The Canada we understand now

The schoolyard cigarette butt study suggests the repercussions of a situation that has spiralled out of control are being clearly felt beyond the reserves. There is still no official third level of government in Canada under the Constitution, even if de facto self-government has been established under the Nisga'a Treaty and by a host of other agreements. The bottom line is the federal government has to insist on its right to tax and not only specify the consequences for non-compliance, but act on them. To do otherwise would be to cede sovereignty and create a very different version of Canada than the one we understand now. jivison@nationalpost.com

The Canada we understand now ... That's a whole topic in itself, isn't it? Is it the Canada jivison understands? The National Post? The one I understand? Whose 'Canada' are we talking about? Does it just come down to the federal has to insist on its right to tax and not only specify the consequences for non-compliance, but act on them. Because that's just silly, for those who have read at least some of the law and the history of Canada. It is a legal fact that the federal government cannot impose taxes on reserves. That war was never fought, nothing was ever won. Are you suggesting we fight that one now? hahahahaha Don't be ridiculous. Read the Constitution. (Try the US.) Canada never conquered any Indigenous Nation. We inherited the Queen's peace treaties with them and we uphold them in the Constitution. The police pledge loyalty to the Queen (treaties) and the Constitution, keeping the peace and preventing crime, in that order. That's the way we like it. Loyalty to law, the people. Does the National Post mislead its readers to believe otherwise? Besides, we accommodate different taxes among provinces and with the US. What difference does another tax jurisdiction really matter? Who really cares? Indigenous Peoples simply are not "within" Canada, necessarily. Canada offers citizenship. They choose to accept or not. No country can force citizenship on other sovereign peoples: There was no surrender. "Poof! You're a Canadian now" (1960?) did not make it so. Treaty-for-settlement promises account for the health, education and other payments from Canada. There is no 'third level' of government within Canada. It is simply the respect due to our legal relationship with Indigenous Nations who are allies of the Crown, through Treaties of Alliance. It's just a legal matter, a Constitutional law perspective that has to be implemented: A say in development and a share in revenues on their traditional land. No big deal. Federal and provincial Ministers have both recently uttered the words "Duty to Consult", and Strahl announced plans and funding. Nobody told Canadians that we have sovereignty over Indigenous Nations or their traditional land. That wouldn't be the truth: Our treaties with them allow us to live on their land. No Canadians who accept the 1982 Constitution of Canada would even question "existing Aboriginal and Treaty Rights". So whose interests does the National Post uphold, if not the laws of the people of Canada? A business reality ... Natural tobacco products are in demand, and are available only from Indigenous sources. For all of us non-native Canadians, that is illegal. Pity. Silly. Given the option, even at the same price, I'd buy natural tobacco, though not 'rollies', but certainly not Canada's toxic smokes that we are forced by law to buy. So much for the 'free market'. -- http://grannyrantson.blogspot.com/ My Canada respects rights of Indigenous Peoples: Love it or leave it!