Northern Chief Presents Premier With Grievances
Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 22:16
The National Day of Action is now in the books, but some strong words from a northern Saskatchewan chief earlier this week may be lingering in the mind of Premier Brad Wall.
Fond du Lac First Nation Chief Albert let the premier know he isn’t happy about an alleged lack of consultation with his people over development projects in the Athabasca basin.
Speaking in Prince Albert on Thursday to a large crowd which included other premiers, Mercredi told Wall his people are concerned about mining exploration on their traditional lands and don’t feel they’re sharing in the economic boom.
Mercredi says the government doesn’t seem interested in using a land use plan created by band members.
Mercredi also says the cancer scare in Fort Chipeywan has alarmed his people, and they worry Lake Athabasca could be harmed by Alberta oilsands projects.
Wall says he knows oilsands activity requires environmental stewardship, and adds that’s what he’s committed to.
Discussion about the so-called Jordan’s Principle also came up during this week’s Western Premiers’ Conference in Prince Albert.
The leaders issued a statement expressing support for the measure, which forces governments to pay for hospital care for First Nations children — even if jurisdictional questions aren’t settled.
Wall said it’s unacceptable for First Nations kids to be caught up in a jurisdictional web — and who pays for the service is not the most important issue.
Still, he’s not quite ready to sign onto the plan.
He noted that the Northwest Territories has adopted the principle, but Ottawa has been slow in reimbursing that government.
Wall says the shortfall last year alone was $96 million — roughly a third of the NWT’s entire health budget.
The premiers have directed their ministers to prepare a report on the issue for 2009.