Attendance list for Prime Minister- First Nations meeting

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A group of Manitoba chiefs outside the front door of Langevin Block, the site of today’s Crown-FN working meeting demand Harper come outside and meet with them. (David Akin)

So who’s at this meeting that many of those outside Langevin Block today (above) did not want to take place? Continue reading Attendance list for Prime Minister- First Nations meeting

Palmater: If GG and PM do not come to chiefs' hotel, there will be consequences

As I blog this at 11 a.m. Eastern, we are two hours away from a scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper, some of his cabinet ministers and officials and some First Nations leaders. We believe Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo will be one of those leaders along with AFN B.C. regional chief Jody Wilson-Raybould.  But we’re still not quite sure if that meeting will occur and,if it does, if it will be with those FN leaders. Continue reading Palmater: If GG and PM do not come to chiefs' hotel, there will be consequences

Confused about Harper's intentions for Friday's AFN meeting?

Two nights ago, Ottawa-based APTN reporter (and former colleague) Jorge Barrera tweeted:

 

That got a lot of Twitter pickup, with nearly 30 re-tweets etc.

A few minutes later, after being contacted by a spokesman for Harper, Barrera tweeted:

That one didn’t get so much pickup. Only 4 retweets.

Today, (another former colleague) Gloria Galloway reports in The Globe and Mail that:

” At the same time, the Prime Minister signalled that he would attend only part of the Friday meeting …  Many [chiefs] said they were also unhappy to learn that Mr. Harper might be present for just half an hour at the beginning of the talks and half an hour at the end. When asked if that was Mr. Harper’s plan, spokesman Carl Valée replied: “Things are still being worked out at the moment.”

Galloway did not, however,  report how this idea — that Harper will spend only an hour with the chiefs Friday — surfaced. Who  “signalled”? How did it happen?

I asked the Assembly of First Nations yesterday if anyone had told that organization that Harper would be present only briefly for the meeting and whether, for that matter, the AFN had any other details about the meeting such as where it will be and when it will start. Here’s the answer from an organizational spokesperson:

“Meeting details – location, timing, etc – still being confirmed… I understand it will be a full day meeting with PM and members of Cabinet.”

Again, that’s from the AFN at mid-afternoon Wednesday. Presumably, National Chief Shawn Atleo and other AFN chiefs would have had that same information as they were meeting at the same time at an Ottawa hotel. Where did this “signal” come from?

I also asked the same question of the PMO yesterday — What is the level of PM’s involvement in the meeting? Where will it be? Will it start in the morning? Mid-morning? Late afternoon? — and was also told, “Details will be forthcoming.”

The only thing the PMO would tell me was that Barrera’s initial assertion — that the PM would simply show up,make a statement, and leave after 30 minutes — was wrong. And that’s what Barrera’s second tweet was all about.

Still: I’m not sure why the PMO is being so coy about details about a meeting that is happening tomorrow. Surely when the PM proposed the meeting last week he himself would have had an idea how much engagement he personally wanted to bring to the file. In the meantime, the silence from the PMO on the meeting details makes it easy for those who already dislike the Harper Conservatives to continue telling everyone he’s hardly going to be there.

He may yet hardly be there. But he may not, as well.

 

Former Supreme Court Justice jumps into Liberal leadership race

Well, here’s something you don’t see everyday: A retired Supreme Court Justice — Ian Binnie — endorses Liberal leadership candidate George Takach:

Binnie, in endorsing Takach, notes he’s known him for 25 years and says “I think it’s important the country not be left to career politicians.”

 

Job one for the next Liberal leader: Call back the legislature, says Hudak

The last time the Ontario legislature was in session,the Leader of the Official Opposition sat across the aisle from Dalton McGuinty. But when opposition leader Tim Hudak next takes his seat at Queen’s Park, his sparring partner could be Sandra Pupatello or Kathleen Wynne or Gerard Kennedy (the best bets according to this look at the how delegate selection might be stacking up) Continue reading Job one for the next Liberal leader: Call back the legislature, says Hudak

Chief Theresa Spence: "controversial leaked audit no more than a distraction"

Earlier today, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development published, on its Web site, an audit into the finances of the Attawapiskat First Nation. The audit covers the period from 2005-2011. Theresa Spence was the deputy chief from 2007 until 2010 and since 2010 has been the band’s chief.

In a letter, dated August 28, sent to Chief Spence and which forms part of the audit, auditors Deloitte Touche said:

“…we were unable to conclude whether the claimed expenditures were in accordance with the terms and conditions of the funding agreements between Attawapiskat First Nation and AANDC and Health Canada, respectively. The lack of financial management controls to support compliance with the terms and conditions of the agreements is inconsistent with the requirements of the funding agreements with the Government of Canada. We were unable to determine if the funds were spent for their intended purpose.

There is no evidence of due diligence in the use of public funds, including the use of funds for housing.”

Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan did not take questions from reporters today but issued this statement through a spokesperson: “The independent audit from Deloitte and Touche LLP speaks for itself, and we accept its conclusions and recommendations.”

Chief Spence, like Duncan, did not take questions from reporters today but, a few minutes ago, issued this statement:

For immediate release:
January 7, 2013, Victoria Island, traditional territory of the Algonquian Peoples….a controversial leaked audit (which was completed last September), is no more than a distraction of the true issue and to discredit Chief Spence who Continue reading Chief Theresa Spence: "controversial leaked audit no more than a distraction"

Letter from Attawapiskat: "We are in full support for an forensic audit"

Here’s some correspondence, obtained last year through a Access to Information request to the federal department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, that speaks to at least some dissent in Attawapiskat when it comes to the leadership of Chief Theresa Spence and her band council. Particularly relevent given the results of the audit the government released today:

Attawapiskat elders write to Department urging audit

Note: If you were the author of this letter and would like to chat more about this, feel free to call me collect!