Editor:
I take exception to a letter written by Doug Wilson (Jan. 7, Williams Lake Tribune) titled “Demographics don’t lend to democracy.”
He quotes a statistic from 2011 which is totally inaccurate, which says that First Nations people make up 4.3 per cent of Canada’s population.
What he probably doesn’t know, is that the important “demographic” is that the population of First Nations people is growing at triple the rate of any other ethnic group in Canada.
Doug doesn’t think it is right that this “4.3 per cent” should “dictate terms” regarding economic development.
Welcome to the 21st century Mr. Wilson. As the original inhabitants of North America, they have seen their culture destroyed by the settlers who came to this continent. Now, after centuries of this they are being recognized as caretakers of the land, and treaties are being signed. It is about time for this acknowledgement.
Mr. Wilson says that: “It hardly seems like a democratic situation in a developing country like Canada.”
Actually, Doug, Canada is considered to be a developed country. We have roads, hospitals, schools, utilities and infrastructure. We send aid to “developing” countries, like those in Africa.
Our economy is not 100 per cent resource based. There is also revenue from tourism and manufacturing. And as for what is, or is not democratic, consider the Federal Conservatives and Stephen Harper. Harper muzzled scientists from Environment Canada who reported the contamination of the Athabasca River by the toxic tailings from the Tar Sands, and gave the Petroleum Industry the green light to increase production and transportation of the crude bitumen. That’s undemocratic.
Mr. Wilson goes on to list the sources of Government’s revenue, personal income tax, corporate tax, etc. This may be accurate, but he ends his letter with a totally ridiculous statement: “At this point there is no record of aboriginal contribution to Canada’s income stream.”
I asked a friend of mine, who is Tsilhqot’in and who works at Gibraltar Mines, if he paid taxes.
“Of course First Nation people pay taxes, government wants their cut,” he replied. “Any person working off the reserve pays taxes. Only if you work on the reserve you don’t pay taxes, but there’s not much work there.”
You should check your facts, Mr. Wilson.
Michael Atwood
Williams Lake