news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4466096.stm
Prime Minister Paul Martin said gaps in wealth, health and education betw een aboriginal and other Canadians were "not acceptable in the 21st Cent ury". Mr Martin, provincial leaders and native groups have been debating the de al at the summit in British Columbia. Canada's one million aboriginals make up 33% of the population. It follows a C$2bn pay-out to natives abused at residential schools. But some details of the plan were not finalised, and it could be jeopardi sed if Mr Martin's government falls in an forthcoming parliamentary vote .
In pictures: Innu life "With this plan, we have made an important step forward in honouring our commitment to close the gap in the quality of life that now exists betwe en aboriginal peoples and other Canadians," Mr Martin told a news confer ence. It has been broadly welcomed by native Indian and Inuit groups attending the summit. "I know there are pessimists and cynics who think this process will fail. I disagree," said Phil Fontaine, head of the Assembly of First Nations, the country's leading native Indian organisation. Protests Canada's aboriginals face problems such as housing shortages, higher teen age pregnancy and suicide rates, and lower life expectancy and school gr aduation rates than the non-aboriginal population. PACKAGE AIMS Encourage home ownership in aboriginal communities Double numbers of aboriginal health professionals over 10 years Lower rates of infant mortality, youth suicide, childhood obesity and dia betes by 50% over 10 years Create native primary school boards Provide construction training to create new jobs However, the start of the summit was marked by protests from some native groups, angry that aboriginals not living on reserved land would be igno red by the new programmes. "If this is going to be a watershed for aboriginal people, why haven't ha lf the people living off the reserves been addressed?" asked Paul Lavert e from the National Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres. There have also been discussions about whether the federal or provincial governments will have the responsibility for healthcare programmes. The long-planned meeting comes as opposition parties are poised to bring down Mr Martin's minority government on Monday and force elections in Ja nuary.
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