Inuit leader asks federal parties 12 questions
The president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami says she wants to know where the federal political parties stand on Arctic and Inuit issues — not just during the election campaign currently underway, but long after the Oct. 14 vote is done.
In an open letter sent last week to the five party leaders, Mary Simon posed 12 questions on topics ranging from international Arctic policy to meeting the housing, health and education needs of Inuit.
“Right now, the Arctic is the crucial issue for the Canadian agenda, and we want Canadians in the south to understand our issues and take them up,” Simon told CBC News.
Inuit Tapiriit Tanatami represents about 45,000 Inuit in Nunavut, the Nunavik region of northern Quebec, the Nunatsiavut region of Labrador and the Inuvialuit region in the Northwest Territories.
Simon said she wants all five parties to submit their answers by Oct. 1.
The federal Liberals were the first to reply to Simon’s letter, with that party’s answers posted on ITK’s website Monday.
On the question of Inuit housing, health and education issues, the Liberals pointed to the Kelowna Accord, which Paul Martin’s Liberal government had worked out with aboriginal leaders in 2005.
Stephen Harper’s Conservative government scrapped the Kelowna Accord after defeating the Liberals in the 2006 election.
The Liberal party said the Kelowna Accord had committed $5.1 billion over five years to close the poverty gap that exists between aboriginal, Inuit and Métis peoples and other Canadians.
As well, the Liberals promised to engage Inuit in developing economic, environmental and international policies that would enhance the quality of life for northerners.
Simon is embarking on a cross-Canada speaking tour later this month to talk about the 12 questions, as well as encourage Canadians south of 60 degrees latitude to talk about Inuit and Arctic issues with their local candidates.
“This will also help ITK in determining what kind of issues and what positions these new political leaders took before they got elected, so that we can follow up on those issues right after the election takes place,” she said.
