Native chief over 20 days in hunger strike to protest Budget Bill

[Argus]

OMG!!!

http://news.national...spence-cancels/

Why are people bending over backwards to placate this woman!!!

Because a huge chunk of the natives have taken her as their symbolic leader. And no,they don't care if she's an idiot or incompetent or dishonest.

[Boges]

Perhaps this is smart. I don't really believe Spence backed out because the GG wasn't going to be there. I think she can't take the heat of being asked about the audit.

Now that the GG has been asked to meet with native leaders, she has no excuse but to face the media.

[Michael Hardner]

Now that the GG has been asked to meet with native leaders, she has no excuse but to face the media.

I saw something that said the Queen's people wanted to be kept out of it. That may have had an effect.

Who knows ? They kicked a camera crew out of town, so I don't think they are exactly PR experts.

[PIK]

How do you know she would have to answer questions ? Is the meeting public ? I looked for an agenda online but can't find one.

You are just playing games. Typical liberal, just won't admit that the former natural ruling party has severly screwed things up with the natives and it must make you cringe that harper could be the one that gets this mess cleaned up. And it is easy to tell when you are in every thread but the one about former PM Martin's huge mistake in his meeting with spence. It seems the libs are looking at this as a way to get to harper and nothing to do with the plight of the natives.

[Michael Hardner]

You are just playing games. Typical liberal, just won't admit that the former natural ruling party has severly screwed things up with the natives and it must make you cringe that harper could be the one that gets this mess cleaned up. And it is easy to tell when you are in every thread but the one about former PM Martin's huge mistake in his meeting with spence. It seems the libs are looking at this as a way to get to harper and nothing to do with the plight of the natives.

I do want you to feel free to ascribe opinions to me that are not mine. Of course you could just ask me, but ...

In any case I abhor the Liberals' handling of this because, well, it got us to this point right ?

Please understand that I'm posting here in good faith. Thanks.

[g_bambino]

Why are people bending over backwards to placate this woman!!!

And it's still not good enough.

[Big Guy]

Spence has been on a "hunger strike" for about 30 days. A person who has been on a hunger strike for that length of time has to be physically very weak and suffering from cognitive malfunction. Why is anyone listening to someone who is suffering a restricted ability to understand what is happening around her and having problems making decisions?

[Boges]

Spence has been on a "hunger strike" for about 30 days. A person who has been on a hunger strike for that length of time has to be physically very weak and suffering from cognitive malfunction. Why is anyone listening to someone who is suffering a restricted ability to understand what is happening around her and having problems making decisions?

Probably because the hunger strike is, likely, completely fake. Have you seen current pictures of her?

[Sleipnir]

Spence has been on a "hunger strike" for about 30 days. A person who has been on a hunger strike for that length of time has to be physically very weak and suffering from cognitive malfunction. Why is anyone listening to someone who is suffering a restricted ability to understand what is happening around her and having problems making decisions?

You raised a really good point, how do we know that Spence is still mentally competence? For all we know, she might have lost it after the 10th day of fasting.

Edited January 11, 2013 by Sleipnir

[Newfoundlander]

Snacker

[scribblet]

Maybe we should start something called Scam Us No More. check out the Hummer

http://www.stephentaylor.ca/2013/01/theresa-spence-living-it-up/

[Bryan]

And yet the government couldn't even prove mismanagement in court. Why do you think that is ?

It had nothing to do with proving anything. The judgement was politics, not law.

[g_bambino]

The judgement was politics, not law.

Because the government failed? Odd conclusion you've reached, there.

[Sleipnir]

First she demands a meeting, then she's got 72 hours to live, the PM agrees to meet FN members, then she's going to live a little longer, a scathing audit comes out showing there is a council issue on the reserve, then they ban media, now she's not going becasue the GG isn't going to be there. What next, she won't meet unless there are unicorns?

Edited January 11, 2013 by Sleipnir

[Bryan]

Because the government failed? Odd conclusion you've reached, there.

No, because there's no real news in the D&T audit. These things have been well documented for years. The audit is just more of what we already knew.

[g_bambino]

No, because there's no real news in the D&T audit. These things have been well documented for years. The audit is just more of what we already knew.

The audits never factored into the case:

Throughout this process and the period leading up to the appointment of the [third party management (TPM), [Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (AANDC)] did not express any concern with the [Attawapaskat First Nation (AFN)]'s financial management. Indeed, there was little in the way of any contemporaneous notes in the record showing how the [senior Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM)] arrived at his decision to appoint a TPM at all. However, rather than provide material assistance to help the AFN remedy any alleged default [with housing], the ADM instead opted to appoint a TPM, whose expertise is financial in nature.

Attawapiskat First Nation v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada

[ed.: +]

Edited January 11, 2013 by g_bambino

[Michael Hardner]

It had nothing to do with proving anything. The judgement was politics, not law.

Do you have proof of that ?

[PIK]

First she demands a meeting, then she's got 72 hours to live, the PM agrees to meet FN members, then she's going to live a little longer, a scathing audit comes out showing there is a council issue on the reserve, then they ban media, now she's not going becasue the GG isn't going to be there. What next, she won't meet unless there are unicorns?

And now some chiefs do not want to go. Harper called thier bluff. These people are ruining thier chances at getting something done. She is nothing but a con artist, and it is people like her that are in charge that are causing most of the grief for thier own people.

[Boges]

So she won't be there after all. All this for nothing I just saw on TV that other chiefs aren't showing up and they want a non confidence vote for Shawn Atleo. I don't think they'll ever be pleased.

[g_bambino]

So she won't be there after all. All this for nothing I just saw on TV that other chiefs aren't showing up and they want a non confidence vote for Shawn Atleo. I don't think they'll ever be pleased.

Their dreamy expectations ran smack against the fundamentals of the constitution.

[Boges]

They also want to cause massive disruption across Canada, and to bring the economy "to it's knees".

[Smallc]

That's a good way to ensure more funding.

[Boges]

So I've just learned something. The reason they want the GG present is because these treaties were made with the Crown and not Canada. They want the Crown to step in. I don't know how anyone can debate with people that think this way.

[g_bambino]

So I've just learned something. The reason they want the GG present is because these treaties were made with the Crown and not Canada. They want the Crown to step in. I don't know how anyone can debate with people that think this way.

I don't know that what you say they believe is what they actually believe. The treaties are with the Crown, not the government (the Crown-in-Council, specifically); but, the Crown is not apart from Canada (it is, in fact, the Canadian state itself). However, from what I've read and heard, a group of First Nations leaders seem to believe the Governor General, as representative of the Queen, who personifies the Crown, can openly participate in policy negotiations and act in such a scenario completely apart from both the Cabinet and parliament. They display a fundamental misunderstanding of the constitution of this country. As Ibbitson put it:

The government is billing Friday’s gathering as a working meeting. Neither the Queen nor her representative can be part of any working meeting; they can have nothing whatsoever to do with developing policy or entering into commitments. Otherwise, this constitutional monarchy would simply become a monarchy, and we can’t have that.

Native romantics dream of a king who will never come

[Sleipnir]

They also want to cause massive disruption across Canada, and to bring the economy "to it's knees".

So much for FN attempting to fix their stereotypical images.