Pool refugees

Crowded lanes

The pool was jammed with them this morning because all the pools in Calgary are closed, thanks to the incompetence of the water "managers" in that city.  In addition to lane swimmers, six lanes were taken up by swim teams that had arrived at 5 a.m.  When I arrived around 7:30, it was still packed.

But I persevered and finished my set!  Someone naively said they'd probably be using our pool for the next two weeks.  "Two weeks?" I said.  "Make that four at a minimum, but probably six."  As I said, the entire summer will be a write-off for anyone wanting to use a pool in Calgary.  

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But what I really wanted to talk about is the latest on the Indigenous child-welfare file.  Sorry to hammer on, but it never ends!  Remember when Harper held an apology ceremony in the House of Commons a number of years ago?  Well, the natives want another.  Yep, Assembly of First Nations (AFN) national chief, Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, announced that the prime minister would AGAIN be apologizing for the child welfare system next year.

"This apology is very significant," said Ms. Nepinak.  "It amounts to another step in trying to right the wrongs of the past.  It's a hard, dark issue that Canada has to face up to and I think this whole country needs to hear it and it needs to be on the record.

Apparently, all these children weren't educated, they were tortured.

"Money is not going to solve everything, neither will an apology, but this is about moving forward in a better way," she added.

Well, if money isn't going to solve anything, why take more of it?

Haven't we heard enough?  Haven't we done enough?  Haven't we handed over enough billions already?  No, apparently not.  And, of course, Cindy Blackstock and the child and family caring society are right in there waiting to collect the $23 billion which has been awarded natives on this file.

$23 billion!!!  Oh, and naturally Murray Sinclair is in the mix as a negotiator.  

But wait, there's more.  In addition to the $23 billion, there is another $20 billion earmarked for reforms to the child-welfare system on first nations.  But hang on, don't the natives run their own child-welfare programs?  Haven't they insisted on it?  So, if the whole mess they have created needs to be reformed, why are Canadians handing over more money to do it?

Alas and alack.  Sigh.............