Former Prime Minister Kim Campbell may be remembered for suggesting elections were no place to discuss issues, but the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) believes it is precisely the time to discuss issues. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned Canada for the Third World living conditions on native reserves. Yet, the issue of Indian affairs has received little attention in this election.

For a decade, the CTF has advocated for the abolition of the Indian Act and the entire system of Indian affairs. Here's why:

In 1876, the Indian Act was enacted to grant the federal government control and management of Indian reserves in Canada. Until the late 1950s, the federal government's paternalism was all-encompassing; it funded, delivered and administered all aboriginal programs and services.

By the 1980s, Indian bands received considerable administrative autonomy and were able to deliver federally funded (read: taxpayer funded) services without government oversight or audit. All Ottawa did was replace one bureaucracy run in Ottawa with another less accountable bureaucracy run on reserves.

Under the current system, the delivery of programs is in the hands of the chiefs and councils. Since there is no separation between politics and administration on reserves - and there is no requirement to do so - everything on a reserve that is in any way related to band administration is politicized. This scenario provides the chief and council with tremendous power and control over community members.

The federal government currently spends almost $8-billion annually on Indian affairs. Under the Indian Act there is no requirement for native governments to reveal their financial records to their members, let alone to the federal auditor general or to taxpayers. Clearly, this loophole must be closed. As a start, the auditor general's mandate must be expanded to included native bands.

So why does the federal government not put an end to a system which clearly has little or no accountability In a bizarre twist of fate, the "Indian Industry" needs the reserve system - with all its faults - to justify its existence.

The "Indian Industry" is comprised of a massive amount of consultants, lawyers, researchers, administrators and managers. In addition, Indian lobby groups are funded by taxpayers to lobby for more money and special rights for Indian communities.

If the federal government abolished the system and the Indian Act, the entire "Indian Industry" would cease to exist. In other words, the impoverished Indians living in Third World conditions are essential to the existence of the "Indian Industry."

Aboriginal issues are a growing area of public policy and perhaps the most important moral dilemma facing Canada. There is still time before January 23rd for politicians to begin the debate. Federal politicians have an opportunity to stop ignoring the issue of a perverse system that keeps down the very people it was intended to help.