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Treaty success is within reach

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Economic certainty achieved through treaty agreements
By Rodger Banister
September 15, 2004, The Fairmont Waterfront Hotel

The government is committed to revitalizing the treaty process, says Plant

In 2001, The Hon. Geoff Plant, attorney general and minister of treaty negotiations, committed to revitalize the treaty process. Today, at a Vancouver Board of Trade luncheon, Plant proved that he and his government are putting their money where their mouths are. Enbridge and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP sponsored the Special Speaker Luncheon^TM.

Plant announced that the provincial government has dedicated an additional $2.135 million this fiscal year to support treaty negotiations. The funds will be used to provide resources to the Treaty Negotiations Office to work towards Final Agreements and Agreements in Principle and will be applied to a number of key areas including land statusing, fiscal intergovernmental relations, third party and local government consultation.

"For the first time in the British Columbia Treaty Negotiations process, final treaties are within reach," said Plant, who assured the audience that his government intends to sign at least one Final Agreement by the end of the fiscal year.

Since 2003, the provincial government has signed Agreements in Principle and entered into Final Agreement negotiations with four tribes across the province.

"Economic certainty is achieved through treaty agreements," said Plant, detailing specific smaller Accommodation Agreements that had taken place in the last two years — one with the Squamish and Lillooet tribes for access to land, which makes possible vital construction for the 2010 Olympic Games.

Resource-based industries benefit from treaty negotiation as well: with 68 agreements signed for land access and revenue sharing, the forest industry and First Nations are building profitable relationships with one another.

The government is also committed to assisting First Nations with economic development. By developing skills, the First Nations’ economic infrastructure will improve, paving the way for strategic partnerships with industry, benefiting all of B.C.

They key, said Plant, is to build trust between negotiating parties — only then can agreements take place that are favourable to all British Columbians.

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