Freedom Flyer 27

the official newsletter of the
Freedom Party of Ontario

April 1995

Aboriginal Task Force...

Fp RECOMMENDS POLICIES
TO REFORM PARTY

LONDON (February 26, 1995) - Fp president Robert Metz delivered a strong message to a Reform Party of Canada Aboriginal Affairs Task Force formed to assist federal Reformers in developing a solid, defensible policy on aboriginal affairs for their party.

Chaired by Saskatoon Reformer Bob Head, the public meeting was attended by federal Reform MPs Michael Scott (Skeena) and John Duncan (North Island - Powell River), as well as several local Reform activists and guests.

NO SPECIAL STATUS

"The moment we use the terms 'Aboriginal,' 'Indian,' or 'Native' IN THE CONTEXT OF DISCUSSING SPECIAL GOVERNMENT POLICY with respect to people identified as such, we are already practising RACISM," said Metz in his opening statement to the committee.

Making it clear that Freedom Party is founded on principles that do not allow for its advocacy of "special status" for any individuals or groups, Metz emphasized that the long-term solution to Canada's aboriginal problems is not to be found in vague concepts of "self-government" or in the continued subsidization of aboriginals on reserves.

PROPERTY RIGHTS THE KEY

"Any workable solution must be based on the principle of establishing legitimate private property rights," argued Metz. "In an age where our governments at every level are on the verge of bankruptcy, the continued subsidization of aboriginal groups is both irresponsible and destructive.

"I can well understand and identify with aboriginal apprehensions regarding privatization," Metz commented. "After all, Canadians from coast-to-coast cannot count on their governments to protect their property rights, since such rights are not guaranteed us in Canada's constitution. Small wonder that the spectre of privatization is not seen as a solution by many. Canadian governments tax private property, and there are no laws limiting such taxation."

Metz cited statistics illustrating the misconceptions that many Canadians, including aboriginals, have about each other and themselves when it comes to aboriginal issues. He suggested that all Canadians, aboriginal and non-aboriginal alike, work together to get the government to entrench the protection of private property rights in Canada's constitution.

RECOMMENDATIONS

In his specific recommendations to the task force, Metz urged the Reform Party to adopt six key principles in the establishment of its policy on aboriginal issues:

We must avoid all definitions of race, colour, creed, etc. in any legislation establishing rights, governments, or other official institutions.
All Canadians, aboriginals included, should be treated equally before and under the law.
Canadians should not be forced to subsidize racial or ethnic lobby groups.
(With respect to the concept of aboriginal "self-government,") we must never allow any government in Canada to be formed around any racial criteria.
Any land claim settlements must allow individual aboriginals the full right to privately own their own land, including the right to buy, sell, rent, or mortgage that land to, from, or with anyone of any racial background.
We must be careful to avoid any agreements or settlements that divide people according to their race.

The recommendations were very warmly received by the task force, and from the reactions of the chair and of the MPs in attendance, seemed to reinforce the direction that federal Reformers would like to move on aboriginal issues.

GET THE DETAILS! Copies of Fp's address to the Reform Party Task Force are available to Fp members and supporters on request. The full presentation (Drawing The Line - Property Rights and the Aboriginal Question) will also be published in an upcoming issue of Consent.