CAPC presentation (235 KB)
CALGARY/OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation's Centre for Aboriginal Policy Change, appeared today before the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples in Ottawa regarding the CTF's opposition to the Westbank Self-Government Agreement (Bill C-11).
The Centre's director, Tanis Fiss, testified this morning before the committee and outlined the main recommendations in the Centre's submission.
Fiss encouraged the Committee to vote against passage of Bill C-11. "The proposed Westbank Self-Government Agreement would immune Westbank laws from a Charter challenge," stated Fiss.
"Immunity from the Charter would enable the Westbank government to pass legislation which violates freedom of expression, religion and association, and such laws could not be challenged in court as violating those fundamental rights," continued Fiss.
The passage of Bill C-11 will pave the way for a third level of government within Canada. "There is no place within the Canadian Constitution for a third order of government. A growing economic base and real political accountability will do far more for the viability and success of a native self-government than any recognition of new powers of "sovereignty" ever could," stated Fiss.
As the system exists today, non-Aboriginals who live on native reserves do not have a vote in community elections. "The Westbank Agreement perpetuates a situation of taxation without representation," testified Fiss.
"Passing Bill C-11 would move Canada further down the path of inequality, favouritism, balkanization and racism," concluded Fiss.
A copy of the full presentation may be found at www.taxpayer.com.
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