Letters: Serious implications in land claim; flawed carbon tax

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Land claim could have serious impact

Your opinion article on the Wolastoqey First Nations Land Claim is the first article I have read that overviews this massive native land claim for New Brunswick from the average property owner’s prospective. The Wolastoqiyik’s “nothing to see here” claim comes across as a “nothing to fear” attitude, a statement surrounded by Fundy’s thick fog, leaving the average landowner concerned and confused.

Our legal system will take years to address this claim, involving multiple levels of courts, both provincially and federal. The resultant long-term uncertainty and confusion will far exceed your opinion article’s that this will “disrupt economic development.” Expect four to eight years of a hardening of attitudes and serious alienation, including the potential to grind the growing and popular reconciliation movement to a halt. This claim has the potential to interfere with every aspect of activity and lifestyle now present in our province.

The intention or purpose on this land claim has not been made clear to the citizens of N.B., so the question of the new legal reality for us is if the courts favour the Wolastoqiyik’s claim down the road, will this new Aboriginal land claim win uphold the “right to exclusive use and occupation of the land” ?

Although taxes are not collected on First Nation reserves, the Aboriginals are subject to the same tax regimes as non-indigenous on off-reservation properties. But here’s the catch, so far ignored in discussions: the legal framework governing indigenous rights regarding recently settled land claims could allow the land to be included in an expanded reserve. The 12 First Nations in N.B. could individually apply to have the adjoining new claim property included in their expanded reserve, opening the door for a new form of “rental” tax on these properties. The province would lose any ability to fully tax these former properties.

We need a serious effort to approach this with respect, figure out what is acceptable to both sides, and settle it.

David Hamilton

Cambridge-Narrows

Carbon tax lacks common sense

The entire carbon tax program flies in the face of common sense.

There has been no clear evidence where all the money will go, and after country-wide outcry the PM does an about face and tells people not to worry; they’ll get most of it back. This is a classic Liberal concept; an excuse to create a massive federal department that will collect funds and then give much of it back. Billions more wasted on infrastructure.

And all this program will do is drive inflation. Everything will get more expensive. Instead of a series of programs to encourage more energy efficient home heating, more fuel efficient cars and the like they will be punishing everyone in nearly every aspect of their lives. 

This alone could bring down the Federal Liberals.

Allan Patrick

Fredericton