B.C. First Nations reject municipal input

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The First Nations Summit in British Columbia denounced plans by federal and B.C. officials to permit input from municipal government during treaty negotiations.

The province cannot have a multitude of special interest groups lined up against the First Nations at the bargaining table, summit spokesman Joe Mathias said.

The memorandum of understanding between the province and the Union of B.C. Municipalities outlines B.C.'s commitment to municipal consultation during treaty negotiations.

The accord guarantees municipal governments representation as "respected advisors of provincial negotiating teams" at treaty negotiations between the province and Native bands.

The province will consult local municipalities on issues like bylaw enforcement, land selection, the impact of Native governments of municipal affairs, infrastructure, land use and emergency services.

"We recognize that local government constitutes unique and special government interest in the negotiation of modern day treaties," B.C.'s Aboriginal Affairs Minister Andrew Petter said.

The province's Municipal Affairs Minister, Robin Blencoe, said the agreement would keep municipal governments in touch with local treaty talks.

"Local governments and interest groups must be kept informed and must have an opportunity to province input into treaty and pre-treaty negotiations that directly affect them."

But local governments have no place at treaty negotiations, Mathias said. If municipalities are allowed to participate in talks between the province and the summit, land claim negotiations could be delayed.

The summit represents all tribal councils that will participate in the treaty commission process with the federal and provincial governments.

Although present at land claim negotiations, local municipal government officials would not have a voice in the proceedings, union spokesman Richard Taylor said.

"The community has to be comfortable. Negotiations are considering their interests. And at the end of the day, it's the local communities that will make these negotiations work."

A task force recommending limitations on third party consultation will be in place before negotiations begin, Taylor said, but he would not elaborate on what those restrictions might be.

Both the Liberal and Socred parties, the official opposition in the B.C. legislature, welcomed the accord.