Making everyone else accountable

Good news: it looks like the premiers are endorsing a worthy project. But there's a catch:

Canada's premiers agreed Tuesday to support a 10-year plan that aims to eliminate aboriginal poverty and right historic wrongs...

Native leaders wanted the leaders of the provinces and territories to support the ambitious plan, which was presented to Ottawa in June. It will address health care, housing, economic development and forging a new relationship between Canada's aboriginal peoples and the different levels of government.

The big question now is whether the provinces are willing to be responsible and accountable for the plan. It seems to involve all levels of government, but since aboriginal issues are generally under federal jurisdiction, the premiers' support may amount mostly to their agreeing that the federal government should spend money in order to ensure progress toward important goals. And that would have a lot more meaning if the provinces were willing to do the same.