Fredericton Independent

Fredericton Independent

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Fredericton Independent
Fredericton Independent
Coon: Higgs is ‘hostile’ toward First Nations

Coon: Higgs is ‘hostile’ toward First Nations

Green Party leader says Madawaska’s renewed casino-profit lawsuit, candidate Sherry Wilson’s Truth and Reconciliation gaffe aren’t surprising, given Tory leader's track record

Don MacPherson
Oct 02, 2024
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Fredericton Independent
Fredericton Independent
Coon: Higgs is ‘hostile’ toward First Nations
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A new lawsuit against the former Progressive Conservative government over First Nation casino-profit payments is evidence of Blaine Higgs’ “hostile relationship” with Indigenous people in the province, says one of his election opponents.

As the Fredericton Independent reported earlier this week, the Madawaska First Nation filed a new lawsuit in the Court of King’s Bench in Fredericton last month against the provincial government and the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corp.

At issue are profit-sharing payments from the First Nation’s Grey Rock Casino.

Green Party Leader David Coon, left, says yet another lawsuit filed against the province for actions taken during Blaine Higgs’ time as premier comes as no surprise. (Photos: Submitted)

The statement of claim alleges the province was deducting HST as an expense from the payments the lotteries corporation required to make on the 95 per cent share owed to the Indigenous community from revenues collected at its casino.

Madawaska alleges the province has withheld millions in payments in contravention of a court order stemming from a previous lawsuit on a related issue.

Green Party Leader David Coon said learning the province and lotteries corporation was allegedly denying an Indigenous community funds contrary to an established agreement under Higgs’ leadership as premier wasn’t surprising, given his track record.

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