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OTTAWA - Paul Martin says renewed support from premiers for the Kelowna Accord underscores the fact it was a "once-in-a-lifetime event" for aboriginals.

The former Liberal prime minister says the Conservative government should not walk away from the $5-billion accord, reached before the Tories took power.

Martin told CTV's Question Period that abandoning the deal would amount to saying aboriginal Canadians are not entitled to the same quality of education as others.

The 2005 Kelowna Accord, which would focus new spending on native education, health care and social services, received support from all provinces and territories.

Premiers and territorial leaders gathering recently in Quebec City called for a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on native issues.

Martin says whatever the federal government does to help aboriginals, the basic principles of the Kelowna Accord will be an inevitable part of the solution.