[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[viper37]

I asked before for a list of all public inquiries by the Feds or the provinces and what they have changed.  I suspect we have seen recommendations totally implemented in less than 0,5% of the cases.

Look at Gommery.  The Liberals are in power now.  Their financing practices haven't really changed, they are just more discrete about it.  Unions provides free manpower and equipment donations to the NDP.

[Grey Fox]

It is not because people are flawed or because it doesn't really do anything that we shouldnt ask questions. That we shouldnt ask why?

Not everything is a line in a +/- ledger, ffs.

[Valmy]

Yeah whatever happened with that Highway of Tears business? IIRC they caught the guy doing it and then it kept on happening anyway.

[PRC]

The major cause of missing and murdered native women is native men.   That's not an end point though, and it's also an unpalatable answer for the politically correct.  Dig deeper and you find the causes of missing and murdered native women is poverty, perhaps a racist system with all the odds stacked against them, little opportunity for betterment and no appetite for change from Ottawa (we'll see if that changes soon enough) or from the leadership on the reserves (also an unpalatable answer for the politically correct).

[viper37]

It is not because people are flawed or because it doesn't really do anything that we shouldnt ask questions. That we shouldnt ask why?

It costs money and produce no results.  Should we do the same thing every 20 years so we feel better?
That's like smoking pot or cigarettes.  It solves nothing, it costs money, it can create health problem later in your life, it's a burden to thos around you, but at the moment, it makes you feel better.

[crazy canuck]

Viper, you asked about inquiries that have helped in the past.  I do not have an encyclopedic knowledge of such things but I can give you a description of some I am aware of or have been involved in that have had positive results.

APEC inquiry - substantially changed the manner in which police forces deal with protestors.

Dziekański inquiry - substantially changed the manner in which police forces use tasers. 

Pickton inquiry - substantially changed the manner in which police forces in BC allocate resources to deal with crimes against prostitutes. 

I am not sure why an inquiry which will, in part, examine police response and allocation of resources to reports of missing indigenous women or the investigation of their murder might not have a similar salutary effect.  Also even if PRC is correct that the major cause is native men (I don't think he is but that is something else for the inquiry to consider) then that would necessarily shine a light on that issue and assist in finding solutions.

[Malthus]

It is true, some inquires have far-reaching, important implications. Also, the inquiry process is often a useful way to defuse tensions, to allow those aggrieved about some situation to "have their say", have it recorded for posterity.

However, it is also true that many inquiries are, basically, a feel-good way of doing nothing. This is particularly true where the object of the inquiry is a political hot potato on a subject where actual reform will be politically difficult and earn no-one any points. Calling an inquiry is a great way to deflect reform: no need to do anything right now, because the inquiry has been called; the inquiry can be protracted for years if need be (gotta hear from everyone); the inquiry will, doubtless, produce a whole palette of recommendations of greater or lesser importance - by which time, the political body politic may well be absorbed by the next big issue of concern, and few will read the fine print.

I actually worked on an inquiry many years ago - that one was a total waste of time and its recommendations were ignored, which may prejudice me somewhat! 

[PRC]

Also even if PRC is correct that the major cause is native men (I don't think he is but that is something else for the inquiry to consider) then that would necessarily shine a light on that issue and assist in finding solutions.

What do you think the major cause is?

[Monoriu]

I know next to nothing about the natives in Canada.  They are almost a mythical entity to me.  I sometimes heard about "reserves" in the news, but I had no idea what life was like in them.  I read somewhere that the natives could run casinos.  I do know that the "natives" in HK are generally much better off than the average population because they own lots of land.  So I assume that the natives in Canada are doing reasonably well. 

[crazy canuck]

Also even if PRC is correct that the major cause is native men (I don't think he is but that is something else for the inquiry to consider) then that would necessarily shine a light on that issue and assist in finding solutions.

What do you think the major cause is?

I don't know.  That is why an inquiry would help.  But I think we can rule out aboriginal men as the "major" cause.  If that was the major cause there would be more dead women on reservations then in the highways of BC.

[viper37]

Viper, you asked about inquiries that have helped in the past.  I do not have an encyclopedic knowledge of such things but I can give you a description of some I am aware of or have been involved in that have had positive results.

APEC inquiry - substantially changed the manner in which police forces deal with protestors.

Dziekański inquiry - substantially changed the manner in which police forces use tasers. 

Pickton inquiry - substantially changed the manner in which police forces in BC allocate resources to deal with crimes against prostitutes. 

I am not sure why an inquiry which will, in part, examine police response and allocation of resources to reports of missing indigenous women or the investigation of their murder might not have a similar salutary effect.  Also even if PRC is correct that the major cause is native men (I don't think he is but that is something else for the inquiry to consider) then that would necessarily shine a light on that issue and assist in finding solutions.

We had Truth and Reconciliation not so long ago.  How many recommendations have been applied?

[viper37]

I know next to nothing about the natives in Canada.  They are almost a mythical entity to me.  I sometimes heard about "reserves" in the news, but I had no idea what life was like in them.  I read somewhere that the natives could run casinos.  I do know that the "natives" in HK are generally much better off than the average population because they own lots of land.  So I assume that the natives in Canada are doing reasonably well. 

Natives don't have individual ownership of the land in their reservations.  It belongs to the Feds or the Council band.
There are lots of native tribes, those living closer to cities tend to fare better than those living in remote areas (shocking, I know), with no road access and completely isolated.   Most of these people were once nomads, they were forced to adapt to a sedentary life style, reduce their hunting and fishing so as to depend from the Federal government.  And about a century ago, we collectively decided it was for their best to lose their culture and forcefully adapt to British way of life. The kids were sent into convents where they were often beaten and abused, they lost their culture, their language, so that when they got back to their parents, they felt like strangers, but they were no more accepted by the whites in our society. 

Hence, we have a native problem.

Part of it depends on them, part of it on us.  But when you start to pay people to stay at home, lots of bad habits developp and they become ultra dependent on this lifestyle.  Also, while some deals were made with provinces concerning revenue sharing of natural resources, it's mostly piece meal, varies from place to place, from province to province, from company to company.

[crazy canuck]

I am pretty sure Mono was trolling.

[viper37]

I am pretty sure Mono was trolling.

I never know...

[Monoriu]

I am pretty sure Mono was trolling.

I never know...