Land claims talks wasting time, money

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The only results some land claim negotiations in Ontario produce are more negotiations, charges a report by the Indian Commission of Ontario.

And Aboriginal governments are just as involved in wasting millions of public dollars in the process as are provincial and federal governments, said the report.

The 108-page document blasts officials for spending millions of dollars on lengthy negotiations that "have not yielded any significant results" in Ontario, besides an agreement on Native policing."

Personality clashes and mutual mistrust have often held back discussions on the more than 100 claims filed in the province, states the report. It also criticizes the way provincial and federal representatives try to make the other responsible for certain issues, playing "jurisdictional ping-pong," resulting in further delays.

"Taxpayers would be right to ask why no product has emerged from these talks," stated the commission.

But the report, released Jan. 18, also criticized Native negotiators who often fail to have a clear mandate when coming into negotiations, or who receive poor direction during discussions.

Headed by Philip Goulais, former chief of Nipissing First nations, the one-man Indian Commission is an independent body acting as mediator among the three governments during negotiations. The report recommended 21 changes to the negotiation process, chief of which was a stronger mandate for the commission.

The Indian Commission should be able to intervene directly into negotiation stalemates, rather than follow its present mandate to be invited, and be empowered to limit "unprofessional conduct in negotiations" The report also recommended launching a public-education campaign to explain the land claim process.

While the controversial report has caused waves among provincial officials, who say its criticisms might be prejudicial to negotiations, Aboriginal leaders are backing many of its assessments. Gordon Peters, Ontario regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations, called the report a straightforward expression of land-claim negotiation problems.

But Ontario Native Affairs Minister Bud Wildman disagrees that money has been spent needlessly, and said the report may fuel opponents to land claims negotiations' arguments. He also rejected the recommendation to increase the commission's powers by allowing it to decide when intervention is necessary instead of waiting for an invitation.

However, Wildman acknowledged the report's criticism of all parties failing to provide clear direction to their negotiators, and how personality clashes have drawn out some negotiations.