Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - April 29, 1981, Winnipeg, Manitoba 8 Winnipeg free press wednesday april 29, 1981 British envoy says spat helped Clear air departing Ford maintains his controversial role in constitutional squabble was beneficial Ford no regrets Ottawa up sir John Ford the outspoken British High commissioner is returning Home saying his controversial role in the constitutional squabble was Good for relations be tween Canada and Britain. Ford 59, who leaves May 10 for retirement said in an interview yesterday the storm that erupted around him in february helped Clear the air. Since then there had been less anti British feeling in Canada. Wholly salutary the tall dangling Diplomat said the press conference he called in february to explain his discussions with two new democratic maps was wholly it made canadians aware of British concerns in the Constitution Al debate. Far from regretting his actions nation Ford said he stands by everything he said at the time., he was rather surprised by Canadian reaction new democratic Leader de Broad Bent accused him of attempting to influence two nip maps. Up to that moment there had been a great Deal of tension and speculation about the British position. Thereafter there was enormous support forthcoming across Canada i received very few critical external affairs minister Mark Macguigan said after investigating Broadbent s complaint that there were indications Ford went beyond Normal diplomatic functions and intervened in the constitutional debate. Macguigan did not spell out what he meant by interference. The British government said it had full Confidence in Ford. Ford s style in the constitutional spat was typical of the Man believes in saying what he thinks. About two years ago he said Canada s vaunted third option creasing Trade with Europe to offset american economic influence amount to a Row of last year he said europeans Don t like Canada s Energy policy and he spelled out Why. That irritated Macguigan who said Ford grossly misinterpreted the Energy policy. Ford who has held posts in the United states and other countries around the world does t agree he is unusually outspoken Diplomat. His description of Canada s third option was t outspoken it was Call ing a Spade a he said. If one believes in close Friendship with somebody that s the main reason for speaking Man to Man and not beating around the Naper disagrees Ford has said he talked to two new democratic maps about the problems the constitutional package faces in getting through the British parliament because he wanted to make them aware of the parliamentary Situa Tion in London. Broadbent viewed it differently. He said Ford was trying to influence the maps the British High commissioner told a later news conference that Britain did t want to get involved in the constitutional debate. But Canada had handed London the task of dealing with constitutional change through the statute of Westminster in 1931. So the constitutional fight put Brit Ain in a very embarrassing position with supporters and opponents of the Federal proposal lobbying in London. Looking at his three years Here the career Diplomat said businessmen in Canada and Britain Are starting to develop some interesting joint ventures particularly in re sources such As Coal and Oil. He is retiring some months ahead of time because of Early retirement pro visions he said. It was All decided last fall Long before the constitutional controversy in february. His successor lord Moran is to take Over in mid june just before the economic conference of the seven major Western industrialized coun tries. Natives will seek . Court ruling Ottawa up Indian groups will ask the British High court to decide whether Britain which signed treaties with indians before confederation still has a Legal responsibility to ensure they Are treated pro Perly says a British Columbia lawyer. Louise Mandell who advises the Union of . Indian chiefs says the action will be filed in London next week on behalf of More than 500 chiefs across Canada. Mandell made the announcement on the Steps of the supreme court of Canada build ing moments after the opening arguments began on the legality of prime minister Trudeau s constitutional package. She was accompanied by a Small delegation of indians from ., new Brunswick and Ontario. Just As the provinces maintain that great Britain holds a Trust responsibility to them the Indian people also say there s a Trust responsibility which the Imperial government owes to the Indian nations which must be discharged prior to request to Cabinet Mandell said the indians will have the British court ask Cabinet to Deal with the matter quickly before possible Patria Tion which could come this summer if the supreme court rules in favor of Trudeau s package. If the British Cabinet refuses to Deal with it indians will have to go through regu Lar British court proceedings and Given probable appeals should they win the pro Cess could take three years she said. Mandell agreed the Constitution could be in Canada by then but expressed the Hope that Britain would follow Canada s Lead and wait until the courts decide the Case. Michael Jackson a British lawyer who teaches at the University of British Colum Bia said earlier in an interview from Van Couver that it s not a stand against a it s intended to Centre the argument on Indian consent and the requirement for that before said Jackson who works with Mandell and is travelling to Britain. Jackson said the groups intend to show that Britain recognized that Indian con sent obtained through treaties was Nec Essary to Britain s assertion of sovereignty Over pre confederation Canada. From the Indian perspective that remained unchanged in treaties signed with Canada after confederation. Basis for demands Jackson said that argument forms the basis for native demands for a role in the amending formula. Any changes to aboriginal rights clauses should require con sent from Ottawa a combination of prov inces and the country s native people through referendum. At present changes could be made unilaterally by Ottawa and a combination of provinces. If the court decides Britain still has responsibility for indians the groups will press the British government to ensure that clauses Are added to the Constitution Guaran teeing that no aboriginal rights amendments can be made without native consent. Native leaders argue that if they have to get provincial approval for aboriginal rights amendments after Patria Tion they will be helpless because the provinces have traditionally been hostile to expanded native rights. The two groups would be com Peting in Many areas for natural resources. The brotherhood which represents the indians who receive Protection and benefits under Federal Law has rejected Patria Tion. Two other native groups rep resenting 1-million other natives continue to support the package. Notice to All residential customers of greater Winnipeg Gas company. During the recent labor dispute residential customers were asked to Call heating dealers in order to obtain service on their Gas equipment. The company is prepared to reimburse those customers to the extent that our Normal service would have provided. We ask that those customers affected please Forward copies of their invoices and a request for reimbursement in writing to greater Winnipeg Gas co. Operations department 265 notre Dame Avenue Winnipeg Manitoba r3b 1n9 we thank allot our customers Tor their patience and understanding during the past twelve weeks. Greater Winnipeg Gas company trailer lots on Winnipeg River 100. Only Down immediate Possession no payments or interest until october 1st, 1981 titled lots Hydro Central water weather Road Only 75 Miles from mpg. On pavement Only 2 Miles from modern conv store Good fishing. Swimming boating area invest now go Between lao Dubonnet and Pine Falls. 2 Miles North of Garcal Falls on Hwy. No. 11 owner on site every weekend Starling april 18th. River land developments Ltd. Box 212, St. Pierre Manitoba Days 433-7709 eggs 433-7756 we also have a big selection of cottage lots. 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