I’m redoing our kitchen and constantly quarrelling with my wife over the layout, something of little interest to me. It’s quite clear that the source of her frustration is that she knows what she doesn’t like but has no idea of what she really wants in terms definite enough to proceed with construction. Asking me just to build her a kitchen that she’ll love doesn’t work well for me. In the meantime, there’s not much cooking.

The Idle No More movement seems to have a familiar ring to it. We hear a lot of protesting about what First Nations don’t like and very little of what exactly it is that they do want. Terms such as recognition, consultation and respect are somewhat nebulous; the kitchen will never get built without concrete, well-defined specifications.

With most other groups that try to hold the public to ransom, the demands are usually finite and well spelled-out: a sovereign nation, freedom of prisoners, lump-sum payments, with Islamic terrorists perhaps being an exception.

So let us hear in very clear language what exactly it is that each First Nation wants. How much money, which lands and what rights they want, over and above what the rest of us have. Perhaps when we all have a very clear idea of what it is they want in this new kitchen, we can determine whether we can afford it.

Let’s quit idling and get this kitchen finished so I can get back to work.

Steve Lee

Victoria

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