February 17, 2012. Don Drummond's report, at least the education piece of it, gets a couple of things right, a couple of things wrong, and a lot open to debate.
Recommendations 6 through 10 deal with First Nations education issues. Drummond is an economist and his lack of understanding of some educations issues reflects his ignorance but he is unequivocable in urging the government to put new money into First Nations education. It's a good idea, one that is about 100 years overdue. Our sorry track record is a reflection of our attitude and indifference to First Nations issues.
It will be interesting to see whether Harper and McGuinty can rise to the occassion. Harper should fund the cost and McGuinty should deliver schooling on a par with the public education system. Drummond sees the need to fund Aboriginal students to the same level enjoyed by other Ontarions
If we get Harper and McGuinty cooperating and moving to implement Drummond's recommendations, both men will go down in Canadian History as leaders who's legacy restored fundamental decency to Canadians' treatment of each other and who ensured human rights are enshrined as part of our national DNA.
If Harper and McGuinty make winners of all of us, McGuinty should keep First Nation schooling out of the hands of the bureacrats in the Ministry of Education. If the system is to work it will take a Minister with a strong hand and a very clear understanding of the need to do things differently to be successful. First Nation culture should be respected and made an integral part of a new system and that won't happen if it takes place under the supervision of education ministry staff. They are steeped in the way things work in the public system; by and large they do as good a job as anyone in North America in overseeing and directing our public education system. That's a good thing and it works well for most of us.
But what will be needed in a new system will be a whole new vision with a partnership between Aboriginal people and the provincial government to design a system that at last respects native culture, native abilities and native differences. Our dealings with First Nation people have been abysmal, led and directed by whites in the south whose patronizing conviction that we know best, have resulted in disastrous policies for First Nations for more than a century.
By happy happenstance, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs is Kathleen Wynne and there is no one who could be better trusted to lead the way and get this done right than Wynne, who began her cabinet career as Minister of Education. She is, hands down, the best Minister of Education since Bill Davis. She is a strong minister, highly respected on all sides of the House as a straight shooter who always does her homework and is always on top of her brief.
Her knowledge of education is a huge asset. Her reputation for focusing on solutions instead of politics is what will be most needed. McGuinty should ensure that this is where he puts the matter if Harper is willing to enter into a partnership.
In my view, for the first time, we have a chance in this country to make a huge breakthrough, to do the right thing by people who have suffered long and hard under Canadians in the south. We have a chance to begin to erase the stain and the shame we all bear as a result of our relations with First Nations.
Harper, McGuinty and Wynne could change that. The cynic in me says it probably won't happen, but the eternal optimist in me is ever hopeful.
