I'm A Little Confused (Never Mind The Snide Remarks)

But isn't it the aboriginal "leaders" who vehemently opposed Harper's legislation that would give indians more rights and would hold chiefs more accountable.

PM signals Canada unlikely to back UN declaration

GLORIA GALLOWAY

Globe and Mail Update

September 9, 2007 at 8:57 PM EDT

SYDNEY, Australia — Canada's Prime Minister sent a strong signal Sunday that his government would not agree to sign to United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People when the matter comes to a vote later this month.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper told a late afternoon news conference in this Australian city that he has not yet decided what Canada's position will be with regard to the document that aims to limit the abuse and murder of indigenous people around the world.

But “the government of Canada has profound reservations about elements of the draft. And our government's position is we shouldn't vote for things on the basis of political correctness, we should actually vote on the basis of what's in the document and whether or not the government of Canada can and will implement the content,” Mr. Harper told reporters.

The UN General Assembly is expected to adopt the declaration before the current session wraps up on Sept. 17.

Supporters and aboriginal leaders in this country say the declaration has no binding effect but is a long-overdue step toward the recognition of aboriginal rights.