Underrepresentation And Participation In Canada Essay

Additionally, their social conditions have also played a huge part in their underrepresentation and participation in Canadian politics. Aboriginals, live in very poor conditions in their reserves. They do not have clean drinking water, their infrastructure is falling apart, there is no steady economy from the reserve and poor healthcare and education. “Although conditions of extreme poverty, poor health, insufficient housing, and impoverished social and health services still exist in many reserves…” (Mccue) Due to their poor lifestyle many people suffer within the reserve. The reserves are a product of past discrimination and neglect. Many of the citizens from within the reserves are also members of residential schools. “Social conditions on …show more content…
This is especially true for the aboriginals they live in very disadvantaged areas with little economic and health services. Some of them are not able to afford the time to go out and vote due to the disadvantages they face. This reasoning also goes in hand with the lack of representation in government, some members of the aboriginal community do not have the luxury to go out and start campaigning or other political activities. For this reason the aboriginal community believe that politics is a waste of time because they have other responsibilities to look after such as their children and their job. Representation in politics is very difficult for this community due to the disadvantages faced within their community. Canada is a first world country with a community living in third world …show more content…
Aboriginal community feel as if there is a strong sense of racism against them; for this reason they do not see a point in participating in politics.“ Racism against aboriginals in B.C. runs so deep that we barely recognize it. It’s in our DNA, it’s in our children’s vocabulary, its absorbed by new immigrants as soon as they land. The stereotypes” Indians don’t work, don’t pay taxes/ They’re “chugs” lazy drunken welfare bums/ They’re chronically poor because they settle for handouts and they deserve what they get.” (Cooper) Due to the stigma around the aboriginal community many of the individuals within the community believe that the non-aboriginal community will not look past the stereotypes assumed by the majority when running for public office and therefore do not make an effort. As mentioned the non-aboriginal society has a deep-rooted idea about the aboriginal people and their way of living. This impacts the number of aboriginal candidates in politics because it does not give the candidate the ability to be judged fairly when an election campaign is in process. “Aboriginal people have not tried to enter Parliament and the provincial legislatures, and the federal government has done little to invite them in. The existence of racism in non-Aboriginal society must also be taken into account.