Canada: rogue nation?

The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination "remains concerned at the extent of the dramatic inequality in living standards still experienced by aboriginal peoples" in Canada.

Rightly so. The status quo, in which native people have the worst outcomes in virtually every index of quality of life in our country, is just not acceptable.

Of course, it's not like Canadian governments haven't tried different solutions. Self-government, tax benefits, multi-million dollar settlements, affirmative action... it's all been tried.

Which is not to say that Canadians should just give up. On the contrary, for everyone's benefit, solutions must be found.

Whether that means little steps like allowing private ownership of housing on native land or more drastic action like doing away with the entire system of reserves, who knows? But for all our sakes, change better come soon.