VICTORIA: The House debated three Bills this week dealing with development initiatives across the province and all are lacking the key component of First Nation involvement. Given the so-called new relationship the BC Liberals have struck, I question the absence in these bills," said Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Critic Scott Fraser today.

"I believe that First nations should have been a key part of these initiatives which is why we put the amendment we did forward," said Fraser, the MLA for Alberni-Qualicum. "The New Democrats argued vehemently for a First Nations component in all three of the Bills."

Fraser and Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald proposed amendments to the Bills. Fraser moved in the Committee of the Whole on Bill 7 entitled North Island Coast Development Initiative Trust, 2005, that the paragraph "(d) First Nations representatives from within the region" be added. Macdonald moved in the Committee of the Whole on Bill 8 entitled Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust, 2005 that the paragraph "(d) First Nations representatives from within the region" be added. Both amendments were voted down.

"It is a disappointment to see the amendment fail the way it did," said Fraser. "There are examples out there, including the Columbia Basin Trust where First Nations involvement has worked to everyone's benefit. It is proven, and in keeping with the government's new relationship theme, I would have thought the BC Liberals would have been in favour of it."

"As my colleague mentions, the Columbia Basin Trust is an excellent example of First Nations involvement in economic development initiatives," said Macdonald. "I know the amendment would have been to the benefit of the Northern Development Initiative, the SIDI and the NICDI. I still think that it is very, very important that there specifically be First Nations representatives as part of the structure of these Trusts."



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