CANADIAN TAXPAYERS FEDERATION
Donny_Brasco @ Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:51 am
This guy accused me of calling him a racist. You decide: (Actual Emails between Donny and David Maclean of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation).
I realize it is a long post, but give it a go.
$1:
Davie,
That was an outsttanding article, minus the Fiss anti-Indian infused first three paragraphs.
I think more articles that focus on the good things that our "corrupt and often repressive regiems" are doing will solve your "Race Problem" more quickly then your hateful, narrowminded criticizms.
I think your article proves that we as Native people can participate in the Canadian socity in our own way if allowed without assimilating and losing our
identitys as Cree, Ojibway, Mohawk, Blackfoot people (or whomever we might be).
If the CTF would recognize that working with First Nations for change are giving credit where credit is due ("most" bands are not corrupt and/or repressive, "some bands" might be. If you applied that same standard to civic, provincial and federal governments I'd say "ALL" governments are corrupt (and maybe repressive)).
Congratulations on the well though out article though. I am proud to say I am a part of the system for change, where Aboriginal people can fit in and
continue to pay taxes and make this country a better place to live.
I however reserve the right to continue to demand that you and the rest of the Canadians live up to the promises your grandparents made to me and my people.
That was an outsttanding article, minus the Fiss anti-Indian infused first three paragraphs.
I think more articles that focus on the good things that our "corrupt and often repressive regiems" are doing will solve your "Race Problem" more quickly then your hateful, narrowminded criticizms.
I think your article proves that we as Native people can participate in the Canadian socity in our own way if allowed without assimilating and losing our
identitys as Cree, Ojibway, Mohawk, Blackfoot people (or whomever we might be).
If the CTF would recognize that working with First Nations for change are giving credit where credit is due ("most" bands are not corrupt and/or repressive, "some bands" might be. If you applied that same standard to civic, provincial and federal governments I'd say "ALL" governments are corrupt (and maybe repressive)).
Congratulations on the well though out article though. I am proud to say I am a part of the system for change, where Aboriginal people can fit in and
continue to pay taxes and make this country a better place to live.
I however reserve the right to continue to demand that you and the rest of the Canadians live up to the promises your grandparents made to me and my people.
Tanis Fiss is their so called Aboriginal expert, white as snow (apparently Metis which is not Indian) and really anti-native.
$1:
Hey Donny, thanks for your thoughts. Can I have permission to reprint this letter in case our editor likes it? We are certainly not anti-indian, as I think you know. We think a lot of changes can be made and still honour
the the treaties, which we clearly acknowledge. I realize that you are
frustrated with the common perception that "all indian bands are
corrupt," and I don't like the idea that I contributed to that. But at the end of the day, we can't sugar coat things, we have to tell it like it is. We could be
rightly accused of focusing on the bad things that happen too often, but
those are the problems we are trying the fix. So it is a double-edged
sword.
Your comments are well taken. I will pass this along to Tanis.
David
the the treaties, which we clearly acknowledge. I realize that you are
frustrated with the common perception that "all indian bands are
corrupt," and I don't like the idea that I contributed to that. But at the end of the day, we can't sugar coat things, we have to tell it like it is. We could be
rightly accused of focusing on the bad things that happen too often, but
those are the problems we are trying the fix. So it is a double-edged
sword.
Your comments are well taken. I will pass this along to Tanis.
David
$1:
David,
Yes, you may reprint my comments in their entirity only.
And if you would like more information on things such as the economic boom created by urban reserves or the actual amount of tax dollars paid by Status Indians in this country, please feel free to ask.
Some other suggestions:
1) Explain the details of our tax situation (Treaty Indians working or buying goods on reserve ONLY have been guarenteed by the government that they will not be taxed on their purchases or earnings. That is one of the prices that Canada was willing to pay in order to settle OUR land.)
2) Explain how and why some of our First Nations have their education paid for by the government (same deal).
3) Do some research on how paying for someone's education actually saves this country money (a lifetime on welfare vs. 4 years schooling and a
lifetime paying taxes). I asked Fiss about this and she apparently would rather see people on welfare because "race based" education is unfair. I'd say "race based" welfare paid for by Canadians is unfair and would be a bigger concern for the CTF.
4) Fire Fiss and hire a real Native to run your Aboriginal department. You'd really make a difference with someone who actually knows what being Native is all about. I saw Fiss on CPAC and she really missed an opportunity to let her views be known. It must have been to scary to front her anti-Indian views in a room full of Natives. But she sure does a good job in front of reporters or behind closed doors without any real Natives around.
I appreciated your article, and besides the first few paragraphs, its the best work on this issue that I've ever seen from the CTF.
If you need facts, figures or information on anything related to this topic I would be happy to help you out.
DB
Yes, you may reprint my comments in their entirity only.
And if you would like more information on things such as the economic boom created by urban reserves or the actual amount of tax dollars paid by Status Indians in this country, please feel free to ask.
Some other suggestions:
1) Explain the details of our tax situation (Treaty Indians working or buying goods on reserve ONLY have been guarenteed by the government that they will not be taxed on their purchases or earnings. That is one of the prices that Canada was willing to pay in order to settle OUR land.)
2) Explain how and why some of our First Nations have their education paid for by the government (same deal).
3) Do some research on how paying for someone's education actually saves this country money (a lifetime on welfare vs. 4 years schooling and a
lifetime paying taxes). I asked Fiss about this and she apparently would rather see people on welfare because "race based" education is unfair. I'd say "race based" welfare paid for by Canadians is unfair and would be a bigger concern for the CTF.
4) Fire Fiss and hire a real Native to run your Aboriginal department. You'd really make a difference with someone who actually knows what being Native is all about. I saw Fiss on CPAC and she really missed an opportunity to let her views be known. It must have been to scary to front her anti-Indian views in a room full of Natives. But she sure does a good job in front of reporters or behind closed doors without any real Natives around.
I appreciated your article, and besides the first few paragraphs, its the best work on this issue that I've ever seen from the CTF.
If you need facts, figures or information on anything related to this topic I would be happy to help you out.
DB
$1:
Donny,
Tanis is not anti-indian at all. And Tanis is one of the best experts
on Indian policy in the country. We don't believe being an expert has
anything to do with the colour of your skin, or where you come from. If we
wanted a Doug Cuthand (an apologist, and an advocate of the status quo, who has a financial interest in the status quo) we could get one this afternoon they are a dime a dozen.
I appreciate your views, but you should know that we are in contact
with Indians every day who feel differently.
I agree with Tanis on race-based education. Donny, you have to
understand that we cannot continue to treat people differently according to race.
This is part of the problem.
It's silly to say that we would rather see people on welfare. You need
to open your mind to solutions other than government handouts.
As for treaty rights, we acknowledge treaty rights in everything we
write.
Also, with regard to urban reserves, we categorically oppose urban
reserves because they create an uneven playing field based on race. I know that you will say that giving natives a hand up will help in the long term, and
that the fee for service arrangements mean that urban reserves pay an
equivalent in taxes, but I disagree.
Sometimes giving people a hand up is exactly what keeps them down.
It's interesting, a friend of mine spent a couple of months in South
Africa. Did you know they are way ahead of us in terms of how they treat black indigenous people? Two reasons: They allow black ownership of reserve
land, and they have agreed as a country, in a formal way, to stop feeling
guilty.
They have a nation-wide focus on the future, not reparations for past
sins.
Anyways, those are my thoughts.
David
Tanis is not anti-indian at all. And Tanis is one of the best experts
on Indian policy in the country. We don't believe being an expert has
anything to do with the colour of your skin, or where you come from. If we
wanted a Doug Cuthand (an apologist, and an advocate of the status quo, who has a financial interest in the status quo) we could get one this afternoon they are a dime a dozen.
I appreciate your views, but you should know that we are in contact
with Indians every day who feel differently.
I agree with Tanis on race-based education. Donny, you have to
understand that we cannot continue to treat people differently according to race.
This is part of the problem.
It's silly to say that we would rather see people on welfare. You need
to open your mind to solutions other than government handouts.
As for treaty rights, we acknowledge treaty rights in everything we
write.
Also, with regard to urban reserves, we categorically oppose urban
reserves because they create an uneven playing field based on race. I know that you will say that giving natives a hand up will help in the long term, and
that the fee for service arrangements mean that urban reserves pay an
equivalent in taxes, but I disagree.
Sometimes giving people a hand up is exactly what keeps them down.
It's interesting, a friend of mine spent a couple of months in South
Africa. Did you know they are way ahead of us in terms of how they treat black indigenous people? Two reasons: They allow black ownership of reserve
land, and they have agreed as a country, in a formal way, to stop feeling
guilty.
They have a nation-wide focus on the future, not reparations for past
sins.
Anyways, those are my thoughts.
David
$1:
That’s interesting David,
You mention "advocating the status quo" but that’s exactly what you are doing. The point is that when given the opportunity we can work within the Canadian system in our own way.
No one is asking you to feel guilty. We're not even asking for your permission to set up our urban reserves and do business in our own manner. I would ask however that you stop crying wolf every time we
ask that you honor our treaty rights and every time we gain a competitive advantage because of those rights.
There is nothing race-based about that at all. Business people give themselves competitive advantages all the time. Was Paul Martin accused of getting a race-based tax exemption when he changed the flags on
his ships? How about our railroads, are they accused of getting a race-based advantage because they were given land to build their rail-roads and become rich?
Those were all white guys, and their son's and daughters and their offspring run this country today because of their "race-based" competitive advantage.
So when we try to do business in our own way its all "race-based" because we are exploiting the currentcompetitive advantage that we have? This advantage has never existed before. Because of the mistakes of
Canada's fore-fathers we have a population of poor, uneducated Native people. Why not embrace this advantage and stop trying to bring us down for getting our people to provide jobs and education and a future
for our people. Would it not be better then getting hand-outs and living on your tax system?
If you are truly an advocate for Canadian Taxpayers you would be cheering and applauding our efforts to generate wealth and jobs in our own way, instead ofworrying about phantom "Race-Based" inequalities.
Our competitive advantage is not race-based, it is inherited. If you want to take away my inheritance, then lets truly advocate for equality and take away
the inheritances of every single person in this country. That would be true equality.
Just so you know, this is not South Africa. You should visit there yourself someday and see how "far ahead" they really are. And I guess that may depend on which way "ahead" is for you.
DB
You mention "advocating the status quo" but that’s exactly what you are doing. The point is that when given the opportunity we can work within the Canadian system in our own way.
No one is asking you to feel guilty. We're not even asking for your permission to set up our urban reserves and do business in our own manner. I would ask however that you stop crying wolf every time we
ask that you honor our treaty rights and every time we gain a competitive advantage because of those rights.
There is nothing race-based about that at all. Business people give themselves competitive advantages all the time. Was Paul Martin accused of getting a race-based tax exemption when he changed the flags on
his ships? How about our railroads, are they accused of getting a race-based advantage because they were given land to build their rail-roads and become rich?
Those were all white guys, and their son's and daughters and their offspring run this country today because of their "race-based" competitive advantage.
So when we try to do business in our own way its all "race-based" because we are exploiting the currentcompetitive advantage that we have? This advantage has never existed before. Because of the mistakes of
Canada's fore-fathers we have a population of poor, uneducated Native people. Why not embrace this advantage and stop trying to bring us down for getting our people to provide jobs and education and a future
for our people. Would it not be better then getting hand-outs and living on your tax system?
If you are truly an advocate for Canadian Taxpayers you would be cheering and applauding our efforts to generate wealth and jobs in our own way, instead ofworrying about phantom "Race-Based" inequalities.
Our competitive advantage is not race-based, it is inherited. If you want to take away my inheritance, then lets truly advocate for equality and take away
the inheritances of every single person in this country. That would be true equality.
Just so you know, this is not South Africa. You should visit there yourself someday and see how "far ahead" they really are. And I guess that may depend on which way "ahead" is for you.
DB
$1:
OK Donny, you've implied than I am a racist, so that is where this
conversation ends. And obviously there is no reason to debate anything
at all, as you seem to have everything solved. Nice talking to you.
David
conversation ends. And obviously there is no reason to debate anything
at all, as you seem to have everything solved. Nice talking to you.
David
Rev_Blair @ Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:39 am
Tanis Fiss? Ya gotta be kidding. The woman is a nut-bag. Of course so is David MacLean and pretty much everybody else at the CTF. They do not understand the implications of our treaties...those are equal to any other international treaty. They refuse to acknowledge that if the case went to an international court, the Crown would be in major trouble. They don;t want to solve problems, they just want the problems to go away.
Give 'em hell, Donny. You might want to pass this exchange on to the press. If you can find a paper not owned by the Aspers, that is.