Ron Doering, chief federal negotiator in the land claims talks with Six Nations summed it up very well at Friday's Rotary Club meeting. His 10 points about why negotiations are taking so long are worth reading and clearly demonstrate the nearly chaotic situation in which the so-called negotiations are taking place.
We know that the federal government talks for Canada, but it is not clear which one of the many Six Nations groups clamouring for recognition is truly representing the collective wishes of the people of Six Nations.
First. A fundamental requirement for any negotiations should be the recognition that the Canadian laws apply to all Confederacy members. No negotiations should take place unless this fact is recognized.
Secondly, we should insist that Six Nations create a representative group of individuals who speak with one voice for the whole community. We cannot continue negotiating with all kinds of splinter groups with different objectives. That is an exercise in futility.
Thirdly, Brantford politicians and land developers should stop interfering in the process. Just the idea of giving tax dollars to a native organization with the faint hope that this might be returned to the city coffers, not to the taxpayers, at some distant point in time in the future subsidizes a developer at taxpayers expense.
We are paying ransom money for the privilege of smoking the peace pipe with our native neighbours? That is not a good idea.
Fourthly, city council should have one voice on the issue. Everybody is entitled to his or her own opinion, but council should stick together, once a decision has been reached. Yes, we might lose some investment opportunities on account of the native situation, but on the other hand this might not be a bad idea.
It stops council's infatuation with growth for the sake of growth. Let's concentrate on brown and grey fields for future growth. They already have the necessary infrastructure in place, so we do not depend on speculative land developers for additional property tax revenue.
Mankind has nothing to fear but fear itself. Let's stand up for what we think is right. Blackmail is blackmail.
There are laws in this country which protect us from extortion. Let's use them
Gerry Van Dongen Brantford