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Amnesty International criticizes Canada’s treatment of aboriginals
May 27th, 2010Source: The Canadian Press
TORONTO – Amnesty International’s annual report sharply criticizes Canada in a number of areas, including aboriginal rights and the use of security certificates to detain terror suspects.
The report says Canada failed to ensure aboriginal rights when issuing licences for mining, logging and oil and gas exploration.
The annual report accuses Ottawa of continuing to make “baseless claims” that the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples does not apply in Canada.
The two pages spotlighting Canada also note the violence against aboriginal women and the lack of a national plan to address it.
Oil and gas developments in northern Alberta come under sharp criticism as continuing without the consent of the Lubicon Cree who are in poor health and living in poverty.
People detained under security certificates continue to be denied access to the evidence used against them, it states.
The report makes note of the Afghan detainee controversy and that Omar Khadr remains in U.S. custody in Guantanamo Bay despite a Federal Court ruling that Canada should seek his repatriation.
It also takes issue with the use of Tasers by police forces.
