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Envoy slams aboriginal record
Severe housing shortages and overcrowding affects peoples' health

Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Published Monday, May 19, 2014

NUNAVUT
"Canada faces a continuing crisis when it comes to the situation of indigenous peoples of the country," stated James Anaya, United Nations' special envoy on the rights of indigenous peoples world-wide, in his report on Canada released May 12.

He stated it is difficult to reconcile Canada's well-developed legal framework and general prosperity with the human rights problems faced by indigenous peoples in Canada.

Anaya's report is based on research, an October 2013 visit to Canada, and a 2004 visit and report from the previous special envoy. During his nine-day stay in Canada, Anaya visited with aboriginal communities and their leaders, as well as government representatives, across the country

"The well-being gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in Canada has not narrowed over the last several years, treaty and aboriginals 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 toward government at both the federal and provincial levels," states Anaya.

The report outlines the critical nature of housing for Inuit, both the lack of adequate housing and overcrowding.

"It is worth noting that the chronic housing shortage has a severe negative effect on a wide variety of economic and social conditions," Anaya states.

"Overcrowding contributes to higher rates of respiratory illness, depression, sleep deprivation, family violence, poor educational achievement, and an inability to retain skilled and professional members in the community."

Despite the federal investment of $100 million over two years to support the construction of about 250 new housing units in Nunavut, Anaya noted there is nevertheless "severe housing shortages" in Inuit communities.

He also targeted social services, noting that the cost of social services required by the aboriginal population is higher due to remote communities, but Canada does not earmark more resources.

Aboriginal education - especially the First Nations Education Bill determined by aboriginal leaders to be inadequate - and the preservation and revitalization of languages also took a hit.

"The same year the federal government apologized for the residential school policy, 2008, it committed some $220 million annually for the next five years to Canada's Linguistic Duality program to promote English and French," Anaya stated. "By comparison, over the same period, the federal government spent under $19 million annually to support indigenous language revitalization."

Participation and partnership is an issue, according to Anaya, citing the passage of several acts in recent years that specifically affect aboriginal people, "yet there was no specific consultation with indigenous peoples concerning them."

Anaya made 16 recommendations in an effort to address the gap between the well-being of aboriginal and non-aboriginal people, stressing "aboriginal peoples' concerns and well-being merit higher priority at all levels and within all branches of government, and across all departments."

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Recommendations

The UN special envoy made 16 recommendations aimed at bridging the gap between aboriginal people and non-aboriginal people. Here are a few:

  • provide adequate funding for education, health, and child welfare
  • improve delivery of services
  • ensure affordable, sustainable and adequate housing in the Arctic
  • ensure that the mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is extended for as long as may be necessary
  • undertake a comprehensive, nation-wide inquiry into the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal woman and girls
  • ensure that legislation only be implemented following meaningful consultation, with a view to obtaining the consent of the aboriginal people to which they will apply, and with accommodation of their concerns

Source: UN Envoy Report on the Rights of Indigenous People

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