Realwomen of BC - Alerts

BC TO PAY UP TO 90% OF TREATY COSTS

BC Liberals Sell Out Province To Federal Counterparts

Vancouver - In a stunning revelation today, the BC and Federal governments have announced they will split the cost of resource revenue sharing in native treaties. This is in addition to the 100% contribution of land value costs, as well as millions in cash and future payments already committed to by Victoria.

The deal commits Victoria and Ottawa to sharing the costs of resource revenues awarded as part of treaty settlements. Types of resource revenues eligible for federal-provincial cost-sharing under this understanding include revenues from forestry, oil and natural gas, minerals and other natural resources. British Columbia and Canada will share the cost of revenue sharing in treaties on a 50-50 basis. Delaney says this will equate to British Columbia being responsible for up to 90% of the cost of treaties in BC.

"The BC Terms of Union states Ottawa is responsible for the total cost of treaties in BC. Former NDP Premier, Mike Harcourt, promised 25% out of pure benevolence, and now Gordon Campbell has upped BC''s contribution to well over 75%, and as high as 90% of the total value of treaties in some cases," said Chris Delaney, Leader of the BC Unity Party.

"Why did they do this? What did we get in return for this generosity to Ottawa? What is in this for BC? There is no certainty, no finality and no equality to any of these treaties, and we are shelling out money like Las Vegas gamblers for short term deals that will solve nothing."

"The BC Liberal''s approach to treaties is no longer equitable, reasonable or even just to either side. This is a total sell out, and Premier Campbell and his Attorney General have no mandate to undertake such sweeping promises. They are giving away billions of dollars in land, cash and resources to a small group of people, when hundreds of thousands of people can barely scrape by. While everyone in BC wants to see a fair and equitable solution to the land claims crisis, they do not want to see BC go broke, or lose her sovereignty to do it."

"The Liberals are making the profligate NDP approach to land claims look positively skimpy by comparison. It is mind boggling," said Delaney.

BC Unity believes Ottawa is responsible for the cost of land claims settlements in BC. Unity believes that Ottawa must compensate BC for any land or resources required by them for treaty settlements. Unity believes treaties should be made only within the ability of governments to pay, and should be final. Native settlements should encourage natives to become full citizens with the same rights and responsibilities as all British Columbians, so all citizens have equal rights in BC.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Chris Delaney, Leader, (604) 602-2729, cel: (604) 880-4956
Blake MacKenzie, Director of Communications, (250) 208-4119
www.bcunity.com
"The Unity Party of British Columbia - BC''s Unofficial Opposition"