A cold hard calculation

Firstly let me just say that Chief Theresa Spence is a brave,inspirational and principled leader unfortunately for Chief Spence, Stephen Harper is nothing of a sort. There has been much debate as to when Harper will meet with Chief Spence or if he will even meet with her at all, I fall into the latter camp.

Harper is all about the cold hard calculation and unless he sees his stance harm his numbers within his rock solid base of 35% to 38% popular support he will not deign to lower himself to meet with Chief Spence. He likely has little to fear in that regard as witnessed by the evil vile racist comments his supporters have unleashed on  Chief Spence and all  the aboriginal people of Canada. He may not even worry if he sees a small drop in support believing the next election is far off in the distance,  a distance far enough away that he can recuperate that support and why wouldn't he, that has been the case every time his party's support has taken a hit.

As is typical with Harper,  Chief Spence's well being does not enter in to the equation, if it did he would have already met with her knowing full well every day he sloughs her off increases the risk of her suffering permanent damage to her health. I'd love to say this display of arrogance and indifference would be Harper's Waterloo but that would likely require Chief Spence's death and I don't wish for that to happen.

If I could talk to Chief Spence personally I would plead with her to give up her hunger strike. While her's and her peoples cause is a just one her community has seen enough death and suffering. Our Aboriginal communities have the highest infant mortality,diabetes, incarceration, substance abuse, and suicide rates in the country, this is the legacy of our ill treatment of our First Nations peoples throughout our colonialist history. A brave and honourable woman shouldn't have to die for us to realise this and set down the path of atonement and reconciliation.