COAST TO COAST PROTESTS

Well at long last the media and others seem to have the proper focus. Today's Waterloo Region Record has an entire page (A3) devoted to First Nations and environmentalists protests that occurred yesterday, across Canada. The Record has two articles on page A3 namely "First Nations and their supporters hold Canada-wide rallies against Ottawa's land claim and environmental policies" and secondly "Idle No More and chiefs find common ground in environment". When the media were focused solely on Chief Spence, Attawapiskat and alleged financial mismanagement; it was too easy for the big message to get lost.

Apparently the protests are against two Conservative Omnibus Bills namely last year's Bill C-38 passed in June and Bill C-45 passed in December. For those who have criticized the protests by various native groups; I would suggest that they are carrying the load in shining a light upon the Conservatives anti democratic Omnibus Bills and their intention to reduce environmental oversight and protection of our environment. Between the two the Environmental Assessment Act, the Navigble Waters Act, the Fisheries Act and the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act have all been weakened to permit faster resource development as well as mining and energy projects to proceed with less oversight. Many of these changes are contrary to treaties that have been signed between the federal government and aboriginal groups over the decades.

Our federal government since obtaining a majority have characterized their relationship with Parliament as one of minimal attention. I believe it takes national protests as is now happening to get the Conservatives to realize how much opposition there really is to their agenda. If they are wise they will pay attention. If not they may have achieved their last majority government.