As most of you know the only representation that first nations is through regular MPs or MPPs who represent a whole riding that they are apart of. This means that they do not have people to represent their issues. It is true that they have more representation in a democratic society, but it is still not a large amount of control. I am not focusing on local government representation because I have talked about that elsewhere. I think Canada needs to follow the example of New Zealand, which has Maori MPs in government. Maori vote in the election of local candidates as well as Maori seats which only they can vote for.
I know this goes against many peoples belief that we are all have the same amount of voice in what direction the country goes. I feel that the first nations need a large voice because they are one of the founding nations of Canada. The French already have lots of input into the direction of Canada because they have many seats in Parliament.
If Canada gets around to fixing the senate, why not add some seat for the first nations. If you follow the basic frame work of the attempted changes in the 1990s each of the provinces would have 10 seat and the territories could have 3 each. The first nations could have three senate seats where they could only vote for. There could be one for each of the different ‘groups’; Inuit, First Nations and Métis. Some would say that three seats would not do a whole lot, but I would contradict. If there was a common first nations party which would win each of those seats, and won at least one in each of the territories. This would allow them to have 6 votes out of 112 votes in the house, over 5% of the vote.
This would not drastically change the political landscape; the part would vote on issues as a bloc and would work with whatever party was in power. It would allow them to have a great voice in the country that they helped create.
I know this goes against many peoples belief that we are all have the same amount of voice in what direction the country goes. I feel that the first nations need a large voice because they are one of the founding nations of Canada. The French already have lots of input into the direction of Canada because they have many seats in Parliament.
If Canada gets around to fixing the senate, why not add some seat for the first nations. If you follow the basic frame work of the attempted changes in the 1990s each of the provinces would have 10 seat and the territories could have 3 each. The first nations could have three senate seats where they could only vote for. There could be one for each of the different ‘groups’; Inuit, First Nations and Métis. Some would say that three seats would not do a whole lot, but I would contradict. If there was a common first nations party which would win each of those seats, and won at least one in each of the territories. This would allow them to have 6 votes out of 112 votes in the house, over 5% of the vote.
This would not drastically change the political landscape; the part would vote on issues as a bloc and would work with whatever party was in power. It would allow them to have a great voice in the country that they helped create.
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