Nova Scotia’s premier says he’s unfazed after the Sipekne’katik First Nation passed a resolution banning him and two of his cabinet ministers from band lands.
When asked what he thought about the ban, Houston replied, “Why is that? Why was I banned?” and said he didn’t know.
“It’s still Canada. You know, to have somebody banned from our community with an ‘or else’ statement is kind of bizarre for me,” Houston said.
“But I’m not focused on that. I’m focused on keeping Nova Scotians safe and doing what’s right for Nova Scotians.”
Sipekne’katik’s move this week comes after Justice Minister Scott Armstrong issued a directive last week to the province’s police agencies to crack down on illegal cannabis dispensaries.
He said a recent provincial review found at least 118 illegal outlets were in operation in comparison to 51 legal NSLC cannabis stores.
Although he couldn’t say specifically how many of those dispensaries are in First Nations communities, Armstrong sent a letter to 13 Mi’kmaq chiefs to ask for their “co-operation with a growing public safety problem.”
In a news release issued Tuesday, Sipekne’katik said its chief and council oversee their lands and the provincial government “has NO JURISDICTION on reserve lands.”
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