Take me off your guest list, Harper Blog of the Week: North End MC

• Published in: Winnipeg free press
• Main Author: Champagne, Michael
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Winnipeg, Man FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership 19.05.2013
• ISSN: 0828-1785

I don't want to meet Stephen Harper. Ever. I don't wanna bump into him on the street; I don't want to sit across the table from him in a meeting; and I certainly don't want to hear empty promises face to face. But what I do want -- and maybe I am crazy for thinking this -- is a prime minister that stands up for all Canadians all the time. I don't want a prime minister with a selective memory and a media-centred strategy for working with First Nations people. I don't want a government that only sees one colour of suicide. I want a government that listens to our children when they ask for help and does what's right. Every time, not just sometimes. First Nations young people are five to six times more likely to commit suicide than their non-aboriginal Canadian counterparts. In Winnipeg, in the inner city, the Point Douglas census region statistically has the highest rate of suicide and suicide attempts in all of Winnipeg. Recently, one of the young leaders known to many other indigenous and inner-city leaders committed suicide at the age of 18. This was less than a month ago. In places such as Neskantanga, Ont., there are whole First Nations that have declared states of emergency recently due to the alarming rate of suicide. This is an epidemic. But where is Harper's response? Where is the expedited process for these communities? When will these communities have an opportunity to have their voices heard? We need help, and I thought we were finally going to get it.