First Nations aren’t swayed by vague promises

30.10.13

First Nations aren’t swayed by vague promises: The critical response to the level of violence is appropriate; anyone who steps outside Canadian norms in pressing their case against government or business can expect condemnation. But debate about the specifics of the Elsipogtog situation shows how quickly Canadians miss the most crucial elements in the resource dispute.

Canada is in the midst of a nationwide resource boom. To a degree that urban and southern Canadians generally fail to understand, this country’s current and future prosperity rests on the proper and systematic development of the country’s natural endowments. Wait a few years – if opponents of oil-sands pipelines and mining projects win the day and resource developments stall, the country’s fiscal health will suffer severely, with significant effects on the economy and government-funded programs.