HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-04-13, Page 5Wednesday, April 13, 2016 • Huron Expositor 5
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Aboriginal prosperity a win-win for Canada
It doesn't make for
juicy front page
headlines, but abo-
riginal people are qui-
etly engaged in the hard
work of growing their
local economies. Cana-
dian businesses need to
understand this,
embrace it and get
involved.
In a recent guest col-
umn for Postmedia,
academics Ken Coates
and Greg Poelzer wrote
that "crises are noisy,
accomplishments are
quiet." In other words,
the bad news gets a lot
of media attention, but
the success stories go
unreported. And the
success stories are
many.
This past week
brought a reminder of
those quiet accomplish-
ments. Leaders from
business and aboriginal
communities gathered
in Toronto to partici-
pate in the Natural
Resources Forum to dis-
cuss economic growth.
Former prime minister
Paul Martin, a longtime
champion of aboriginal
prosperity, told the
crowd the business
community has the abil-
ity to be "indigenous
Canada's greatest allies':
If businesses team up
with First Nations com-
munities starting at the
ground floor of a pro-
ject, there are many
benefits for both sides.
The aboriginal popu-
lation is one of the fast-
est-growing in Canada.
A Statistics Canada
report from 2011 found
"the aboriginal
population increased by
232,385 people, or
20.1 per cent between
2006 and 2011, com-
pared with 5.2 per cent
for the non -aboriginal
population."
Clearly, growing popu-
lations need to be
brought into the eco-
nomic fold for Canada to
remain competitive. No
one wins when a segment
of society is shut out.
Martin put it bluntly:
"If we turn our backs on
indigenous Canada, we
might as well kiss
Grits need not delay fundraising changes
I atien Wynne
has promised new
rules for political
fundraising in Ontario
after a series of news
reports revealed just
how the cash is chang-
ing hands at Queen's
Park. A cool $1,600 a
head for a dinner with
the premier; ministers
personally responsible
for raising hundreds of
thousands on behalf of
the party. In Ontario, it's
beginning to look like
"fundraising" means
buying access to
cabinet.
Raising money is inte-
gral to the democratic
process; you can't run a
party without funds. But
you can raise them in
ways that are more
transparent to the public
and less inviting to those
who might make big
donations in the hope of
buying influence.
Trying to quell the
issue, Wynne on Mon-
day stepped up the gov-
ernment timeline for
changes to this spring,
from the fall. She has
promised sterner gov-
ernment regulations on
political donations, and
the other parties -- who
snuffle at the same
trough -- agree tougher
rules are needed.
Broadly, Ontario
allows maximum contri-
butions of $9,975 a year
from individuals, corpo-
rations and unions,
more during campaigns.
New rules would likely
ban corporate and
union donations. The
letter to the editor
A special thanks to the volunteers
Letter to the editor,
It's unfortunate but true:
In today's hectic world, we
don't always say "thank
you" enough.
National Volunteer
Week is April 10-16 and I
would like to extend a
heartfelt thanks to our
wonderful team
of volunteers at Huron
Hospice. Volunteering is a
choice and without volun-
teers our agency would
not exist. Hospice volun-
teers are very special peo-
ple, giving their time,
hearts and compassion to
those facing a life threat-
ening illness. For over 20
years Huron Hospice
rules for federal parties
say broadly that only
individuals can donate,
to a limit of $1,525 a
year.
But Ontario's changes
won't come soon. It'll
follow the federal lead to
ban corporate and
union donations, but a
transition means most
of the reforms won't
take effect before the
next election in 2018,
Wynne said.
It's clear why: Parties
used to big donations
need time to build a
database of individual,
smaller contributors.
The federal Tories
became adept at it, long
before their rivals mas-
tered the art of coaxing
$25 and $100 contribu-
tions from ordinary folk.
Volunteer Service has
been providing support to
Clinton, Goderich, Sea -
forth, Wingham and sur-
rounding area. We have
over 50 trained volunteers
that provide support free
of charge to families,
friends and caregivers
through illness, death and
bereavement.
But it's cynical stuff
to wait until after the
next election. While the
government contem-
plates new rules, the
Ontario Liberal party
could fix this problem
right now.
How? The party could
immediately draft poli-
cies for the sorts of
donations it will accept,
the ceiling it plans to put
on those donations, and
the amount of transpar-
ency it will offer Ontari-
ans. Nothing stops the
party from saying, right
now, that it will no
longer hold gold-plated
fundraisers, and won't
take corporate or union
money.
Political operatives
might say one party
can't do this unless the
Thank you to all of our
amazing volunteers for
your service, empathy
and compassion and for
your dedication to our
patients and our
mission.
-Constance Russo
Manager of Volunteers
Huron Hospice Volunteer Service
economic development
goodbye."
It's important the rest
of Canada embrace the
contributions aborigi-
nals have to offer and
collaborate with aborig-
inal businesses moving
forward.
Phil Fontaine, former
national chief of the
Assembly of First
Nations, at the forum
said there are around
40,000 aboriginal busi-
nesses in Canada now.
"Every one of these
businesses is making a
others do. Perhaps. But
if the Liberals decided to
be the first to act in an
open, responsible way,
they'd dispel even the
whiff of suspicion
money buys policy or
Correction
The Big Buck
Day and Gun
Show story last
week should
have said
the shotgun
was capable
of reaching
a distance of
100 yards, not
a 1000 yards.
Most of the
shotguns were
12 -gauges
and none were
considered
a 50 -calibre
shotgun.
Sorry for any
confusion.
TQC
IT'STHELft
Mr', Forma ;• 4,na•,o-
nun h4r.ga
wve
• 4fl larm
aor
gra ' . i
agivirs. ®rac.
tremendous contribu-
tion to Canada's well-
being," said Fontaine.
Step by step, aboriginal
entrepreneurs and busi-
nesspeople are making
their communities better
and making Canada bet-
ter. This will continue
with or without main-
stream Canada's partici-
pation — but it will be
better, faster and more
beneficial for everyone if
we work together.
Aboriginal prosperity
is a win-win for
everyone.
elections. Voters, sick of
crass politics, would
likely reward them.
We'll take legislation if
we must. But there's no
need to wait. Just show
some leadership.
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