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LETTER: No passing the buck

What wasn’t mentioned was one of the biggest problems we have in Canada – what is happening to our aboriginal people

Very few people I know have a subscription to Maclean’s magazine, so I don’t think Scott Gilmore will mind if I borrow part of his column, "A Real Nation Would Not Let This Happen."

At the time he wrote it, we were just 60 days into the election process and all the parties had made a lot of promises they couldn’t keep and some things they weren’t even thinking were important enough to talk about.

What wasn’t mentioned was one of the biggest problems we have in Canada – what is happening to our Aboriginal people.

During those 60 pre-election days, 1,425 Aboriginal students dropped out of school; 45 infants died before their first birthday; 1,073 Aboriginal children were sexually assaulted; 6,265 women were sexually assaulted; 33,534 women were violently victimized; 183 Aboriginals committed suicide; and 11 were murdered.

One would surmise that the next 60 days aren’t going to change that much – if we don’t change as a nation, as a people who care.

This is not just about what Justin Trudeau decides is good for Canada. It is what all Canadians know has to be done. Promises don’t mean a thing to governments, it seems. But this issue is too big to be ignored. We need action now. And, where is the best place to start, but Ottawa.

Prime Minister Trudeau, the buck stops with you.

Frank Martens, Summerland