Patronage Appointments for Land Claims

[jdobbin]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070523/..._claims_shakeup

Sources say at least two negotiators stripped of their files were about a year or less away from settlement offers. It's unclear whether those moves will stall momentum in talks involving the 'Namgis First Nation and the Winalagalis Treaty Group in B.C., or the Innu of Labrador.

"When you have ministers hand-picking people to take care of these important files, then it's a patronage system," says Duff Conacher of Democracy Watch. The group lobbies for democratic reform and government accountability.

"And patronage often leads to cronyism and unethical waste.

Looks like the Tories are settling in at the trough.

[geoffrey]

Are these people qualified, or not?

[Alexandra]

Looks like the Tories are settling in at the trough.

As mentioned by Sue Bailey some of the B.C. tribal council negotiations have been going on and off for years. Maybe now with new negotiators like Fitch talks will be re-started and continue without some 'liberal' poobah pulling a hissy fit and walking out.

By Sue Bailey

The appointment of Fitch, Prentice's former law partner, hasn't fazed the chief negotiator for the Kaska Dena Council representing communities in B.C. and the Yukon.

"He's done work in the oil and gas industry and has a good understanding of aboriginal law," said Dave Porter.

"We look forward to working with him."

Then again, the Kaska people look forward to working with anyone from Ottawa.

"We haven't been able to negotiate for almost five years now because we upset the (Liberal) government of the day," Porter said. "We upset the minister, we upset the negotiators in our demands at the table."

Federal officials simply packed up and left, he recalled.

"We rely on them to borrow millions of dollars to negotiate these agreements. And then on a whim, when somebody's got a bee in their bonnet, they can walk away from the process and kill it. That is fundamentally wrong."

[southerncomfort]

I guess by some people's lites only Liberals should get appointments LOL

[jdobbin]

Are these people qualified, or not?

Many would seem not to have the experience to handle the job.

[jdobbin]

I guess by some people's lites only Liberals should get appointments LOL

Do you see any Liberals being replaced here? No.

[jdobbin]

As mentioned by Sue Bailey some of the B.C. tribal council negotiations have been going on and off for years. Maybe now with new negotiators like Fitch talks will be re-started and continue without some 'liberal' poobah pulling a hissy fit and walking out.

Sort of how federal negotiators appointed by Harper have walked out of talks this past week over Caledonia?

[Michael Bluth]

Many would seem not to have the experience to handle the job.

What constitutes the "experience to handle the job"?

[scribblet]

Maybe they need a shakeup in this area, we know the natives aren't happy with the land claims progress. Its time for some changes and this is just a start.

[B. Max]

Maybe they need a shakeup in this area, we know the natives aren't happy with the land claims progress. Its time for some changes and this is just a start.

They could start by calling it the native land frauds and extortion.

[jdobbin]

Maybe they need a shakeup in this area, we know the natives aren't happy with the land claims progress. Its time for some changes and this is just a start.

Don't know how this is going to improve the situation. You think that Harper is going to throw wads of cash at it like with Quebec?

[Alexandra]

As mentioned by Sue Bailey some of the B.C. tribal council negotiations have been going on and off for years. Maybe now with new negotiators like Fitch talks will be re-started and continue without some 'liberal' poobah pulling a hissy fit and walking out.

Sort of how federal negotiators appointed by Harper have walked out of talks this past week over Caledonia?

Why would you equate the B.C. tribal council land claims negotiations with the Caledonia mess? Negotiations have been stalled for upwards of 5 years and in one tribal council, 8 years in B.C. because the liberal federal government refused to engage in discussions. Have you witnessed any of the B.C. tribal bands terrorizing whole cities and towns as those outlaw natives in Caledonia?

Luckily for us the Bands in B.C. are more interested in constructive demands. No matter who or what is the Federal/Provincial government of the day. Your attempt to make a comparison between B.C. and the Ontario Liberal government's mismanagement of it's land claims is really inane.

`

[jdobbin]

Why would you equate the B.C. tribal council land claims negotiations with the Caledonia mess? Negotiations have been stalled for upwards of 5 years and in one tribal council, 8 years in B.C. because the liberal federal government refused to engage in discussions. Have you witnessed any of the B.C. tribal bands terrorizing whole cities and towns as those outlaw natives in Caledonia?

Luckily for us the Bands in B.C. are more interested in constructive demands. No matter who or what is the Federal/Provincial government of the day. Your attempt to make a comparison between B.C. and the Ontario Liberal government's mismanagement of it's land claims is really inane.

`

I think what I am saying is that claims get complicated for a variety of reasons.

How exactly are B.C. claims more constructive? Don't the claims include all of B.C.?

And how do the Tories think putting their friends on the negotiating team helps? Is Harper planning on giving them billion to settle quickly?

[Alexandra]

Why would you equate the B.C. tribal council land claims negotiations with the Caledonia mess? Negotiations have been stalled for upwards of 5 years and in one tribal council, 8 years in B.C. because the liberal federal government refused to engage in discussions. Have you witnessed any of the B.C. tribal bands terrorizing whole cities and towns as those outlaw natives in Caledonia?

Luckily for us the Bands in B.C. are more interested in constructive demands. No matter who or what is the Federal/Provincial government of the day. Your attempt to make a comparison between B.C. and the Ontario Liberal government's mismanagement of it's land claims is really inane.

`

I think what I am saying is that claims get complicated for a variety of reasons.

How does your saying now that claims get complicated when in fact in your first comment you equated B.C. with Ontario's caledonia mismanagement by blaming Harper's government for the Caledonia-hagersville-etc.,-etc. ONTARIO Liberal government incompetence. The Ontario blockades, standoffs, terrorism have been ongoing forever it seems. What has the Ontario government accomplished to date in any of these native actions?

Complicated for a variety of reasons? Absolutely. So the B.C. government has handled the native land claims on an equitable and different basis. Obviously the Ontario government doesn't have the competence to handle all of its' native situations. McGuinty & Co. run away whining and blame the Federal government (would it matter if the feds were the NDP or Liberal?) for his government's lack of management skill.

What exactly is your concern again with whom and what the federal government appoints to any job it believes should be handled in a more competent manner with perhaps more competent people even if they are not liberals or ndp?

`

[jdobbin]

How does your saying now that claims get complicated when in fact in your first comment you equated B.C. with Ontario's caledonia mismanagement by blaming Harper's government for the Caledonia-hagersville-etc.,-etc. ONTARIO Liberal government incompetence. The Ontario blockades, standoffs, terrorism have been ongoing forever it seems. What has the Ontario government accomplished to date in any of these native actions?

Complicated for a variety of reasons? Absolutely. So the B.C. government has handled the native land claims on an equitable and different basis. Obviously the Ontario government doesn't have the competence to handle all of its' native situations. McGuinty & Co. run away whining and blame the Federal government (would it matter if the feds were the NDP or Liberal?) for his government's lack of management skill.

What exactly is your concern again with whom and what the federal government appoints to any job it believes should be handled in a more competent manner with perhaps more competent people even if they are not liberals or ndp?

`

First Nations land treaty negotiations are a federal responsibility. It is Harper's negotiating team that has walked away from talks this past week.

I don't think that appointments should be party flaks from any party. You obviously think it is important that they be Conservative. I have no idea why.