Mr. Speaker, I support Bill C-107, the British Columbia Treaty Commission.
As many members are aware, the process of treaty making in British Columbia includes important third party consultations. In July 1993 the federal and provincial governments announced the establishment of the Treaty Negotiation Advisory Committee, TNAC. This is a 31 member organization that is divided into four sectoral advisory groups dealing with lands and forests, wildlife, fisheries and governance.
Each sectoral committee has completed interest papers which give an overview of the impact of treaties on their economic resource used and regulatory requirements. There have been several common interests identified. These include the need for certainty in treaty settlement, assured access to land base, fair and affordable agreements and avoiding impact on the existing employment base in smaller communities.
TNAC members ensure that the interests and expertise of major industries, business, labour, environment and outdoor recreation groups and local governments are understood and are taken into consideration in treaty negotiations.
TNAC advises governments on broad province-wide concerns and provides a forum for the provision of detailed information for discussion.
The process aspect of treaty negotiations has also received considerable attention from TNAC members and their demands for a more-