Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 14, 1992 — Page AS We asked for a number of opinions on the proposed changes to the constitution. You'll find four on this page and two on Page A6, There'll be more next week. iv O Canada? Accord a boost Se Five ways to say ‘no’ By JACK WEISGERBER The Member of the Legistative ’ Assembly for Peace River, Jack Weisgerber is leader of the "provincial Social Credit Party. . Weisgerber served as aboriginal affairs minister in the previous Social Credit govern- ment. : ‘The Social Credit Party is tak- ing the ‘no’ side on the proposed constitutional changes. Let’s get one thing straight. I love Canada and I want it to con- tinue on the path that has made our country the number one na- _ tion on earth. Furthermore, [ re- ject.the notion thal the very sur- vival of Canada is at stake Oct. 26. | Tf, the deal is rejected in Quebec, I will not interpret a ‘no’ vote as a rejection of Canada. This is not a vote on sovereignty association, for Heaven’s sakes, it’s a vote on a framework for changes to, our constitution. So let's not. “succumb to the » fearmongering~‘that has so far ‘characterized the ‘yes’ campaign strategy. So why is our caucus voting ‘no’? We reject the section of the Canada Clause that would give the government of Quebec and . aboriginal governments special legal ‘status. But don’t take my It’s time to wave our ‘Jack Weisgerber word for it. The Charlottetown Accord states that ‘‘The Canada Clause would guide the courts in their fundamental interpretation of the entire constitution, includ- ing the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”’ The Canada Clause would direct the courts to recognize the special status of Quebec to ‘preserve and promote the dis- tinct society of Quebec.” Similarly, the courts would be obliged to interpret the entire constitution in recognition of aboriginal governments’ special legal right to pass Jaws and policies that “‘promote their lan- guage, cultures and traditions and ensurc the integrity of their societies.” No other province or culture would have that special right - a right, J am concerned, that might be asserted by Quebec and aboriginal governments to obtain special powers that will divide Canada into a nation of nations, based on culture. Secondly, we reject the pro- posed changes to the House of Commons that would immediate- ly give Quebec 27.6 per cent of the total seats and would guaran- tee them a minimum of 25 per cent of the seats for all time, regardless of their shrinking pop- ulation. Ontario and Quebec would cach instantly receive 18 more Commons seats, as com- pared to only four scats for Brit- ish Columbia, Is that fair? Certainly not. In fact British Columbia’s represcn- tation in the House of Commous will go down by a fraction under the proposed deal, Which brings me to our third objection to the Charlottetown Accord, the proposed Senute. I say it’s a tin trophy held out as a big prize to the West that is any- thing but a Triple-B Senate. IU’s at best an E-and-a-half ‘senate that would be only partially elected and not at all effective. Senators in Quebec would be appointed, albeit rubber-stamped by that pro- vince’s National Assembly. Fourth, we reject the proposed third order of government for aboriginals that would have spe- cial status and special powers not unlike those proposed for Quebec. We believe in local self- government that is fairly negotia- ted and whose powers are clearly delegated by the provincial and federal governments, like the Sechelt model. But what is pro- posed here is an “inherent right of self-government’’ that will sce aboriginal governments displace federal and pravincial Jaws. The agreement is silent on the scope, jurisdiction and costs of self-government. However, Chief Joe Mathias said that ‘‘As aboriginal governments well will be paramount in our own sphere. Our lands wil be run by us...As first nations, we will establish our own law-making powers .. Squamish wili cstablish a Squamish national constitution.’ Finally - and worst of all - we simply cannot accept changes to the existing amending formula which would give every province a velo over future constitutional changes that are crucial for Brit- ish Columbia. flag for aboriginals By ROD ROBINSON Rod Robinson lives in New Aiyansh in the Nass Valley and is the executive director of the Nisga’a Tribal Council. The tribal council is taking a ‘yes’ position on the pro- posed constitutional changes. The Nisga’a Tribal Council is urging its people and all Ca- nadians - native and non-native - to vote ‘yes’. Let me explain why. A ‘yes’ vote will afford the country a momentous op- portunity to resolve the ques- tion of aboriginal self- government with fairness and certainty for all Canadians. That is what the Nisga’a Na- tion wants, That has been our historical imperative; that is what we are fighting for today. And we know that is what our neigh- bours - here in Terrace and throughout northwestern B.C, - want, Think, for a moment, what fairness and certainty wiil mean to this country. Backed by the highest law of the Jand, natives aud non-nalives will be freed from the distrust and wrangling that plagues rela- tions between us. A ‘yes’ vote says ‘no’ to those prophets of doom who are picking through the deal and proclaiming it is not all take control over our lives and destiny. The exact range of subjects over which each First Nation will exercise authority will be a matter for negotiation be- tween that First Nation and the federal and provincial govern- menis. Each arrangement will be unique but all will likely in- clude some measure of control over education, health, social services, child welfare, eco- nomic development and resource management, Until now only a handful of First Nations — the Nisga’a pre-eminent among them -— have already gained control over such things as health care and education. But our effec- tiveness has been limited by our lack of resources and the patemalistic control by federal and provincial governments. With aboriginal self- government recognized in the constitution, Canadian. govern- ments will be obliged to recog- nize our peoples’ authority over such matters and to nego- tiate fair and lasting agrec- ments concerning the future exercise of this right. Nisga’a government will ensure our future security, our right to protect and benefit from our land, and our right to practice our cultural traditions. ‘By MILLER AYRE it was the impossible task of deal- anthem, and make it clear to the my term of office as your things to all Prop Ie, that it does To accomplish this we must Miller Ayre is from Newfound- ing explicitly with every belief, rest of the world that we are not chairman, a devoted Canadian, one volitic : expectations ae : land and is past chairman of the — tcligious or moral, that led to the only aware of, but proud of, what who is also my wile, said: political party or another Canadian Chamber af Com- merce. Some chambers of commerce, including the one here, are tak- ing a newtral position on the pro- posed constitutional changes. The national chamber and the provincial chamber are saying *yes’, The following is an excerpt of. a speech: given -by Mr. Ayre-to the annifal convention of the Ca- nadian Chamber of Commerce in Victoria on Sept, 28. It sometimes seems to me thal we have not stopped to ask what kind of country we are designing the constitution for. What is the vision that we hope to make into a reality? If we were purely driven by the quest for equality, then the con- cept of a federal system would give way to that one of homogeneous, unitarian state. And we should never forget that Canad By JIM FULTON Jim Fulton is the New Dento- cratic Member of Parliament for Skeena. He'll be voting ‘yes’ on Oct, 26. On Oct. 26 you will have an op- portunity to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the constitutional agreement reached in Charlottetown on Aug. 28. What I have learned about the constitution is that reasonable Ca- nadians can disagree over any of the clauses in the agreement. What I cannot agree with is the linkage made by many individu- als to what is not contained in the agreement. Let’s be frank, The constitution will. not fix your car, find you a job, cut the grass, or take out the garbage. It merely provides a framework for us to live together as a nation. - The intense anger over ‘the GST, free trade, or any other political policy should be held back for the next federal election. ae concept of the separation of church and state, and thus to the enduring reality of civil govem- ment, The battle in Yugoslavia on cultural-racial grounds, the con- linuing conflict in Ircland on his- torical, religious and cultural grounds, and the break-up of the Soviet Union into independent re-. -publics-demonstrat clearl to uss! P onstrate: ¥ oo erosion Of our r beliefs; but an exe" the immense difficulty’ that can result in trying to maintain a suc- cessful democracy in a non- homogeneous state. We Canadians must learn to do more than just accept or tolerate our differences. We must Icarn to rejoice in our differences. Believe it or not, there is unity in our diversity. We can stand together if we first learn to understand to- gether. We must leam to recognize how unique our country really i is. We must wave the flag, sing the This deep desire to ‘‘get cven”’ with politicians should not be used as the reason to vote ‘no’ on Ocl. 26. Let me tell you why. Voting ‘yes’ will keep Canada strong and united for our children’s future. A ‘yes’ vole protects Medicare and education as fundamental con- slilutional values in our country. It means political and economic stability with Quebec remaining in Canada. I can’t believe that our com- munity would vote ‘no’ to the constitutional protection of key national social programs and the tights of working people. There are those who claim that a ‘no’ vote will, through some miracle, bring about five years of silence on the constitution. Give me a break! , After 10 years of fighting and bickering over these issues, all 10 provinces, both territories and the First Nations reach an agreement ~— supported by all three recog- nized federal parties, and we they see in us as our uniqueness and our great contribution to nation-building. We must express our vision of ourselves out loud, to ourselves, to each other, and especially to our children. We must, abave all, recognize that the process of. compromise. in Canad(.; 45. ‘ot an exercise: in the’ ercise in what makes us great. The nation now has a com- promise before it. I, for one, think it is onc that we must all embrace, so that we can get on with the other tasks at band. Everything that I have tried to say has been said by others. In fact, I would like to close with a statement by one of them, in ' testimony before the joint House- Senate committee on the constitu- tion. To that body, in the course of should throw it away? This agrecment in fact puts the wrangling behind us and gives us finally an opportunity to do something about the economy, about jobs, about housing and pensions - a chance to deal with the bread and butter issues of aur nation. A ‘yes’ vote provides new op- portunities to negotiate aboriginal self-government within Canada and to put our colonialist past be- hind us. A ‘no’ vote to First Na- tions will mean continued frustra- tion, confrontation and economic instability throughout B.C. A ‘yes’ vote makes B,C. a win- ner in Parliament with seven new seats in the House of Commons and more new seals in the House of Commons and clected Senate combined — more than in any other province! A ‘no’ vote for the status quo would cave an un- elected Senate filled with political hacks dominated by Quebec and Ontario. There is still plenty of time for “The diversity of our culture, interwoven amongst our vast resources aS well as a strong so- cial framework, makes Canada one of the greatest countries on carih, To needlessly destroy this country by searching for the pez- fect solution or by being un- compromising in our demands is 4 beyond , comprehension met .we are: ik danebr of doit] “ “Our constitution should bea beacon to guide ws and future gencrations. Therefore, it should be simple, flexible and inspira- tional.” “The constitutional process has becn an important and necessary leaming experience in defining our Canada and in creating under- standing and respect in all our peoples. Now we must success- fully close the deal and tum towards preparing our country to meet the new global economy - before it is too late.” a — strong, united Jim Fulton you to read and ask legitimate questions about the Charlot- tetown Agreement before Oct. 26. It should be seen for what it is; a compromise in the great Cana- dian tradition of moderation and tolerance that has wot us envy and respect of nations throughout the world, interest group. Impossible! How, in a coun- try as diverse as Canada could every individual, every group, be totally satisfied. Of course the Aug. 28 deal is a com- promise. But it is an honourable compromise. One that took more than a year of painstaking work , by _ native i" Jeaders and premian: YAM based *“git input’ from ‘ordinary’ Cana- dians. The Nisga’a Nation took past in this process. I know some of you did, too. Together, we forged some- thing real, something of lasting value. For the first time in this country's history, there is the formal recognition that the Nisga’a and other First Nations have an inherent right to self government as one of the three constitutionally recognized or- ders of government. That is why the Nisga’a Na- tion strongly supports the package and encourages you to vote ‘yes’. It is not the usual Nisga’a way to make entreaties of this kind. But this op- portunity may not come again. The Nisga’a take the position that any laws passed by Nisga’a Government would be subject to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms se Jong as the Charter cannot be used to abrogate or undermine our in- herent ight to = self government, This position is consistent with that of Canada’s premiers who said that the charter must not interfere with the ability of First Nations to promote our languages, cultures and tradi- tions. We know some people are worried about aboriginal setf- government, That is to be ex- pected. We know, too, that a few fear-mongers fan the lames of ignorance. There is nothing to be fright- ened about. To us, Nisga’a government is nothing more than the tool by which we will Rod Robinson * Resolve the land question, through a land claims agrec- ment. This modern treaty will result in future certainty of ownership or title within our traditional territory and its resources. * Manage and control specific land and resources as agreed to in our land claims agreement. * Explore opportunities for long term economic develop- ment through tourism, mining, fishing, hunting, trapping and intensive, sustainable forest use, * Plan the growth of existing communities and the creation of new ones. * Implement an_ integrated management regime for the Nass River watershed. * Control resource develop- ment and industrial projects and their social and environ- mental effects on our lands, Incidentally, a soon-to-be- published booklet, Nisga’a Government, will explain in detail the steps we are taking to contzol our own lives and destiny. It will be distributed first in Terrace and neighbour- ing communities. Our land claims agreement will include a component on Nisga’a government, It will be protected under Section 35 (1) of the Constitution Act. The Nisga’a Tribal Council will vote ‘yes’ on Oct, 26. Won't you join us? The ‘start “The Start is for people learning how to read. There are more kids going to school this year than expected. So the school district hired more teachers. It hired three more teachers in. Terrace. It hired one more teacher in the Hazeltons. , There are 5,458 students golng to school i in the dis- trict. Do you want to vote in the referendum? You must be on the voters’ list. If you are not on the list so far, There is stilltime. —- You can call 635-1329. That is the phone number of the returning officer.: The returning officer will help you out. - Voting do not panic. But, you must be on the list by Oct. 19 if you live in Terrace. I€ you are not on the list, you will not be able to vote on Oct. 26. It is different in the rural area and in Thornhill. If you live in those ateas, you can be put on the list on voting day. Remember to vote.