And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (S.I.S.I.S.) writes: OTTAWA WON'T WAIT FOR BC ON TREATY The Globe and Mail, March 8, 1999 by Paul Willcocks [S.I.S.I.S. note: The following mainstream news article may contain biased or distorted information and may be missing pertinent facts and/or context. It is provided for reference only.] Victoria - Ottawa has decided to push ahead with introduction of the controversial Nisga'a treaty in Parliament in the next few weeks without waiting for it to be approved by the B.C. government, which has been paralyzed by a series of setbacks. B.C. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gordon Wilson said yesterday he has discussed a change in plans for the Nisga'a treaty with his federal counterpart, Jane Stewart. "My understanding is that they are going to bring it in in mid-March," he said in an interview. "They understand we have had difficulties here." The treaty was to have been a showcase accomplishment for the New Democratic Party government. However, the government's plans have been sidetracked by several controversies, culminating in the RCMP raid last week on Premier Glen Clark's home. Cabinet ministers and government MLAs have been avoiding the press over the past week, leaving the public facing the extraordinary scene of the Premier, who normally loves the spotlight, speaking only through his high-priced criminal lawyer. Losing control of the political agenda, the government has seen many of its plans either collapse or run into delays. The Nisga'a treaty is not the only issue that has been shoved into the background. New economic measures, such as an end to a ban on new fish farms, have been tied up in indecision over policy. The scheme to offer cheap power in return for job creation that was to produce at least one major aluminum smelter hasn't paid off; a plan to create more than 20,000 new forestry jobs failed; efforts to sell off government assets are stalled; and Finance Minister Joy MacPhail has warned that this year's deficit will be at least five times the forecast $95-million. Nisga'a Chief Joe Gosnell said in an interview that provincial delays in dealing with the treaty are creating fear that it wouldn't be passed before parliament recesses for the summer. The plan had been for the historic Nisga'a land-claim and self-government treaty to be passed first by the Nisga'a in a referendum, then by the BC Legislature and then by Parliament. The treaty gives the Nisga'a about $340-million and 2,000 square kilometres in northwestern BC to settle land claims. Mr. Clark has said it sets a template for the 42 treaties now being negotiated in British Columbia. Mr. Gosnell said the long delay in provincial approval is blocking Nisga'a plans to begin economic development. The government introduced the treaty with great fanfare in December, calling a special legislative session, then halted debate after two weeks. It recalled the legislature ahead of schedule in January based on the need to move the debate forward quickly, then called off debate indefinitely without warning when Mr. Wilson, a former Liberal leader, joined the NDP as Aboriginal Affairs Minister. At that time the government was being hammered by the Opposition over cost overruns on the fast-ferry project, championed by Mr. Clark. Mr. Wilson said he expects that the treaty, now in committee stage, will move quickly through the legislature when debate resumes, likely around March 24. "Most of the contentious issues have already been debated," he said. "We're probably looking now at just a matter of weeks until we get that committee stage completed." He said he favours evening sittings and extended hours to get the treaty through and would meet with Liberal aboriginal-affairs critic Mike de Jong on Thursday to discuss the schedule. But Liberal Leader Gordon Campbell said the debate won't be speedy. "There's tons of questions the government still hasn't answered," he said, including the real total cost of the treaty. The police raid on Mr. Clark's home was in connection with an investigation into a casino licensing application. However Mr. Clark is not under police investigation. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: "The purpose of the BC Treaty Process is to legitimize the theft of our lands," says Haida Elder Lavina White... and 'They' agree: "It is more of a shield than a weapon with respect to Aboriginal rights." -- BC Premier Glen Clark, January 19, 1999, Nisga'a debates hansard "Until this treaty is signed, government has no jurisdiction over Nisga'a land.... We're not creating a homeland but the opposite - allodial title with the province creates more certainty." -- BC NDP Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gordon Wilson, January 19, 1999 Nisga'a debates hansard. "This is not really a Nation. All I care is what the limitations, restrictions, restraints upon their rights are.... I don't care if they call themselves Tribal Council or Nation." -- BC AG Ujjal Dosanjh. January 19, 1999 Nisga'a debates hansard. "I have long been a supporter of "cede, release, and surrender" language.... I don't believe anybody could believe the language in Sections 22, 31 [of treaty] to be inferior to cede, release and surrender. Negotiators and government have gotten it right. I do believe very much that this is superior. We've got it right. I commend government." -- Jack Weisgerber, Independent MLA, former leader of BC Reform party, January 20, 1999 Nisga'a debates hansard. For more information on the fraudulent BC Treaty Commission, please visit: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Clark/BCgovt.html http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Clark/aug98nis.html http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Clark/switlo.html SOVEREIGNTY IS THE ANSWER - CANADA IS THE PROBLEM Letters to the Globe and Mail - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 EMAIL : <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html SOVERNET-L is a news-only listserv concerned with indigenous sovereigntist struggles around the world. 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