Getty takes hard-line stance

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With all the arm-twisting from Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and the supporting premiers, Alberta's premier, Don Getty, never did yield or waver from his hard-line position towards the entrenchment of Aboriginal rights to self-government.

Getty says his government "will never sign" any constitution amendment that would enshrine an unqualified Native right to self-government "even if we have to go to court, so be it", quipped Getty.

He also stated that the constitutional amendment process, "is somewhat flawed, as it excludes most of Alberta's Treaty people, and this issue is a concern to use", said Getty.

The premier alluded to the serious flaws in the constitutional process are "flawed from our viewpoint and flawed from your point", he said, addressing the Aboriginal groups.

His main concern of entrenching undefined Native rights to self-determination, "could lead to the establishment of a third order of government in Canada, possibly sovereign or equal to both the federal and provincial governments", stressed Getty.

"It is the uncertainty associated with the impact on the rights of all Albertans that prevents Alberta form giving support for an undefined constitutional amendment of this type", said Getty.

Premier Don Getty was also concerned with the federal proposal that would transfer too much power over to the courts to define self-government.

He questioned the proposal that would allow the provinces to possess powers and jurisdiction over treaty rights for the first time.

The premier suggested that he would only be interested in establishing a municipal form of self-government for Aboriginal peoples in Alberta.

Addressing the conference, he said that Alberta "was not here to out-negotiate, or out talk anyone" but to establish some equitable formula that would satisfy both levels of governments and the Aboriginal peoples of Canada.

He said that the only constitutional amendment he would support is the one that "maintains the basic historic fabric of our Canadian system".

Getty's message was crystal clear. The only way he would support any constitutional amendment to any entrenchment of self-government had to be designed on the existing Constitution Act (1867) and on the Municipal Act, which receives authority and power from the provinces.

He said, "The Alberta Government remains committed to self-government opportunities for Aboriginal people in Alberta.

"We believe that Aboriginal groups should be given the authority to establish a form of self-government clearly protected by legislation passed by either federal or provincial governments."

Premier Don Getty reaffirmed that his government is committed to the hard work (involved) in establishing self-government models for the Native people in Alberta.

Pledging the commitment of Alberta, Getty said, I dedicate Alberta, our government, in a spirit of compromise and that compromise that prevailed around this table and in Canada since Confedation."