My apologies, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to support the comments made by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development on the importance of treaty negotiations. As members of this House are aware, only a small minority of First Nations in the province of B.C. have ever signed treaties with the crown.
On lower Vancouver Island several First Nations signed treaties with Governor Douglas in the middle of the 19th century. By the end of the century the Peace River district was included in Treaty No. 8 signed by the Government of Canada.
In the past two decades the Nisga'a Tribal Council has been actively negotiating with the federal and provincial governments. When these negotiations are completed and an agreement is signed, it will be the first treaty with B.C.'s First Nations signed in this century.
We are approaching the threshold of the next century. British Columbians want to approach the 21st century secure in the knowledge that the unfinished business of the 19th century has been completed.
The land claims of British Columbia's First Nations must be resolved because resolving these issues creates an environment of certainty. Certainty means economic growth and job creation. Settling land and resource issues creates an environment for investment and increased local economic activity.
Over the past few years we have made a great deal of progress toward resolving this unfinished business. In 1990 the federal and provincial governments and the leaders of the B.C. First Nations agreed to establish a task force that would map out a negotiation process that would accommodate the many First Nations in B.C. that wanted to negotiate settlements.
The task force reported on June 28, 1991 with 19 recommendations. All of them were accepted by the First Nations summit, Canada and British Columbia. One of the key recommendations was to establish the British Columbia Treaty Commission or BCTC as an arm's length keeper of the process. I would remind the House that the current leader of the B.C. Reform Party was one of the key architects of this process. I congratulate him on his vision and wisdom.
The agreement committed the principles to establish the BCTC through the passage of federal and provincial statutes and the resolution of the summit. As my colleagues know, Bill C-107 was passed by the House last week and has now been put before in the other place.
The commissioners began their valuable work on December 15, 1993 and have made considerable progress. Forty-seven First Nations groups are involved in the BCTC process to date. They represent over 70 per cent of the First Nations of the province, with more likely to become involved in the near future.
The BCTC consists of five commissioners, two nominated by the First Nations summit, one by the provincial government and one by the Government of Canada. The chief commissioner is duly selected and appointed by all three of the principals.
The First Nations summit includes all First Nations in B.C. that have agreed to participate in the BCTC six-stage treaty negotiation process. The summit provides a forum for First Nations involved in the treaty process to meet and discuss treaty negotiations. It worked closely with the federal and provincial governments in the development of the treaty negotiation process and in the establishment of the BCTC.
As one of the principles of the process it continues to provide direction along with the governments of Canada and British Columbia. The B.C. summit chiefs believe that negotiation rather than confrontation and litigation is the best way to solve outstanding issues. It is unfortunate that the Reform Party does not think the same.
I would like to tell the House a bit about the men and women who have offered to serve Canada, B.C. and the summit as the BCTC commissioners. Carole Corcoran was elected by the First Nations summit as one of the first treaty commissioners. She also sat on the royal commission on Canada's future in 1990-91 and serves on the board of governors at the University of Northern British Columbia. Unfortunately Ms. Corcoran has recently resigned.
On October 4, the First Nations summit chiefs selected Miles Richardson of Haida Gwaii to succeed Ms. Corcoran as the second First Nation treaty commissioner. Mr. Richardson was a member of the B.C. claims task force which reported to the governments of Canada, B.C. and First Nations on how the parties could begin negotiations to build a new partnership. From 1991 to 1993 Mr. Richardson was part of the First Nations summit task group, an executive body reporting to the First Nations in B.C. on treaty negotiations.
The First Nations summit has also elected as one of its commissioners Wilf Adam of the Lake Babine Indian Band. Mr. Adam is a
former chief councillor of the band. He is chairman of the Burns Lake Native Development Corporation and is co-founder of the Burns Lake Law Centre.
British Columbia has appointed Barbara Fisher, formerly general counsel and Vancouver director of the Office of the Ombudsman. She currently practices part time as counsel to the B.C Information and Privacy Commission.
Since last April the Government of Canada's representative to the commission has been Peter Lusztig. Dr. Lusztig has been a professor of finance at the University of British Columbia and also brings considerable breadth of experience from the community. He has sat on the B.C. Royal Commission on Automobile Insurance and the B.C. Commission of Inquiry on the Tree Fruit Industry. In 1991 he also chaired the Asia Pacific Initiative Advisory Committee struck by the federal and provincial governments.
Since last May the chief commissioner has been Mr. Alec Robertson, QC. The legal community is familiar with his past work as president of the B.C. branch of the Canadian Bar Association, chairman of the Law Foundation of B.C. and as a member of the Gender Equality Task Force of the Canadian Bar Association. Mr. Robertson spoke eloquently on Bill C-107 before the standing committee.
The House will recognize that the BCTC consists of five distinguished British Columbians. They are doing excellent work to ensure that the comprehensive claims process moves along in a timely and orderly manner.
The commission oversees the six-stage treaty negotiation process which includes: one, statement of intent; two, preparation for negotiations; three; negotiation of a framework agreement; four, negotiation of an agreement in principle; five, negotiation to finalize a treaty; and six, implementation of the treaty.
The commission assesses the readiness of the parties to negotiate. This involves making sure that the First Nations have the resources they require to make their case. It also includes ensuring that the federal and provincial governments have established regional advisory committees so that the interests of the local residents who are not aboriginal can be heard.
These regional advisory committees are part of an extensive and responsible effort to keep the public and all affected third parties informed of the developments in the negotiations as well as to ensure the advice of all sectors of B.C. society is considered. Other efforts include newsletters, public information meetings, a 1-800 number, numerous speaking engagements, information brochures and other publications, and participation in trade shows. The Sechelt negotiations are televised.
The commission allocates loan funding to enable First Nations to participate in the process. It works with all parties to ensure that they get on with the job in a timely manner. If required and if agreed to by all parties, the commission will assist the parties to obtain dispute resolution services if the negotiations seem to be reaching an impasse.
Finally, the commission helps ensure that the process remains open and accountable. It prepares and maintains a public record on the status of negotiations, and it reports to this House on that status. Its annual reports are tabled in this House. In summary, the B.C. Treaty Commission facilitates treaty negotiations; it is not a party to the negotiations.
I am sure that members on both sides of this House would agree that settlement of land claims in British Columbia is long overdue. British Columbia is home to 17 per cent of Canada's aboriginal population, yet treaties have been signed with only a small minority of First Nations there. The question of land issues surrounding undefined aboriginal rights must be brought to a successful conclusion.
The federal government is committed to settling land claims in a fair and equitable manner for aboriginal people as well as third parties and the general public. I urge the House to vote down this regressive and spiteful motion.