For Immediate Release November 4, 1999

Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee
Opposes Accelerated Treaty Making Without Consultation

Burnaby, B.C. … "The Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee (LMTAC) is opposed to recently announced measures to accelerate the treaty process in British Columbia without the involvement of Local Government. Acceleration may occur by allowing select land and resource agreements to be ratified prior to settling an Agreement in Principle," says City of Vancouver Councillor, Nancy A. Chiavario who is also Chair of the LMTAC.

"The treaty-related measures proposal was designed without any Local Government input even though it has substantially changed the treaty process," says Chiavario, "Permitting transfers of land before overlapping claims or treaties are settled, leaves local government in a vulnerable situation with regard to jurisdictional certainty."

The provincial and federal governments issued a news release on Friday October 29, 1999 that outlines treaty-related measures which could accelerate treaties and may also allow senior governments to buy private land on a willing seller, willing-buyer basis for use in land-claim settlements.

"The LMTAC has been very clear about the issue of buying private land for use in treaty settlements. One of our key principles is: Existing privately owned fee-simple lands must not be subject to treaty negotiations. Where First Nations wish to purchase fee-simple lands, those lands shall remain in fee-simple and remain subject to Local Government jurisdiction and taxation, unless otherwise agreed to by the Local Government through a community consultation process," states Chiavario.

Local Government representatives on the LMTAC have always said that interim measure agreements with First Nations must be negotiated with the same degree of openness and due process required under the BC Treaty Process. The LMTAC insists that Local Governments, as members of the provincial negotiating team, must have a voice in negotiating interim measures.

"Dale Lovick, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, promised us a copy of the original treaty-related measures proposal in September at the UBCM Annual Convention which we have still not received," Chiavario stated.

The provincial and federal governments must honour their commitment to negotiate openly by consulting locally-elected officials who represent their municipalities on the Treaty Advisory Committees across the province.

"LMTAC works to coordinate and represent the interests of Local Governments
and their constituents in Lower Mainland area treaty negotiations."

For a copy of LMTAC's Draft First Principles or further information please contact:
LMTAC Staff, Tel: (604) 451-6179
Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario, LMTAC Chair, Tel: (604) 873-7248
Councillor Vicki Huntington, LMTAC Vice-Chair, Tel: (604) 940-8040

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