Why Won’t Canada Endorse the UN Declaration of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights?

OTTAWA-- With Australia’s endorsement of the UN Declaration of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, Canada becomes one of only three countries refusing the sign the document, which aims to prevent discrimination against indigenous peoples. The United States and New Zealand are the only other countries to have not signed on to the declaration.  “Canada is blocking a global consensus on the importance of human rights for indigenous peoples.  Why?” asked Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.

Canada has over a million indigenous people.  The UN declaration would affirm their right to self-determination, their land rights, their rights to cultural identity, and their right to protection against genocide and discrimination.  The Green Party is offended that Canada’s government is not willing to recognize these rights, which are the minimum for indigenous peoples to live with dignity.

“Canada’s excuse for not signing is weak and doesn’t hold water when you consider that Australia was able to reconcile any of its concerns in order to sign the declaration,” said Lorraine Rekmans, Aboriginal Affairs Critic for the Green Party of Canada.

“The refusal of the Conservative government to sign this historic declaration is damaging to our international reputation but even more important, it is damaging to the credibility of the government’s professed desire to work with our indigenous peoples to redress the harm done to them and to work toward self-determination,” said Ms. May.  “Harper’s apology was supposed to be the first step, not the only step.”

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Contact:
Michael Bernard
Communications Officer
Green Party of Canada
613-562-4916 ext. 244
(c) 613-614-4916
michael.bernard@greenparty.ca