Ottawa’s Endorsement Of UN Declaration Questioned
Friday, March 05, 2010 at 14:27
Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl is defending the federal government’s decision to only offer “qualified” support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in this week’s throne speech.
At least one First Nations chief in British Columbia has criticized the Tories over the decision to qualify the declaration, arguing it would effectively water down the document.
However, Strahl says the declaration is aspirational only and not legally binding.
He says, because of that, the government needs the help of Aboriginal leaders to find the right kind of language to use in Canada’s interpretation of the declaration.
Strahl says the government’s plan is similar to how Australia affirmed the declaration last year.