Mission to Canada
9– 22 October 2007
This document includes some preliminary observations of the Special Rapporteur at the end of his visit and is not an official document. The final report on this visit will be presented to the Human Rights Council.
Lubicon Highlights:
"The Federal Government needs to commit funding and resources for a targeted national Aboriginal housing strategy – both on- and off-reserve – that ensures that Aboriginal housing and services are under Aboriginal control.
Place a moratorium on all oil and extractive activities in the Lubicon region until a settlement is reached with Lubicon Lake Nation. The Federal Government should resume negotiation with the Lubicon Lake consistent to the Human Rights Law instruments including the Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples."
"I visited urban and rural areas, including ... Little Buffalo ... In these locations, I met with high-ranking officials and representatives of various Government agencies. I also took testimonies from many women, men, youth and children across the country that were homeless or living in adequate and insecure housing; I met with community-based housing and homelessness service providers, housing agencies, representatives of Aboriginal peoples and civil society organizations. ..."
"[D]uring my visit to the Lubicon Lake Nation, I could
witness how families still live without access to water in sanitation
and appalling living conditions and how development projects and
continue to lead to the loss of lands and the asphyxiation of
livelihoods and traditional practices."
"Everywhere that I visited in Canada, I met people who are homeless and living in adequate and insecure housing conditions. On this mission I heard of hundreds of people who have died , as a direct result of Canada’s nation-wide housing crisis. In its most recent periodic review of Canada’s compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the United Nations used strong language to label housing and homelessness and inadequate housing as a “national emergency”. Everything that I witnessed on this mission confirms the deep and devastating impact of this national crisis on the lives of women, youth, children and men."
