Party is the only of the four that opposes future projects to mine uranium in the Arctic. “Nuclear energy is neither safe, nor sustainable, and its use should be ended,” the party says in its response.

• The other three parties suggested that any future projects must be guided by careful consultation and monitoring.

Visit ITK’s website to see all responses.