Thousands of Canadians have already suffered layoffs; tens of thousands of Canadian companies are seeing reduced exports, higher import tariffs and many are even vulnerable to potential collapse; while millions of Canadians face an economic future full of uncertainty, more layoffs/closures … and all levels of government are already struggling to pay for public services.
Canada is in an economic crisis.
This is the time for every Canadian, every community organization, every union and every business group to pull together, work together and stand up together for our country against Donald Trump’s war on our independence, our economy, and our very own way of life … which we know, despite the cold weather, is actually much warmer than theirs.
Elbows up!
The “One Canadian Economy Act” (Bill 5, passed by Parliament in June) is a critical weapon in Canada’s arsenal to fight Trump’s crippling tariffs, protect our economy and even improve our independence.
It has already helped remove internal trade and employment barriers and it aims to increase international investment, streamline and expedite approvals for designated major resource and infrastructure projects from coast to coast to coast.
However, in speeding things up, critics fear it will also compromise and denigrate environmental considerations/community input, regulatory controls … and set aside the Crown’s legal duty to “to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate” Indigenous groups/concerns over major projects that may impact Treaty rights/obligations.
I get that … and understand the concerns of ALL communities that could be impacted by any major infrastructure or resource development, pipeline or port project.
Water, fishing, air quality, land, cultural sensitivities and quality of life standards across Canada must be protected by the federal and provincial governments as companies are allowed to extract our nation’s riches and export them to expanded or new markets.
BUT consultation and accommodation does not bestow “veto” power … and it certainly must not be allowed to become a licence for shakedowns, extortion or blackmail!
Yet, it sure seemed to me that was the objective, listening to Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, just before Prime Minister Mark Carney spent a full day meeting with First Nations leaders last week.
“AFN national chief says fast-tracked projects bill should come with plan for infrastructure for reserves,” the National Post reported.
Noting Bill 5 would speed up consideration/approvals of major projects, Woodhouse Nepinak pointed to what she called a “$350-billion gap in infrastructure for First Nations kids in this country” and called on the federal government to address “lack of access to clean drinking water, roads and housing, as well as the number of young people dying in communities”.
Noble goals, indeed, but those are long-term issues that go well beyond the scope/focus of the immediate economic crisis Canada is facing.
The real concerns over Bill 5 should be whether/how it protects the environment, respects local communities and meets the governments’ duty to consult and accommodate Indigenous nations where appropriate.
Woodhouse Nepinak’s remarks smacked of just “gimme, gimme, gimme” … more a threat of blanket blackmail opposition than an appeal for consultation and inclusion!
Not that addressing serious on-going problems isn’t worthy, but every town/city/community/jurisdiction in Canada, has on-going problems: infrastructure, crime, drugs, mentally ill running amok, homelessness.
Imagine if each local community/town/city/region made pre-requisite demands for billions of dollars that governments must also satisfy wherever companies/cities are interested in proceeding with a major expedited resource or infrastructure project!
Canada would lose; foreign investors would just go elsewhere; and the US would once more keep us almost totally reliant.
Fortunately, there are now many First Nations which do support resource development, extraction, pipelines and offshore exports as a key to Canada’s economic future and they welcome the jobs and revenue/royalties sharing that could benefit their bands.
But with more than 634 First Nations across the land (200 in BC) … I have no doubt some will challenge the fast-tracking law over the principles of consultation and accommodation, which is their right, but, sadly, others will simply try to cash in by blocking/extorting/blackmailing every project they can.
Several First Nations in Ontario have already launched a Constitutional challenge against Bill 5, saying it violates their Charter Rights and threatens their “sovereignty”
“Our case is not a fight against development, it is a fight against dangerous development pushed ahead by factless, thoughtless and reckless decision making from government Ministers behind closed doors with little accountability,” Chief Taynar Simpson of Alderville First Nation told APTN News.
That Courts will decide … but that, with Appeals, could take months or even years, handicapping efforts to grow Canadas’ resource economy.
Here’s hoping most First Nations leaders and band members will agree our collective wealth and prosperity will get a boost by increasing our resource developments and overseas exports, and that can be accomplished while respecting the duty to consult and accommodate where appropriate.
However, when the blackmail/extortion/shakedown artists start demanding blackmail or act out threats to shut down approved projects, federal, provincial officials, the police and the Courts should get them out of the road, fast … without paying them a loonie.
Harv Oberfeld
(Follow @harveyoberfeld on “X” for FREE First Alerts to new postings on this blog. No spam, just alerts to new topics up for discussion.)
Seeing as most on this piece seems to get after the natives. I have this to share. I have emailed 5 Chiefs and one lieutenant governor to explain to me why one grave had yet to be dug up and prove that children are buried. To date I have not had one bloody reply.
In my mind it has been a good money grab. With more monies yet to come from Canadian taxpayers….
(Response: My position, in view of Trump’s attempt to bring Canada to its knees, is that federal and provincial governments MUST expedite our efforts/projects/outreaches to other nations to protect/advance our economic independence … and no pressure groups of activists (FN or any other) should be allowed to block/shake down or blackmail our progress. So far, it’s a group of nine Ontario bands that already have tried to squeeze $100 million out of the taxpayers … and I’d bet others will follow, not just seeking revenue sharing or jobs, but millions (billions?) in hard cash to get out of the way. The governments, police and Courts should not let any activist shakedown artists get rewarded through extortion. Ho)
@ Bendelmac
What I have been told, that these graves at residential schools are “forgotten” graves, where the simple wooden crosses have rotted and not replaced. After time, most traces of the cemetery have disappeared.
It seems the mainstream media did not properly report that the graves were forgotten graves and mistakenly called them mass graves, which has a completely different connotation.
There is no law in Canada that requires a grave to be maintained. I was told that there are few graves in long lost towns cemeteries in BC that are maintained by the “War Graves Commission” which maintains the graveyards of the dead from WW1 & 2 in Europe and Asia.
The following is researched and edited using ChaptGPT: Apologies for that but I’m tired of my typos.
We can complain as much as we want about B.C.’s First Nations, but the reality is that B.C. is unique in Canada. Only about 5% of the land is privately owned (mostly by settlers), while the Crown controls around 94% of the province — land that is technically “public” but increasingly contested.
According to legal precedent and modern treaty negotiations, it looks like 30–50% of B.C.’s total land area may eventually be transferred to First Nations through treaty settlements or Aboriginal title claims. Much of the remaining Crown land will likely be subject to co-management arrangements between Indigenous governments and the provincial or federal governments.
In other words, the die may already be cast: there will be little to no new private land available for ordinary British Columbians. Issues like housing affordability and family land ownership will only become more difficult to resolve. And since most First Nations have no stake in expanding private property rights or housing supply for the general population, they have little incentive to compromise.
What troubles me most is this: if the majority of us are non-Indigenous voters, why do our elected politicians so often appear to prioritize First Nations’ interests above the general public’s? Are they under legal pressure? Political pressure? Or is it simply easier to avoid conflict with powerful legal and activist forces?
(Response: It’s very simple. The squeaking wheel gets the grease … and the attention and taxpayers’ bucks from the politicians. Militant FN have become experts in making noise, grabbing attention … and getting public payouts for their grievances, both real and contrived. (Like hundreds of millions to search for murdered children (any found yet?) or, the latest, challenging the federal government’s Bill 5, not just on principle (which is fine), but right away asking for $100 million in “damages” … even before a single project is approved, let alone begun! Now, that’s chutzpah! 🙂 LOL! Ho)
Well in 2017 the Horgan government made that 25 year backroom deal at 7 % per year of Casino revenue. This revenue sharing agreement was, wait for it….A Reconciliation Deal.! So much for eqaul and fair revenue sharing for all. This 25 year deal will see First Nations receiveing billions over that term. And here’s the thing this is just one killer of a deal out of the other giveaways made and in the making by our shameful backstabbing dear leaders.
I believe the revenue gravy train under the BCNDP had begun leaving the station around that time and its just kept picking up speed and now Eby is the drunken operator of that train. Nonconfidencevote covers it perfectly overall on the national scale. I only see Reconciliation as one big dollar sign and sickening shakedown.
(Response: I have no problem with Canada’s Indigenous groups sharing the bounty from developments impacting their communities. But what I’d really like to see (and I believe many band members would also support) is federal and provincial do comprehensive audits of where ALL the monies handed out to First Nations actually ends up. Their books used to be open, under Stephen Harper, but Justin Trudeau did away with that requirement: dumb move! And just for starters, how many hundreds of millions have the feds shelled out for “searches” for all those “murdered” (Jasmeet Singh’s term) children at residential schools. Where did the money actually go? Any hidden bodies unearthed yet? No! Let alone, any evidentiary forensic signs of any kids being actually murdered? Or was it a scam? The auditor general(s) should do a deep dive into FN funding/spending. Ho)
You bet. I agree.
100% agree.
Even First Nations band members complain of Band Councils with zero accountability.
Those tax dollars belong to everyone.
100% full disclosure as to who gets it, what it is spent on and why……
And if basic accounting principles like that aren’t acceptable to the people receiving tax dollars….no money.
(Response: I’m very old fashioned: I believe the taxpayers have a right to know exactly where all their money is spent …who gets how much for what … and that applies to payouts to FN as well as any other person or group or corporation. And in the current economic crisis, all governments must be firm in not allowing any militants groups or organizations use shakedown blackmail demands and tactics to block major projects that have passed all the legal and regulatory requirements. But watch how many will try! Ho)
On the subject of the residential school and mass graves of supposed murdered children but no bodies or forensics to back all of that up yet, then my qeustion so far is not just the books be opened up, but also which politicians were and are a part of getting this rolling to full steam ahead and who’s in charge now for perpetuating it and still shelling out those huge sums of tax dollars to possibly meet their political ambition goals for themselves and their party Who is responsible for this and taking leadership in such a fraud and lie if indeed it is, and so far its heading that way. I never payed much ado to this subject when it first came out because go about our daily business and see the orange tee shirts and hear the stories and just say oh that’s really sad and tragic, but now after delving into a bit more trying to see the best non biased angles I can and now your statements about this has really changed my brain and got me to pay attention better. I thank you for that.
So yes, where are the bodies and forensics. Where is the the mainstream media and journalism and just just media in general of all sizes and shapes. Well we know we’re they are. Cowering in their pathetic little corners hiding in their shadows where cowardly media personalities hide. Even their own shadows are probably trying to run away and hide. So let’s have it. Enough is enough, tear the bandaid off and expose the festering wound. Word out there from coast to coast. Expose the lousy self perpetuating politicians who pushed this and the ones still pushing it, and the politicians and media heads sitting on their scared duffs not doing anything to get the truth, one way or the other.
Expose it all and get to the truth I say as a concerned and ticked off Canadian. So far the truth has been missing and Canadians must have that. Shine the light on it. Let’s see if Carney and a few others has the guts to face this and tackle it to the ground and put a stop to it. It’ll be a tough one given the weight the extreme activist cancel culture political correctness camp that’s rabid throughout our system. Davi Eby and his one way or the highway extremists won’t be of any help for sure. If this has all been a fraud and shakedown and extortion blackmail or whatever one may call it with our taxes, then I want my portion of money back, hahaha, not bloody likely, We would all be rich, if we got our money back for all the waste and fraudulent uses of our tax money bad politicians have used it for.
(Response: No doubt today’s media have been intimidated to the point they no longer dare to question almost anything related to First Nations, challenge their claims/demands or expose any waste/fraud/incompetence in administering public funds. It’s quite legitimate for the public (including band members themselves) to demand access to the books: who got how much or what; was the money spent properly etc. The auditor general should be brave and tackle the issues! Ho)
Can’t help but agree.
As per my comment about forgotten graves in an earlier post, i can add this.
What was the death rate of children prior to 1960 and the general use of vaccinations, upon the general population and how do they compare to the death rate at residential schools?
A friend of mine is into the history of cemeteries (I prefer trains) and any cemetery, the gravestones for children pre 1960 is staggeringly high.
It is a big mistake to compare the past with the present. We can learn from the past but that is about all.
I’m tired of First Nations leaders who act like they lead separate nations inside Canada while taking lots of money from Canada. It’s time for them to think of the good of the entire country and also contribute to our country. The mentality of simply asking for more and constantly taking is destructive.
Of course we accept that many natives were mistreated. At the same time, though, we can’t go back in time. We need to live in the present. Yes, Canada is in an economic crisis. Though Canadians elected a self-serving globalist and elitist to lead the country, it’s time to put aside political differences and work together. Canada must increase resource development and exports.
(Response: Many FN get it: they want to be part of the economic growth as long as they share in the profits from it and they can protect the lands, waters, wildlife that has been part of their way of life for centuries. However, I believe Canadians are tired of those (of any group) who just want to keep filling their own pockets with cash from taxpayers without doing anything to earn it. Canadians are a warm, generous people: if there is anyone who is legitimately unable to work or is ill etc and needs help, we’re ready to help; but Canadians who work hard and pay taxes are fed up with those who think the taxpayers should pay everything for them, while they enjoy permanent vacation time. Ho)
Since when did a minority BC govt have the authority to sign away BC voters rights?
1700 Sunshine Coast Natives get a veto over anything that happens on 1 million Hectares of BC land?
Northern BC is in the same situation?
What planet are the Eby appeasement acolytes from?
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/caroline-elliott-the-end-of-canada-is-coming-and-b-c-s-ndp-is-leading-the-charge
When 40 million Canadians have no say in their future and are held hostage to an unelected 1% of Native decisions…..
Why would anyone live want to here?
Or, more importantly…
Why would ANY business want to invest here?
Perhaps when unemployment is 15%, tax revenue is near zero, and angry mobs are pounding on the gates of govt….they will get it?
(Response: No doubt there are far left ideologues who would give First Nations veto powers (ie the power to blackmail, extortion) resource projects anywhere in BC, but I’m not so sure Eby is that niave. If the NDP is in favour of any project, I do believe Eby would succumb to FN shakedowns and hand out millions upon millions to FN more easily than any other municipal, regional or communities making demands for compensation over resource project impacts. But I don’t think he’s so stupid as to believe the duty to consult also bestows the right to veto. Ho)
Just look at the disgusting secret backdoor agreements that have been made with First Nations in 2020 by just this wacko BC NDP government alone regarding an added 7 percent give away of more horrendous amounts of the general publics cash for 25 years along with the up front after Covid massive cash outs to them. This revenue is everyone’s and shouldn’t be given to favour them group or community over the Big Majority !! If more people even knew about this maybe people would stop or lessen their addiction to casinos as a protest. But sadly probably not. This is just a corner part but an eqaully important part of what’s going on about how much government is bowing down and giving in. Some people might not think this not important but if they only knew the amounts involved with this dispiceable scam.ofbour revenues they may think differently. The secretive behind closed doors backstabbing agreements by government is the worst part. No more.
The first nations are about to hit a reality check and from first appearances, they do not like it.
Presently they have a free ride from the Canadian taxpayer and with utter stupidity of the Trudeau years (and previous to that as well), they expect more.
As mentioned before, I know of at least two people who either sold a family business or just retired due to First nations becoming far too greedy for more and more money. Due to politcal sensitivities, best not give the details but one is so off the wall, it could be from a Monty Python Skit.
Yes, the First nations have been treated poorly in the past; Yes, the Residential school fiasco has been ill handled by senior government and not properly dealt with (it wasn’t just the first nations but I was whipped in Catholic kindergarten so hard I could not eat because I drew my “A’s” wrong. My dad dealt with it to the point the RCMP paid us a visit later), sadly no cash pay-out for me!
I could go on, but many here would not believe, but those who have dealt with the FN’s probably would.
Canada is at war, a asymmetrical war and we must do everything to keep our country OUR country. The First nations must understand that because the alternative is that they loose all their rights if we did become the 51st state and probably treated as the Palestinians are treated today.
Contrary to spin by so many, the FN’s are treated well by the Canadian taxpayer, but if this war continues, their free ride will end and they will soon realize that there is only one taxpayer and the revenue generated by exports pays for their largess and that could disappear over night.
From my viewpoint, Canadians are tired of the first nation’s issues; they are tired paying for their free ride, while thy have to pay more and more for goods and services and what good will that has been generated in Canada with relations with the FN’s could evaporate very quickly.
I hope their leaders see 20 minutes into the future, because if those government cheques stop coming, a large percentage of the FN’s would disappear within a decade, with only the largest surviving.
I know this will cause a lot of angst for those who want things to continue as they were, but it won’t. We are living in a new age, with a dying empire to the south of us and the fiscal realities of Canada are changing and it is not only me, but the rest of Canada including the first nations are going to have to deal with the present hand being dealt to us now.
(Response: With more than 600 First Nations in Canada, it should be no surprise that there are many divisions among them. Quite a few realize their economic futures (jobs/royalties etc.) rest in supporting/partnering with resource development companies and governments; others, however, are still looking for a free ride … a paternalistic relationship with the Crown (ie governments), where most of them sit on their asses all day and just live off handouts from and shakedowns of the taxpayers. In the current economic crisis, federal and provincial authorities have to push aside or go around (or over) the latter! Let those bands that try to stop/block all/any resource projects go to the end of the line when it comes to allocating funds. Ho)
Yes, there are certainly many FN’s that are well managed and fiscally responsible and they will weather the storm, but there are others who are ill advised and abetted by local “higher purpose” persons.
With the gathering storm south of the border and a, as you call him the “Mad Hatter”, supported by some of the most malignant people one can find, it is a “crap shoot” on what the future holds.
Canada must prepare.
Most Canadians have been comfortably numb for the past few decades, but now, as history repeats itself and Canada must be prepared or fail. Canada must relearn the lessons of 1938/39 all over again to assert ourselves as a nation not to be toyed with.
Over 56,000 Canadian soldiers died in WW1 and 23,000 Canadian soldiers died in WW2, soldiers who fought for Canada, we must not let them die in vain. Canada must do, what must be done and the FN’s had best understand this.
Bill C-5 is better known as the One Canadian Economy Act, and it better darn well be that, because I’m personally fed up to the ears with the politicians constant giving in to way to much First Nations shakedowns. We are all one. No more. I’m actually very happy the Federal NDP became almost non existent. Imagine if they were running Ottawa like the NDP has run BC concerning their attempts to give FN veto power and parallel governance, and give zero respect for the MAJOR majority of the publics interest and purse. The me,me,me must stop. We are all First as a Nation of one people. Sure we all have our cultures, traditions and such but we are ONE as far as I’m concerned in our daily business as Canadians I think the future for governing parties who stay on this road will see their governing ended sooner when people go to the polls. The Fed Liberals came close and the BC NDP came close. I hope Carney doesn’t screw up and can keep the Trudeau goofs in his cabinet at bay. Andvif he does screw up to much then I would hope that the balance of power from Qeubec and a few good no confidence hits and votes and public opinion will smack down Carney. I know thats a long shot from the Bloc seeing as they like are looking out for themselves, but it might also work for them if Canadians see them as standing against to many shakedowns from not only Fist Nations Council leaders but other groups and communities trying to empty the Nations treasure chest that’s supposed to be for all of us. After all, Qeubec is Canada, as BC is. From sea to shiny sea. Coast to coast.
(Response: As I pointed out in my blog piece, nine Ontario First Nations have already filed a Court challenge to Bill 5, and what I found very telling (and somewhat amusing) was this CBC description of their claim: “The First Nations are asking court to strike down the laws, require the federal and provincial governments to make a series of declarations about how they were passed without respect to First Nations or the constitution, and pay $100 million in damages to the communities.” LOL! $100 million “damages” … when no project has so far even been proposed, nor approved, nor begun work on. So they want $100 million “damages” because the government didn’t adequately “consult” (in their opinion) ??? That sure sounds like just another “gimme, gimme, gimme” shakedown attempt to me … and I hope every dollar of their legal expenses comes out of band members’ pockets and earnings …and not from federal/provincial funds sent their way. Here’s the whole CBC article, if interested: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/first-nations-court-federal-ontario-bills-infrastructure-1.7585443. Ho)
Yes after reading the link it’s just amazing that it’s run now to the courts to get injunctions to attempt to continue the cash flow shakedowns. Its high time this madness is stopped dead in it’s tracks. Personally, I’m sick of it as is most I think. The smaller minority and certain community interests from the give me group corners are taking away so much appropriate revenue sharing for all the publics common interests and necessities and enough of those political parties and their bums in charge across the nation that have aloud it all. Let’s get back to one together for all Canadians because this isn’t Reconciliation anymore. It’s using it for cash grabs and the dirty side of political ambitions. It’s disgusting. Shame on the ones that are leading the charge for this abuse of our public funds. Most f the blame should be heaped upon the bad politicians involved. I know here in BC at least the NDP are guilty up to their deaf ears and stupid disrespectful brains.
(Response: About a month ago, Ontario Premier Doug Ford got into trouble for saying FN cannot “keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government” for more money. He apologized after the remark hit the fan, but I sensed there were millions of Canadians, who never get covered by the compromised, intimidated media, but actually agreed with him. Now, the good news is there are many, many FN who agree resource projects in their areas and sharing the bounty fairly could hold the key to their own economic successes. But given our current extreme economic challenges, our politicians MUST develop the backbone to stand up to any activist extremists who try to blockade projects that have achieved regulatory approval or illegitimately shakedown/blackmail companies/governments for millions! Ho)
After First Nations receive billions in reparations or “land swaps”….any further demands should be legislated out of existence.
No more money.
We are done.
OR, as you have suggested Harvey, why would any business risk building anything here.
The Trans Canada pipeline was a case in point.
The Private sector had purchased the pipeline rights and proposed “twinning” and upgrading the existing pipeline.
The entire project became bogged down in a morass of “gimme gimme gimme” demands…that, ultimately caused them to walk away.
The Trudeau govt was virtually forced to buy in, naively it seems, and the pipeline was finished.
Horribly overbudget and more First Nations complaining for more more more.
Enough.
There isnt a bottomless bag of cash.
The shakedown of taxpayers will come to an end….one way or another.
(Response: If there are major new mines or pipelines proposed for any community (town, city, rural municipality, reserves) there should be consultations to mitigate any concerns. And I also don’t see anything wrong with sharing the newfound wealth, through grants or royalties etc where appropriate. But given Canada’s current need for speed, NO group should take advantage by trying to exploit or extort payoffs by threatening to blockade or tying up projects in courts just for a cash payoff. Ho)
Right on Harvey. ..
The natives already have a “bundle” of cash the feds have dished out. Why aren’t the natives using the cash to improve things like water…and there has to be accountability for the cash and what they are using it for. Under Harper there was accountability but Trudeau threw that out…I believe the natives will fight and fight about Bill 5 until they get more cash….
(Response: Mafia-style shakedowns for cash , in my opinion, don’t meet the criteria envisaged in the Constitutional duty to consult and accommodate where appropriate. I can understand concerns about environmental impacts and even visual/land value affects of projects, but I hope the federal and provincial governments will fight back hard if any group tries to just milk/harass/blockade potential developments that otherwise meet all regulatory requirements ! Ho)