Native access to human-rights complaints stalled over First Nations’ concerns

OTTAWA (CP) - Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice has accused Liberals of stalling native access to human rights legislation, even as First Nations say he’s imposing changes without their input or support.Once again Wednesday in the House of Commons, Prentice cited his efforts to protect the rights of native women in particular.

“He’s turning things around, making it look like we’re agreeing with him,” says Beverley Jacobs, president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. “And right now we don’t.”

Prentice should show his commitment to human rights with enough cash to clean up decrepit housing and polluted water on reserves, Neville says. She and other critics say federal spending increases to about $10 billion this year for native programs have not kept pace with inflation, let alone population growth.

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