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In my last writing, I highlighted the phony effort of this government to bridge the gap with the Aboriginal people by preaching a change of attitudes just at the time when the Aboriginal leadership is accused of mishandling our finances(1). My contention was that the most important cultural gap is not with the Aboriginal people but between the "few and privileged" versus the "poor and disfranchised(2)."

Therefore, today, as I read the article "Vast extension of human rights urged(3)," I find the consolation that more people are understanding that the roots of our current social disparity is due to our systemic economic discrimination against the poor. This article makes reference to the report "Promoting Equality: A New Vision" and quotes Justice Gerard La Forest saying that "Canadian human rights law should protect the most economically disadvantaged from discrimination."

I had a little laugh as well when I reflected that human rights laws are circumvented by our own government and by our own Legislative Assembly. Currently, I have been exposed to the abuses of no-fault insurance in Saskatchewan and therefore I can make direct reference to the related legislation which negates the rights for an injured person to have his own doctor or an alternative rehabilitation program; and to the abuses of the insurance adjusters when they continually harass their injured clients by putting them under surveillance, by discounting their voices, by subjectively denying legitimate claims, and by putting them into forced rehabilitation programs which further increase their pains and suffering(4).

With the present mind set of our leadership, Canadian human rights laws are insufficient to protect our basic individual rights. Here in Saskatchewan, Premier Roy Romanow prides himself of having been responsible to the creation of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission(5), yet his own government breaks the laws and has become above the law(6).

References & Endnotes

Quote by Donella Meadows "challenging a paradigm is not a part-time job. It is not sufficient to make your point once and then blame the world for not getting it. The world has a vested interest in, a commitment to, not getting it. The point has to be made patiently and repeatedly, day after day after day" ftp://sysdyn.mit.edu/ftp/sdep/Roadmaps/RM1/D-4143-1.pdf http://iisd1.iisd.ca/pcdf/meadows/default.htm

General reference: Articles by Mario deSantis published by Ensign

1. Asserting Human Rights by Changing Attitudes in a land for the Few and Privileged, by Mario deSantis and reviewed by James deSantis, June 19, 2000

2. From a global point of view refer to Its up to Nature Now, by Timothy Shire, June 22, 2000

3. Vast extension of human rights urged, Luiza Chwialkowska, National Post, June 22, 2000

4. Coalition Against No Fault In Saskatchewan. Transcipts Of Our First Meeting In Regina! http://www.angelfire.com/nf/coalitionagainstnf/library1.htm Transcipts Of Our Second Meeting In Saskatoon! http://www.angelfire.com/nf/coalitionagainstnf/nofault.pdf

5. Honourable Roy Romanow, Q.C., Premier of Saskatchewan http://www.gov.sk.ca/bios/premier.htm

6. Premier Romanow is breaking down Saskatchewan's Rule of Law, by Mario deSantis, June 17, 1999