Meaghan Walker-Williams, of the Coast Salish First Nations, has been promoting the virtues of laissez-faire economics (similar to Hong Kong, for example) for Canadian First Nations. I can’t recall exactly where I encountered her ideas before, but the National Post has now run a commentary written by her on the subject.
I’ve no idea if Walker-Williams’ plan — known as the Coast Salish Free Trade Model — will work, there are a lot of potential problems (which she acknowledges in her commentary) but it does seem to be a new approach. And, its orientation toward those First Nations (generally in BC) that have never signed a treaty with the Crown, gives it legal and political strength that others might not have. In any case, this statement unfortunately applies to many First Nations:
“After 200-plus years of legal shenanigans by Canadian politicians and leaders with all the integrity of circus sideshow barkers, First Nations have become almost as barren as Hong Kong was.”
Interestingly, this commentary ties in well with the one linked to here yesterday on the theme of local sovereignty. Both extolling the virtues of a diversity of governments and economic systems at the local level. I’m uncertain of my view on the points made by either commentary, although I’m inclined to think they’re right, but those points are certainly worth considering further.
“The solution gives no special group more rights and privileges than any other group. If non-First Nations of the Canadian population wish to engage in free trade, they are more than welcome to come and do business in our territory. We not only won’t stop them, we will embrace them with open arms. Not only does the “Hong Kong Here” idea suggest that First Nations should enjoy these rights, it suggests that ALL people, of every nation should enjoy these rights, and we are the first nation that wants to make that happen.”
Meaghan Walker-Williams: “Hong Kong Here”
Meaghan Walker-Williams, of the Coast Salish First Nations, has been promoting the virtues of laissez-faire economics (similar to Hong Kong, for example) for Canadian First Nations. I can’t recall exactly where I encountered her ideas before, but the National Post has now run a commentary written by her on the subject.
I’ve no idea if Walker-Williams’ plan — known as the Coast Salish Free Trade Model — will work, there are a lot of potential problems (which she acknowledges in her commentary) but it does seem to be a new approach. And, its orientation toward those First Nations (generally in BC) that have never signed a treaty with the Crown, gives it legal and political strength that others might not have. In any case, this statement unfortunately applies to many First Nations:
Interestingly, this commentary ties in well with the one linked to here yesterday on the theme of local sovereignty. Both extolling the virtues of a diversity of governments and economic systems at the local level. I’m uncertain of my view on the points made by either commentary, although I’m inclined to think they’re right, but those points are certainly worth considering further.
Hat tip to National Post Headline Scan
This entry was written by the proprietor, posted on 6 January 2001 at 3:39 am.
Filed under Commentary Unbound and tagged aboriginal, canada.
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