Dear Editor,
[RE: LETTER: Not elected to spread fear, May 14, www.mapleridgenews.com]
I do agree with Patricia Dawson opinion regarding MLAs, MPs, and AI creating unnecessary fear with mis- or disinformation given the tumultuous times we are living in.
In all fairness to Marc Dalton, I do have to point out there are concerns with DRIPA.
Court decision: The basis for the decision is the King George III Royal Proclamation Oct. 7, 1693 following Britain’s acquisition of French territory in North America. It is the foundational document in Canadian history for governing the territory and managing relationships with Indigenous peoples. Settlers were strictly forbidden from taking up land, purchasing land, or settling in this territory without special leave and licence.
The proclamation prohibited settlers from buying land from Indigenous people. Instead, land could only be acquired by the Crown, through authorized officials, in public meetings with the concerned Nations. This appears to apply to French territory.
A Google search found: “The right to own property lies at the core of liberal democracy. Protections for property can be traced back to the Magna Carta of 1215, the English Bill of Rights of 1689, and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of 1948, to which Canada is a signatory.”
Based on this, many Canadians may be surprised to learn that we do not have constitutionally protected property rights, particularly since our American neighbours do enjoy these protections.
British Columbia does have a serious problem, because unlike other provinces it never negotiated treaties with its Indigenous peoples.
Pierre Elliott Trudeau did try putting this in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms during his time as prime minister. The provinces blocked that initiative, which is quite unfortunate.
So yes, DRIPA, is a concern which needs to be addressed and could conceivably end up in the Supreme Court of Canada.
Marie Robson, Maple Ridge
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