Private property rights safe for now...
Plus, Carney avoids a Trump deal, trouble in Liberal land and ending the tanker ban.
Sometimes the biggest decisions are the ones we don’t actually make.
That would be the case with the Supreme Court of Canada declining to hear an appeal of a New Brunswick appeal court ruling. The Wolastoqey Nation had asked the courts to give a declaration of Aboriginal title over much of New Brunswick.
As I write in my column for the Toronto Sun, the Wolastoqey didn’t seek a declaration of title over all privately held lands in New Brunswick, just some. Perhaps knowing that asking the courts to declare that your home was now the property of the local band wouldn’t go over too well, they avoided that.
They did however ask the courts to declare title over Crown land in the province and land owned by major companies like the Irvings and their forestry properties. Trust me, beating up on the Irving family is a sport in New Brunswick and the Wolastoqey probably thought it would go their way.
It didn’t.
Last December the Court of Appeal of New Brunswick rejected their claim and on Thursday the Supreme Court dismissed their request for leave to appeal. That stops this iteration of the New Brunswick case but there could be other court challenges that could win.
What this means for the Cowichan case in B.C. or the Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg isn’t known.
Read the column and share on social media if you can.
What is Carney doing to get a deal…
Yesterday, I was writing about how Mark Carney is doing everything to ensure he doesn’t have a deal with Donald Trump.
Today, our PM was in New York speaking to a business audience. There was one odd line towards the end of his speech that stood out.
“Canada Strong will help make America great again,” Carney said.
So now he’s back to sucking up to Trump? This guy can’t make up his mind.
Too often though he is willing to spend all day poking the Americans in the eye so he can feel superior.
As I said in my column yesterday, we spend far too much time fighting with the Americans, poking them in the eye, rather than trying to seek a mutually beneficial deal. Some people take my stance as selling out to the Americans because I say we should listen to them, consider their side and offer something different.
That isn’t selling out, that is looking for the best deal for Canada.
Strangely, too many Canadians seem to believe that poking the Americans in the eye is a good strategy. Not because it helps us economically, but because it makes them feel good politically.
What do I care about?
Jobs.
If we are losing jobs, if we are losing economic activity, then that is a bad thing. Doesn’t matter how good it makes you feel, someone else is hurting for your satisfaction and that is wrong.
Trouble in Liberal land…
Steven Guilbeault is gone.
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out the door buddy!
Guilbeault was one of the most dangerous and divisive ministers ever to walk the Canadian political landscape. He was an activist first and an politician and minister second.
The story that I’ve told many times is that the first time I met Guilbeault it was because there was a protest at a downtown Montreal gas station. I showed up to find a man with one of those U shaped bicycle locks around his neck attached to a gas pump.
They didn’t want anyone to be able to fill up their cars.
He’s one of the people who has left Mark Carney’s government and I’m sure that Carney, like most of Canada, isn’t sad to see him go.
Who are the other 14 Liberal MPs who have signed a letter to Carney? Is he facing a real revolt?
We talk about that in this week’s Batra’s Burning Questions.
Removing an ineffective tanker ban…
David McKenzie is the MP for Calgary-Signal Hill, a riding on the west side of the city. On Thursday, he made a very good case for why the tanker ban on Canada’s west coast should be lifted.
This won’t get a lot of media attention today, it’s a busy media day and a private member’s bill from the opposition isn’t going to break through.
I don’t know for sure, but it sounds like most of the questions came from Stephanie Levitz of The Globe and Mail. In my experience, Levitz is a solid, fair and by the book reporter.
I believe that she is the one asking most of the questions here.
True, the court confirmed that Aboriginal title cannot overturn private property ownership, meaning 1st Nations must seek financial or land-based compensation strictly from the Crown instead of private landowners. But where does that $$$ come from?!? It comes from us.
In other words, the government messed up and the taxpayers are going to have to pay for it 🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕
Prime Minister Carney is a terrible decision-maker.
Someone with his reputation is typically decisive, concise, and has thought out a plan completely.
Mr. Carney says one thing to one group, another thing to another group, and then a 180 degree flip when speaking to a third group.
He is the most disingenuous “leader” I have ever witnessed. It is like he makes decisions by tossing coins.
I have only said two positive things about Justin Trudeau: firstly, he is a superb retail politician, and a capable campaigner.
Secondly, I truly believe he is genuine when he espouses something entirely stupid, something demonstrably incorrect, or something wickedly impertinent.
I have not one word of complimentary comment I can share about Mark Carney.