Cigarette advertising and Dalton McGuinty's priorities
An illegal land occupation by Natives from the Six Nations Reserve and the subsequent economic destruction of the town of Caledonia is no reason for Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government in Ontario to get excited. Instead, the occupation goes on for months and months while the businesses in Caledonia are reduced to depending on government handouts to stay afloat. On the other hand, the Natives put up a billboard advertising a smoke shop, and the Feds are called in, threats are made, and the message is sent out that no one is above the law.
I swear, when it comes to cigarettes, everyone just loses their minds.
Natives chase off developers on a piece of land not recognized to be theirs, then assault reporters, police, and ordinary citizens, and Premier Dalton McGuinty sits back and hopes everything will work out.
On the other hand, Natives put up a billboard that has the word "smoke shop", and the rhetoric being thrown about reaches a level of bombast that would make Kim Jong Il proud.
From the Hamilton Spectator:
Just as one storm cloud cleared over Caledonia, another settled in over cigarette billboards along Highway 6 that advertise Six Nations tobacco products and stores.
Some of the signs are on the reserve, some of them are off the reserve and some are within provincial highway right-of-ways.
A Health Canada official said they have notified their inspectors in the region and an investigation has been launched.
The billboard is cheap and tawdry, as shown in this photograph by Cathie Coward of the Spectator:
The law does not require that tobacco advertising be sophisticated to be illegal. What's amazing is that with all the apparent lack of interest in deaing strongly with the land occupation, all the players in this drama over a crappy billboard seem ready to die on this hill.
A representative of Health Canada:
A spokesperson for the federal health minister said any contravention of the ban on tobacco advertising would be "unforgivable."
Unforgivable?
Then there are the aboriginals:
Six Nations spokespeople were enraged by the controversy, saying it was just a ploy to divert attention from the main issue: land claims.
"We are not Canadians and we are not subjected to Canadian laws," said spokesperson Hazel Hill. "We adhere to the Great Law and Canada had better just back off. They're trying to force their taxes on us. They have no say on what happens on Six Nations."
Even if signs are off the traditional reserve land, Hill said they are within 10 kilometres of the Grand River and therefore part of their territory.
"I could put a sign in the middle of Caledonia and it'd be our territory. This is about land claims. (Canada) stole the land and now they have to deal with it."
From the provincial government comes the astounding statement that the law must be applied:
Ontario's Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay said the tobacco signs won't scuttle talks at the main table -- set to resume Friday -- because they do not have anything to do with the land claims.
"There has to be an even application of the law, and that's all that's happening," he said, adding day-to-day issues come up in every community.
I bet a fiew people in Caledonia would have some choice words to tell David Ramsay about the "even application of the law".
The Ontario government continues to display some stiffness of spine:
Jim Watson, the province's minister of health promotion, pointed to one billboard which has a cartoon bull on it as an old "trick" used by tobacco companies to attract young people.
"This is a health issue: no one should be advertising tobacco products."
I'm not convinced that young people are going to be attracted to smoking by that silly sign. Young people who are old enough to be able to drive the highways are have probably already taken up smoking because their parents smoke. Those younger teens on the verge of smoking can't drive, so I'm not sure how they would get to the reserve. Maybe there's a bus.
In any case, I haven't heard anyone directly accusing the native smoke shops of either selling to underage consumers or of skirting the rules that dramatically limit their ability to sell cigarettes to non-natives. Of course, Watson might be talking about the general affect on young people seeing the billboard on their way to wherever they are going. Still, his wording suggests that the Natives are deliberately targeting young people with the billboard.
In any case, there are plenty of raspberries to go around on this issue:
- To the federal government for the "unforgivable" comment. Really, this is quite forgivable. Maybe it's not tolerable. Maybe it's serious. But unforgivable? Please.
- To the David Ramsay of the Ontario government, don't start talking about the "even application of the law". That example of bald-faced hypocrisy will pour gas on the fire that has been dampened down to a low smolder among the non-Natives in Caledonia.
- To Jim Watson of the Ontario government, are you accusing the Natives of targeting young people, or selling to young people?
- To the various spokespeople for the Six Nations, please relax. Suggesting that you can put up a billboard in the middle of Caledonia sounds like a dare, and unless you want to look like empty windbags, you had better get some hammer and nails and start putting up that sign, or better yet, stop making statements like that. Tying this land claims is a dumb move, because you might have found an issue that a lot of your do-gooder friends on the left are going to have problems supporting you on. Remember that the anti-smoking campaigns that have resulted in the laws you think don't apply to you were organized by socialist meddlers who insist they know what is best for everyone and who hate corporate Canada, especially tobacco companies. While you play the part of the oppressed, they're on your side. But start acting and sounding like the worst of Big Tobacco, and you'll find yourself with few friends off the reserve. And don't kid yourself -- your success so far is in no small part due to their efforts and their connections with the Liberal Party. If they turn on you, you might find the Ontario government a lot less pliable than before. In fact, you've already seen that with just how quickly the Ontario government is willing to fight you over the billboards.
Maybe the people on the Six Nations reserve need to think about whether the people behind their land protests, people like cigarette manufacturer Grand River Enterprise owner Ken Hill, are using them and their political activism for their own financial benefit. Ken Hill might have convinced Hazel Hill and others that a ban on Native cigarette advertising is an affront to their sovereignty and the thin end of the wedge for more incursions and a tax issue and whatever else, but at the end of the day, it is about enriching Ken Hill. They ought to consider whether helping Ken Hill is really the same as helping themselves.
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Comments
"We are not Canadians and we are not subjected to Canadian laws," said spokesperson Hazel Hill. "We adhere to the Great Law and Canada had better just back off. They're trying to force their taxes on us. They have no say on what happens on Six Nations."
Does that mean they can't vote or collect EI or welfare payments?
Posted by: Sheldon Kotyk at October 18, 2006 04:23 PM
Just so you know, the sitn bull sign has been up there for a lot longer then the so called occupation. If the immigrants of canada want to live on our lands, know the history of how your ancestors managed to underhandedly manipulate the lands so that it is in their possession. Its called legal stealing in my words. Some 5 yrs ago, a brantford court informed the canadian government to produce the documents that indicated they were the proper owners of the lands that are in question along the haldimand tract, the government did not produce the documents, but had it appealed, at the conclusion of the appeal the judge too indicated that the government must produce the documents that said they were the rightful owners. The government has still not come forward with these documents, instead they diverted the court process by establishing another type of solution to the process. To me, when they heard of the judges judgement, it had them worried, did they not have the documents to indicate that they had rightful ownership of the grandriver lands? If they had the documents did it indicate that we were right all along, and they did not want to produce it for that matter. Or, had they had the documents and it did indicate they were the rightful owners of the said lands, they would have been more then willing to lay them out on the table for all to see and say, "there, we were right all along". But they didnt, and this is where i believe that they have to back track, if they lose, it will cost the government billions. Also, for those ignorant of the fact, we do work, and we do pay taxes, even though we arent happy about it, we do pay cpp, we do pay income tax, and we do pay into ei. So, why shouldnt we be able to collect when we lose our jobs, we paid into it, just like others. And remember this, you are living on indian lands. So, if you have a problem living here, maybe you should go back to your mother land. If you dont have a problem, good for you. IF you want to change then learn the history of the original peoples of this continent.
Also, look around, are we warring with one another? nope, but if you look around the world it is all of you who are warring. So get off your high horse about who is better then who.
Only reason those of you who dont like what we are doing to protect our future hate it that they werent here first.
So, learn the facts, there is always two sides of the story, and then there is the truth.
shawn michael
Posted by: shawn michael at October 18, 2006 11:40 PM
Well, it's completely unfortunate that almost every country on our entire planet at one time or another was invaded or conquered by a foreign group. It shouldn't be happening in this day and age, but what's in the past is in the past. Can you honestly see England making a case against Italy for the horrors of what happened during the days of the Roman Empire?
I hope that we settle these land claims quickly. If it was fairly sold then enough said. If it wasn't, then give it back. However, the aboriginal community has to realize that they are either part of Canada or they are not! Canada isn't going anywhere.
If they're not, then let's end any Government funding to them, terminate special programs in prisons, employment, and other areas, and get them all to hand in their passports, citizenship cards and provincial birth certificates. The we set up borders around their nation and place border agents along those areas.
If you are a sovereign nation, then go it alone on your own merits and stop riding Canada's coattails.
If not, then welcome home and let's all try to get along as EQUALS!
Posted by: Gadget at October 19, 2006 05:40 AM
Wonder what the Indians/Natives, whatever, would like to do without ?
Maybe it's time they fend for themselves and stop the constant whining .
If they are not abide our laws they should be isolated in their own terroritories and rule themselves. We know how that would turn out.
If they want to have continued support they'll have to "allow us to use the land and get to work so we can continue to pay them as treaties demand and stop biting the hands that feed them. They're bloody well not living off the land and in tents.
They use all the comforts supplied by our ancesters who DEVELOPED this Country.
Dalton McUsless is not dealing with any serious, controversial issues like Caledonia. If he had any guts he'd haul the sorry asses off to the courts and Jail as other citizens of Canada would be.
But, no, McUsless would rather do some social engineering in the schools instead, teach morals.
He should be the last to mention morals when he broke every one of his electoral promises.
Is he worried? Nah, he's way up in the polls.
ONTARIO THE STUPID.
Posted by: Biddy at October 19, 2006 10:46 AM
Either by accident or design, we have a series of events through which a complex process enables a tiny sperm swimming upstream in a competitive race to invade and penetrate an egg's membrane. Upon arrival, one of these wiggly fellas will enter virgin territory and just slam the door shut while claiming territorial rights all to themselves. Why, you ask? Because "they got there first".
Some rancorous spermatozoas seem to have never developed beyond their distant past.
Posted by: Victor at October 19, 2006 11:15 AM
That Dalton McGuinty sure is a stickler for law and order, huh?
If only they didn't offer this final insult to our intelligence...
"We hope the federal government takes its responsibility seriously and is very proactive in making sure the law is upheld."
Posted by: neo at October 19, 2006 11:37 AM
Speaking of law and order; Make sure you don't speak against the governments or you or someone might be punished in your family. One of the residents of Braemar Ave and the brother of
Anne Marie Vansickle (one of the speakers at the Caledonia rally), Steve
Reilly was arrested last night by OPP and Immigration officers...
Steve was informed that his currently validated Visa good until February,
2008 was being immediately revoked for undisclosed reasons and that he had
7 days to get out of the country, they then seized his passport (which is
the only proof he has of the valid Visa) and released him....
Posted by: MaryM at October 19, 2006 12:58 PM
I continue my personal boycott of all aboriginal businesses until the Caledonia occupation ends and due process resumed.
Posted by: Shaken at October 19, 2006 03:11 PM
Sorry Shawn, but the Six Nations refugees weren't here first. And actually neither were you, unless you are a somewhat older than I am. I'm a native North American too. EVERYBODY'S ancestors in North America came from somewhere else. Get over yourselves and start pulling your weight, like everybody else.
Posted by: Skip at October 19, 2006 08:56 PM
And Steve, maybe this should be your next expose...
Posted by: Skip at October 19, 2006 09:02 PM
I'm not sure how I ended up in here, but I am absolutely amazed at:
the anger
the ignorance
the immaturity
the feeling that you must impose your immature morals and values upon others
the apparent perfection of "rule of law" until you disagree with its application
the view that one community's non-violent protest against the state is illegal and immoral, but another community's protest is somehow legal and morally superior
I will likely return to this site for a glimpse of the dark side of humanity. It's like picking a scab. Facinating in a wierd way...
Posted by: Amazed at October 19, 2006 11:58 PM
...Now go ahead and tell me:
how stupid I am
how mad you are
yada, yada...
Posted by: Amazed at October 20, 2006 12:01 AM
There...now that you have calmed down a bit, it's time to tell me:
how wrong I am
how right you are
how I should think like you
yada, yada,...
Posted by: Amazed at October 20, 2006 12:06 AM
I can buy this "we are not citizens or subject to Canadian law." However the natives must understand that by not being Canadian they give up rights to any program benefits, payments, currancy, pensions, health plans, which come from the country and provinces of Canada. They would be required to stay within the boundaries of the reservations (their lands) although I am sure they would say all land is theirs. To leave this reservation (Indian Country) they would be subject to scrutiny the same as any non citizen wishing to enter into Canada. To work in Canada work permits and visas would be required. They could not use a Canadian passport to travel. It certainly, would free up many millions to pay down the Canadian debt if we no longer had an Indian Affairs department in our government. That's my fifty cents.
Posted by: shirtgirl at October 20, 2006 12:10 AM
Amazed...Wot a pile of crap.
Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2006 05:53 PM
yes u are a pile of crap amazed
Posted by: at October 20, 2006 09:01 PM
As the intemperate poster Shawn Michael noted, that Sit 'N Bull sign has been there for years. Which of course means that the various levels of government have been quietly ignoring it for years because tobacco advertising has been illegal in Canada for quite a while.
What we have here is one Liberal sacred cow goring another. Will Indian identity politics trump public health nannyism, or will the anti-smoking Nazis prevail over free speech by a visible minority?
Tune in next week for more of "As The Liberal Turd Whirls!"
Posted by: The Phantom at October 20, 2006 10:26 PM
Shirtgirl,
What Six Nations is seeking is recognition of their treaties with Canada/Britain. This includes full sovereignty, as you have outlined. However, Canada owes Six Nations a GREAT deal of money in payment for lands encroached upon, now towns and cities in the Haldimand Tract, as well as unpaid land leases and recource fees. Thus, it is possible that some of the money owed may be paid 'in kind' because it is cheaper for the taxpayer, for example, to pay for their health care than to pay them the money outright.
These are the things that will be worked out in negotiations. I assume you support the government's judgement in that?
Posted by: saga at October 25, 2006 01:25 PM
 
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