April 9, 2003

Assembly of First Nations Acting National Chief Charles Fox was joined by BQ MP Yvan Loubier (member of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and BQ Critic for Aboriginal Affairs), NDP MP Pat Martin (Standing Committee member and NDP Caucus Critic for Aboriginal Affairs) and Grand Chief Margaret Swan of Manitoba’s Southern Chiefs Organization at a press conference in Ottawa today to expose the Liberal government’s undemocratic, secretive tactics in trying to force Bill C-7 (the so-called First Nations Governance Act) through the Parliamentary Committee process.

“What we’ve been seeing the last few days can only be described as the tyranny of the majority,” said Acting National Chief Fox. “Liberal members of the Standing Committee have been insisting on closed door meetings, using procedural tricks to cut-off legitimate debate, physically threatening Committee members from other parties, and arrogantly disregarding the testimony of hundreds of First Nations witnesses. The Minister himself has taken punitive action against our peoples and governments for not supporting his new Indian Act. And they claim they can lecture First Nations about openness and accountability?”

On April 2, only two days after the hearings wrapped-up, Liberal members tried to move directly to amending the legislation - even though the vast majority of witnesses told the Committee not to amend it but to scrap it outright - and to limit debate to ten minutes per amendment.

NDP Committee Member Pat Martin launched into a spontaneous filibuster that continued into the next day. The Liberals used illegitimate procedures to cut him off, so BQ Committee member Yvan Loubier launched into a filibuster of his own.

BQ MP Yvan Loubier had physical threats and insults hurled at him during an in-camera session. The situation deteriorated to the point that both Martin and Loubier raised points of order in the House of Commons on April 3rd.

“The Liberal Chair used disgraceful language unworthy of his office and unworthy of the institution we respect,” said MP Loubier. “If the Liberals truly believe they can defend this colonial legislation then they should have the fortitude to do so in an open, democratic, and respectful process. The fact they’re resorting to cursing and name-calling reveals their desperation.”

“It’s clear that the Liberal government cannot defend their new Indian Act and do not want to listen to the voices of First Nations so they’re trying to avoid a full and open debate,” said MP Martin. “I raised my voice in defense of Parliamentary democracy and First Nations rights, and the Liberals raised their voices to try and shout me down. This issue is too important for First Nations and Canada to be the subject of game-playing and procedural trickery. This is not an MP pay raise. We’ll all pay the price if this legislation goes through.”

First Nations have been ignored and intimidated all through the Governance Act process. Less than 1% of First Nations citizens took part in the initial consultations, and the majority of those who did spoke against the legislation. The Minister inflated the numbers by including anonymous calls to a 1-800 line and through the Indian Affairs website, and created and funded First Nations organizations that would support his legislation.

This pattern continues through the Committee process. An AFN staff member and a Canadian Press reporter tried to attend a Committee meeting on the evening of April 7 and both were ordered to leave and ejected by Committee Chair Bonin. Grand Chief Margaret Swan and an assistant attended a Standing Committee meeting on April 8 and, when they tried to raise their concerns, were forcibly ejected by the Hill Security at the order of the Chair.

Grand Chief Swan stated: “The ‘Nault cult’ are following the example set by their leader, using thuggery and strong-arm tactics to try and ram this Bill through the Committee. The Minister’s background as a railway man is obvious in the way he’s trying railroad this Bill through Parliament. We’d prefer to work in partnership with the government, just as the Treaties say we should, but if they try and roll over us I guarantee we will de-rail that train and its conductor.”

The Standing Committee meetings continue today and tomorrow. First Nations will be closely watching the deliberations. AFN Chief Matthew Coon Come is currently traveling through London, Paris and Geneva to meet with officials from the United Nations, European Union and members of the foreign press. He is providing information about the Canadian governments’ actions and attitudes regarding First Nations rights.

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations peoples in Canada.

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Contact: Don Kelly, Communications Director, Assembly of First Nations

Phone: 613-241-6789 ext. 320, or cell 613-292-2787

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