Lots Of Smoke No Mirrors In Proposed Aboriginal Title

Tuesday, March 31, 2009 03:45 AM

It seems the only people who seem to get the idea right about the proposed new Recognition and Reconciliation Act
are outside of government.

Hand the discussion paper to any reasonable thinking individual and they will come up what they believe the discussion paper is all about. The ability of the aboriginal community in BC to obtain veto rights over Crown land.

What is so disturbing is the fact that the Province doesn’t have constitutional right to do all this, but is attempting to get around that by forming 30 bargaining units that will act on behalf of the 200 or so reserves in B.C..

The Province has been sending out its best guns (all be it in private meetings) to say don’t worry be happy; we are not introducing a veto power. That’s what they say at the private meetings around the province.

On the other hand, insiders in Victoria are telling us, if the current government is re-elected, (and the word if is beginning to creep into the conservation more each day) the Liberals will hold a brief session of the legislature in June and pass the new legislation giving the First Nations of the province exactly what they said they wouldn’t, namely the right to veto.

It has been strangely silent around my phone from the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and the Premier's office in regard to this proposal. All we are told in the quiet meetings is that there is no veto included.

If that is the case wouldn’t it make perfect common sense that the 30 units would be formed first and then you might move on in public discussion to looking at the other proposals? Not so and we are being told "trust us".

Well BC Rail immediately comes to mind only this time the carriers haven’t been bought off and business 'round the province (along with a good many rank and file supporters of the Liberals) are getting more than a bit edgy.

The comments by the Premier last weekend did nothing to reduce the concerns. If you read between the lines, or for that matter take them at their face value; you have a distinct feeling that what was proposed in the discussion paper is exactly what the Premier would like to bring down in legislation. If it isn’t, how come the members of the Liberal Caucus took such a hard line when the matter reached their attention?

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.

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Posted on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 03:45 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Posted by: Palopu on March 31 2009 6:23 AM

What do the Liberals have to gain from this Legislation??

One assumes that there main concern at any given moment is for business interests in the Province, not Native issues, or issues that concern everyday citizens.

They must see this as a way to get the First Nations on board when it comes to getting the OK for mining, oil, exploration, etc;

In any event the Liberal are pushing the envelope in a lot of areas. A hell of a lot of thier support comes from people who would normally vote Social Credit, or Conservative, or something else, and Liberal is the only alternative at this point in time.

The argument that you must vote Liberal to avoid having a NDP Government is wearing thin, and I suspect that they will get their butts kicked in the upcoming election. Mainly because they have done diddly squat for the average Citizen in this Province, and because they are more than somewhat arrogant. Who needs them. Kick them out and let the chips fall where they may.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 31 2009 7:14 AM

There is far too much left unsaid in this monster.
Campbell has a hidden agenda in this and for some reason he does not want to talk about it.
This scary for B.C.
Very scary,and if it is not what we seem to think it is,why do they say as little as possible about it,even in the face of the coming election?
A victory at the polls for the Campbell Liberals could very well be an economic disaster for B.C.with this staring us in the face.
This proposed deal will scare the hell out of any outside investment,or any investment period, in mining and forestry.
There IS something more behind this and we need to understand what it is before we go to the polls in May.
Something stinks.

Posted by: socredible on March 31 2009 8:08 AM

Before we vote in the NDP shouldn't we make sure that we're not going to get the same thing coming through the front door that Campbell's trying to sneak through the back one?

Where does Ms. James and her Party stand on this issue of Aboriginal "veto power", should it actually be what's coming? I haven't heard that she opposes it, nor just where the NDP stands on this issue. Though it might do us all well to remember the NDP's former stand on such things as the Nishga Treaty, the way it was enacted into law in the Legislature without being fully debated.

The BC Liberals, more than any other government in our history, do deserve to be roundly thrown out on their ear. Their policies in the last eight years have done more long term damage to BC in 'good' economic times than even the NDP managed to achieve in ten years of 'bad' ones.

Most people will only begin to realize this as the bills come due, and there's precious little left to try to pay them with. But even so, the choices we have on election day shouldn't be continually between 'bad' and 'worse' ~ we deserve something better, whatever it's called. There won't be any third party 'saviours' this time around, and trying to create one won't have the desired effect. But lets all demand from those running for elected office, whatever their party, a clear statement of where they stand on this vitally important issue. Lets get it in writing, before giving our vote to any of them.

Posted by: yellow shovel on March 31 2009 9:24 AM

Ok...we see the problem. Next question...what can be done to fix it. How do we deal with an arrogant Gordon & Gang? Ms. James and her Party the answer....I don't know! Government whether it be city hall or on up just isn't listening...they get on an agenda and just push it through regardless of what the tax payers and people have to say. I'm just wondering if voting Gordy&Gang back in just so the'll be round to beable to sit in front of the fan when the chit starts to hit it in a few years...

Posted by: caranmacil on March 31 2009 9:52 AM

Well these dal is a vote buster for me. I think it would be an election buster for the liberals too if it were not for the fact that the NDP support the thing and everyone expects they would bring it in if elected. I dont know what the premier is up to with this but i dont see it as a positive step towards what we actually need: Permanent settlement of native land claims and security of access to resources by the people of BC (all of them).
If members of the government actually read these boards then they ought to take note of the fact taht no one is writing to support this idea, unless it be people who would never vote libeeral in the first place.

Posted by: lostfaith on March 31 2009 10:20 AM

pilapou writes " Liberal is the only alternative at this point in time."

Not that it means anything but you are entitled to your opinion.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 31 2009 10:54 AM

I agree with all the above posts to a degree but unfortunately,the Campbell Liberals are banking on this same uncertianty to get themselves re-elected.
Go with the evil you do know,as opposed to the evil you don't know!
It's a tough one, but I still hate the thought of accepting bad government simply because we are afraid of the alternatives!
Would the NDP be easier for the voters to "control", or would it be more of the same in a different coloured hat?
The damage is done,now who best to fix it if that is even possible at this stage of the game?

Posted by: caranmacil on March 31 2009 11:10 AM

I think that there is always the 'third alternative' when we talk about voting in a 2 party election. That is to say: dont vote at all. While a lot of people act like casting a vote is your moral duty it isn't. There is no virtue in giving your vote to someone you do not endorse. If democracy has boiled down to being forced to choose the lesser of several evils then we are in rough shape.
Unfortunately for the liberals, they are going to suffer from a loss of votes that will just be sitting at home instead.

Posted by: diplomat on March 31 2009 6:41 PM

"A victory at the polls for the Campbell Liberals could very well be an economic disaster for B.C. with this staring us in the face."

Relax. The last time B.C. suffered from de-industrialization and de-investment it weren't the Liberals who had the majority.

Posted by: socredible on April 1 2009 12:52 PM

But this time they do.