Misstep on native affairs

Source: Toronto Star
When Premier Dalton McGuinty gave aboriginal affairs a dedicated minister in 2007, he said the issues were so important they required full-time attention. Now he has put the ministry under the wing of Attorney General Chris Bentley, already fully occupied. Does that mean the pressing issues have been resolved?

Far from it. The battles over mining in Ontario's vast north are intensifying, there are ongoing problems with land claims, and poverty and despair overwhelm many First Nations communities.

And yet, Bentley, who among other things is struggling to reduce court backlogs and end a legal aid boycott by defence lawyers, is now expected to take responsibility for all this and "build new economic opportunities for aboriginal people in Ontario." Tall order indeed.

Predictably, native leaders are disappointed that McGuinty does not see their issues as "worthy" of a dedicated minister.

For his part, Bentley says he can handle the job and has "a lot of listening to do." The risk, though, is that native leaders may wonder why they should bother talking. Michael Bryant was aboriginal affairs minister for just 11 months before being shuffled out. Brad Duguid held the post a bit longer – 16 months – before being moved out this week. Given this revolving door, will Bentley even be around long enough to meet with all the players?

This is all the more disappointing because, to date, McGuinty has made substantial efforts to improve the government's relationship with First Nations. It would be a shame if this latest move undermined that positive momentum.

Shortly after giving aboriginal affairs its first full-time minister, McGuinty said he had thought of assuming the role himself to show its "seriousness" but decided not to "because it was too much work for me to do it justice." If the premier can't handle this portfolio with his other duties, why does he think the attorney general can?