6 The Mission Record Thursday, October 20, 2011
OPINION
Published and printed by Black Press Ltd. at Mission at 33047 First Ave., V2V 1G2
Policing plan backfires B.C. might have shot itself in the foot with Ottawa’s gun by threatening that municipalities were prepared to abandon the venerable RCMP and form a provincial force. The remarks, made recently by Langley’s Peter Fassbender, the Union of B.C. Municipalities’ observer in contract negotiations between the province and Ottawa, came as a reaction to what many consider an unpalatable policing deal with the Mounties. While the proposed 20-year contract for policing services throughout much of the province is indeed expensive and undesirable, the comments that we’ll take our gun and strike out on our own are somewhat premature. For one, we don’t even own the gun. From the guns and handcuffs to the cruisers and computers, they ultimately belong to Ottawa. Despite the threat to form our own force, it appears no one has really done the homework on how feasible that really is. No one is presenting any numbers that show what starting a provincial force would cost, nor how it would save us money and hassle in the long-term. Solicitor General Shirley Bond called it a “very expensive, very challenging” prospect. In other words, we can’t afford it and probably can’t figure out how to do it. It’s no surprise then that Ottawa called B.C.’s bluff this week, issuing an ‘ultimatum’ that we either sign the contract or the Mounties will march into the sunset. Next time, before we go off making threats half-cocked, perhaps we should make sure we’re not taking aim at our own boots and the gun isn’t about to backfire. - Nanaimo News Bulletin
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Sign treaties or ‘shut ‘er down’ F inally, somebody in the B.C. treaty negotiation system has come out and said it. Releasing the B.C. Treaty Commission’s 19th annual report last week, Chief Commissioner Sophie Pierre announced she has asked for a one-year extension to her term, to see the organization through its second decade. And if things don’t change, particularly in Ottawa, then “shut ’er down.” The commission is the independent “keeper of the process,” and the chief commissioner is appointed by agreement between the federal and provincial governments and B.C.’s First Nations Summit. Its job is to facilitate talks and dole out funds to aboriginal groups researching and negotiating treaties. As of this year, they have disbursed $500 million, $400 million of it loans that must be repaid out of treaty settlements. “We are 19 years into the process, and we have, just on the First Nations side, a half a billion dollar investment, and when are we going to start seeing a return
on that investment?” Pierre as B.C. Conservative leader asked. John Cummins does, but It’s safe to assume there we now have stacks of high has been at least that much court decisions that make spent by the federal and pro- aboriginal title real and inesvincial governments as well. capable, if not well defined.) And after a burst of progress Other commissioners with the Tsawwassen and agreed with Pierre about Maa-Nulth treaties, and a Ottawa’s role, including controversial deal with the the federal appointee, Jerry Yale First Nation Lampert. in the Fraser Can“The Canadian yon, costly inacsystem is such that B.C. tion resumed. they are constantly Views going back to OtSliammon First Nation negotiators tawa for mandates finalized a treaty in for their indi2009. Off it went vidual negotiators,” to Ottawa, where Lampert said. it has languished “This is bureauever since, waiting cratic, and it plays for a set of initials against the idea that would allow that we’re in a real To m a ratification vote negotiation.” by about 1,000 With a majorSliammon people ity government in near Powell River. Ottawa, and B.C. At stake is a settlement MP John Duncan as federal in which B.C. contributes aboriginal affairs minister, 8,300 hectares of Crown there is hope of movement. land and Ottawa provides And there is action on an$37 million to compensate other front. for a century of trespass and Federal Health Minister resource extraction from Leona Aglukkaq was in B.C. Sliammon territory. last week to sign an agree(You can object to all this ment to hand over authority and try to live in the past, and funding for on-reserve
Fletcher
health programs to a new aboriginal authority that will work with the provincial health system directly to administer reserve health programs. This will end a parallel health system run by Ottawa on reserves. A similar agreement was signed in 2006 for aboriginal schooling. Alas, five years later, there is still wrangling between the First Nations Education Steering Committee and Ottawa over funding. But I’m told there is progress there, with resolution possible by the end of this year. Sto:lo Tribal Chief Doug Kelly, chair of the First Nations Health Council, says its financing terms are clear, and dealing Ottawa out of health care delivery will improve outcomes. Pierre’s blunt warning must have been heard in Ottawa. It appears the Sliammon treaty has been located and will receive federal blessing this week. Tom Fletcher is legislative reporter and columnist for Black Press and BCLocalnews.com tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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