It’s easy to see the charm of the Green
Party. The Greens
have some refreshing policies. For example, their national
website describes that
Greens want to “End Colonialism and Oppression of Indigenous
Peoples.” I can’t
fault that. I want that too. I have consulted with Indigenous
Peoples, most
extensively in regards to the contaminated water issue, and my
heart aches over
the anguish many have faced in regards to the social disruption
and maltreatment
of themselves and their relatives.
Nonetheless, the Green website promises
action for the
benefit of First Nations peoples. Yet it seems to me that it is
easy to promise
what you won’t be called upon to deliver.
I am reminded of an enjoyable evening at a
quality Italian
restaurant in Calgary earlier this year. I was hosting three
gentlemen of the First
Nations business community, each of whom had a mirthful sense of
humor. I
forget what we were discussing, but it was an evening of
laughter when somewhat
out of context, the gentleman on my right, who is a bank and
business advisor, soberly
remarked that the only government that has ever helped the
Indigenous Peoples
of Canada has been a Conservative government. Immediately the
other two, the
CEO and CFO of a First Nations resource company, murmured their
agreement, and
one mentioned that the Liberals talk, but they don’t do.
I don’t doubt that a Conservative government
will help the First
Nations of this country, and, unlike the Greens, the
Conservatives will likely
get the chance to do it. If not, then I expect the Greens to
support the
Liberal minority government and then we’ll see how much is
really done for our
First Nations fellow citizens. No, I won’t be voting Green.
No comments :
Post a Comment