I
appreciate when people drop me a note to ask about posts I have written, or
questions / comments they have about the BC Conservative Party.
Yesterday,
one of my Liberal friends (yeah I do have some) wrote me a note saying:
FYI - I have received two comments this morning
about John Cummins comments on First Nations. In short - they think his
comments say that he has "thrown in the towel" to become the next
Premier of BC.... as a result of last week's interview (and likely his
newspaper interview) on Voice of BC.... thought you should know....
Okay
… that’s a fair comment; but I wondered, “What are those comments based
on.” So I responded by saying:
Unfortunately TOO many people listen to the
comments / opinions of what he has said -- rather than his actual comments, and
the facts behind them. It is NOT popular, but in fact he is 100% accurate in
what he is saying based on ALL existing court cases.
Where do people plan to live when claims
cover 120% of the province. The First
Nations governments can't even agree amongst themselves who's territory is
who's ... 97% of the First Nations Fishery was SOLD when the fishery is ONLY to
be for food and ceremony ... the land turned over to the Tsawwassen Band was
undervalued 10 fold ... I could go on and on.
YES we need to settle these issues -- BUT
-- it has to be fair and realistic. THAT is what John Cummins is trying to say
and get across.
Here’s
the response that I received from my friend:
I respect this point... but unfortunately the public
is hearing another message … and I must admit - that the aspect of settling
land claims is something I agree with John on … but his other comments around
how to go about it is something I disagree with, in light of land claims and
plenty of case law on this subject...
To
which I replied:
Either we are all equal or we are not. It’s
time to get out of the past --- move forward ... and provide realistic
opportunities for each and every First Nations person so they can have every
opportunity for success.
And yes ... the public is hearing another
message ... but it is one being manipulated by those who take advantage of the
dissension being created.
