My views are embodied in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and Implementation Contract, which are available on line at several locations (www.tunngavik.ca is one).

What exactly are yours?

Regardless which path is chosen, we need to discard the quaint relics and notions of colonialism which were useful to maintain peace while opening up resources for exploitation, but a poor basis on which to build a nation. What was good for Britain in the eighteenth century is not good for Canada in the twenty-first. Every other level of government in Canada has to be firmly subordinated to the federal government.

Out of those paragraphs (57-61), which (or portions thereof) “don’t work” for your vision?

And yet that’s precisely what Mr. Flanagan, and presumably the Conservative Party, advocate.

Yikes.

J) ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS

57. Aboriginal Affairs Principles

The Conservative Party of Canada believes that self-government must occur within the context of the Constitution of Canada. To ensure fairness and equality, a Conservative government will ensure that the principles of the Charter will apply to aboriginal self-government.

The Conservative Party of Canada believes giving aboriginal government the power to raise their own revenues will reduce the cycle of dependency; and that the performance and accountability of aboriginal self-government is enhanced when those who receive services contribute to the cost of those services.

58. Treaty and Land Claim Implementation

i) The Conservative Party of Canada believes that implementing the spirit and intent of federal commitments made in treaties and land claim agreements is a solemn government duty. The Conservative Party of Canada will, as a top priority, ensure the speedy resolution of the disgraceful backlog of land claims
negotiations.

ii) To promote accountability for implementation measures, the Conservative Party of Canada supports annual reporting for treaties and land claim agreements consistent with recommendations in Chapter 9 of the November
2003 Auditor Generalâ??s Report.

59. Land Title

i) The Conservative Party of Canada supports the development of a property regime that would encourage lending for private housing and businesses. This will promote economic opportunity and individual freedom.

ii) A Conservative government, in conjunction with First Nations, would create a First Nations Land Ownership Act, which would transfer Reserve land title from the Federal Crown to willing First Nations.

60. Matrimonial Property

The Conservative Party of Canada supports, in conjunction with First Nations, the creation of a matrimonial property code to protect spouses and children in cases of marriage breakdown.

61. Educational Choice

The Conservative Party of Canada proposes where available and agreed to by all parties, including provincial authorities, to offer choice in schooling for First Nations.

I think that’s a pretty good summary of the Liberal position. I believe the Conservative position is somewhat more innovative, in that it eliminates that first bit about throwing the token bucks, and moves efficiently to step two.

I mean, isn’t this what the government of Canada’s been doing for the last 40 years?