Paul Martin introduced a private member's bill Friday on the Kelowna Accord, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper is calling the agreement a "work in progress."

Martin helped broker the $5-billion, 10-year deal last November while still the leader of the country. The money was earmarked for housing, education and health care initiatives for aboriginals.

Now a backbencher -- following an election defeat in January -- the MP for LaSalle-Emard hopes his bill will save the accord, which did not receive much money in the Conservative government's budget.

"I'm asking the Conservative government to rise above partisanship and effectively...put into effect what really was a historic agreement," Martin told CTV's Canada AM earlier Friday.

Speaking today in Montreal, Prime Minister Stephen Harper disputed whether the Kelowna agreement was a done-deal.

"I think the most flattering thing that can be said about it is that it was a work in progress," he told reporters at a press conference on the sidelines of a meeting with Canada's big-city mayors.

Speaking earlier, Martin said the Kelowna deal was agreed to by all the provinces -- including five with Conservative governments. It was also signed by territorial leaders and aboriginal organizations.

"We're one of the richest countries in the world. It's just not acceptable that a substantial segment of our population, the youngest portion of our population, should be living in degradation."

Meanwhile, Martin is continuing his work on the world stage. He will fly to Germany next week to meet with a thinktank about the creation of a new League of Nations -- the L-20.

He has also been asked by the United Nations to follow up on commission on the Third World that he was previously involved in.

However, the Kelowna Accord remains one of his top priorities, he said.

"I have a little bit more time today than I did when I was prime minister, but my focus right now is really on the aboriginal issue and getting Kelowna ahead."