Kelowna Accord facts for kids

The Kelowna Accord was a set of agreements made in 2005 between the Government of Canada, leaders from the provinces and territories, and leaders of five national Aboriginal organizations. The main goal of these agreements was to make life better for Aboriginal peoples by improving their education, job opportunities, and living conditions. This was planned through government funding and special programs. The accord was supported by then-Prime Minister Paul Martin, but his successor, Stephen Harper, did not fully support or implement it.

How the Accord Started

The idea for the Kelowna Accord came from 18 months of discussions and meetings. These talks led to a big meeting in Kelowna, British Columbia in November 2005. At the end of this meeting, a paper was released called "First Ministers and National Aboriginal Leaders Strengthening Relationships and Closing the Gap." The Prime Minister's Office also sent out a press release about the agreements. It's interesting to note that the name "Kelowna Accord" wasn't used at the meeting itself; it first appeared in a newspaper article later on.

Aboriginal leaders saw this agreement as a big step forward. They liked that it involved everyone working together and talking about important issues.

Plans and Funding

The Prime Minister's Office announced on November 25, 2005, that over $5 billion would be spent over five years. This money was meant to improve several key areas for Aboriginal peoples:

• Education: About $1.8 billion was planned to create better school systems, train more Aboriginal teachers, and help children with special needs. The goal was for Aboriginal high school graduation rates to match the rest of Canada.
• Housing: About $1.6 billion was set aside for housing. This included $400 million specifically for clean water projects in many remote communities.
• Health: About $1.315 billion was planned for health services. The targets were to reduce infant deaths, childhood obesity, and diabetes. The plan also aimed to double the number of health professionals, like doctors and nurses, in Aboriginal communities.
• Economic Development: $200 million was planned to help create more job opportunities and support businesses.
• Relationships: $170 million was for building stronger relationships and ensuring accountability.

Phil Fontaine, who was the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations at the time, believed these goals were achievable.

Why the Accord Didn't Happen

Soon after the Kelowna meeting, a federal election took place in Canada in 2006. The Liberal government, led by Paul Martin, lost to the Conservative Party, led by Stephen Harper.

When the new Conservative government presented its first budget in May 2006, they said they agreed with the goals set in Kelowna. However, they did not agree with the way the previous government had planned to spend the money. Instead, they wanted to use a different approach with more focused projects and changes to the system.

Paul Martin, no longer Prime Minister, tried to make the Kelowna Accord happen by introducing a private bill in Parliament. This bill, called Bill C-292, asked the government to follow through on the agreements. While the bill passed in the House of Commons, it was mostly symbolic because private bills cannot actually approve government spending.

Aboriginal leaders like Phil Fontaine and Mary Simon, who was then the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (the national organization for Inuit in Canada), continued to push for the accord to be implemented. They felt it was a major step forward that was being ignored.

What Happened Next

The Harper government did not fully implement the Kelowna Accord as it was originally planned. While they did sign some funding agreements for Aboriginal communities, these were not called the 'Kelowna Accord' and involved less money than originally proposed. For example, the budget included $450 million for Aboriginals over two years, which was less than the $600 million per year that the Kelowna Accord would have provided.

Because the federal government didn't move forward with the accord, some provinces decided to take action on their own. This shows how Canada's system allows different levels of government to work on similar issues.

For example, Manitoba was one of the first provinces to start working on parts of the agreement. They partnered with private businesses and First Nation and Métis peoples to make progress in education, training, and employment.

However, reports have shown that federal government involvement is still very important. Without it, different provinces have different strategies, which can lead to uneven results across the country. Some provinces, like British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, made more progress than others.

See also

• First Ministers and National Aboriginal Leaders: Strengthening Relationships and Closing the Gap (also known as 'Kelowna Accord', 25 November 2005)