Higgs says private citizens' property rights could be jeopardized by Wolastoqey lawsuit

Premier Blaine Higgs says a revised Aboriginal title claim filed in the Court of Queen's Bench could impact some of the basic principles society runs on.

At a news conference held Wednesday afternoon, Higgs and Natural Resources Minister Mike Holland voiced concerns about the revised claim.

Higgs said the claim creates "tremendous uncertainty" for individuals buying land or building a business in terms of being sure of "the assets they actually own."

"Never before has a claim of this nature attempted to take control of land that is privately owned," he said.

The original lawsuit, which asks the courts for clear title to 60 per cent of New Brunswick's landmass, was filed a year ago.

But on Tuesday, Wolastoqey chiefs announced that J.D. Irving Ltd. and four other forestry companies, as well as N.B. Power, have been added as defendants.

The chiefs say those companies benefit from "sweetheart deals" that were made with the province on territory that was never surrendered by the Wolastoqey Nation.

Natural Resources Minister Mike Holland said the lawsuit could hurt New Brunswick's $2-billion forestry industry and one of the province's top exports.

"The strength of this sector keeps food on the table for one in 14 New Brunswickers whose jobs are linked to the health and growth in this sector," said Holland.

The chiefs have said they don't aim to seek compensation directly from the forestry companies.

But if their claim succeeds and they become the landlords, they would negotiate new deals and have a say in how the forests are managed.

Holland said the government is still trying to understand how that could impact the entire economy.

"It's your neighbour who owns a harvester," he said. "It's the private woodlot owner that's working to move their product through the supply chain. It's also the small mill that makes value-added products that employ local men and women all throughout the province."  

Patricia Bernard, chief of the Madawaska First Nation, had predicted Tuesday that Higgs would try to scare New Brunswickers into going against the claim.