· All Canadians should be equal before and under the law
· SCC says no evidence the Mi'kmaq were logging 250 years ago

CALGARY: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation's Centre for Aboriginal Policy Change responded today to the Supreme Court of Canada's ruling in two controversial native logging disputes in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

"The CTF believes all Canadians should be equal before and under the law, therefore, we applaud the Supreme Court of Canada's ruling," said the Centre's director Tanis Fiss.

In two unanimous decisions, the court found the pre-confederation treaties only granted the Mi'kmaq the right to continue to trade in items traditionally traded at the time the treaties were signed. Furthermore, the court ruled there was no evidence to suggest the Mi'kmaq were logging 250 years ago when they signed the pre-confederation treaties in 1760 and 1761.

"This is a good day for the forest industry in the Maritimes. Had the Court ruled in favour of the native loggers; the decision would have had a negative impact on the industry. This is because many of the forest companies which lease Crown lands may have had their leases revoked," stated Fiss.

Background:

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled on two cases involving native men charged with illegally taking and selling timber taken from Crown land. The two men argued the taking and selling of the Crown timber was a treaty right and an aboriginal right.