Yet another Off Topic post ---
...and brings natives into society by partitioning reserves into individual band members ownership...
A couple of weeks ago, I watched an interview with an economist, DeSoto I think his name was, who was in the running for some kind of semi-Nobel prize in economics. The ideas expressed in his book was along these lines: Nations where poverty is widespread often have poor property rights. One example he used was squatters in South American cities who for all practical purpose own their homes, BUT, because they cannot get titles for what they own, they cannot borrow against this equity for other wealth creating endeavours. I've oversimplified his thesis.
I see Canada's First Nations people in a similar boat. Without individual ownership, and title, to their property, they are caught in a third-world style jam. I'm not overly familiar our First Nations issues, but like many, I feel that we should honour promises made to these people and settle outstanding claims quickly, offer every practical assistance to their integration into our society, and give their religions, cultures, and traditions as much support and protection as we offer every other culture, new or long established, in Canada.
As the tax issue ... There are two kinds of Canadians: Those who have been caught in RevCan's web, and those who will.
Cheers, PW. |
