Principled reconciliation must be more than signatures and
celebrations. It must heal communities.
SURREY,
BC, June 24, 2024 /CNW/ - On Friday, June 21, the NDP's Treasury Board
chose to reject principled reconciliation when they denied the
compensation package recommended by the Ministry of Water, Land and
Resource Stewardship intended to heal communities in the
Chilcotin.
Ten years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada decided in favor of the Xeni Gwet'in in
the Williams case. The ruling was unprecedented and
left the Government of BC responsible for finding a way to achieve
"principled reconciliation of Aboriginal rights with the interests
of all Canadians."
"The NDP's reconciliation process is broken. It has been
10 excruciating years," said Doug
McMann, owner of Skinner Creek Hunts. "Despite the
Province signalling several times that they were going to help me,
they have left me hanging. My business is no longer viable,
this is not reconciliation."
The NDP has failed to achieve the goal of "principled
reconciliation." As anniversary celebrations are held on
Tŝilhqot'in land this week, they serve as a glaring reminder to
many that the BC government has unfinished business.
"Reconciliation needs to take the interests of all Canadians
into account," stated Karen McLean
of Tsylos Park Lodge and Adventures. "Premier Eby needs to do
the right thing. These are provincial tenures and the NDP has
chosen to abandon small, multigenerational family businesses."
When negotiations and/or legal disputes between the Province and
First Nations result in tenure being taken, true reconciliation
demands that compensation is paid by the Province to the business
from which the tenure was taken.
"With all other options now exhausted, we see no other solution
but for the Province to facilitate the purchase and transfer of the
four guide outfitting businesses to the Xeni Gwet'in First Nation
and pay compensation to make those families whole again," stated
Mike Young, President of the Guide
Outfitters Association of British
Columbia (GOABC).
"The GOABC supports reconciliation with Indigenous peoples of
BC," stated GOABC CEO Scott
Ellis. "My concern is not with the intent of
reconciliation but rather in how it is being executed by our
provincial government. We support a principled reconciliation
– a process that does not destroy small family businesses."
The NDP's reconciliation project is broken. It is time for
Premier Eby to make things right. His Treasury Board needs to
approve the compensation package recommended by the Ministry of
Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.
About the GOABC
The GOABC is a nonprofit society that was established in 1966 to
represent the guide outfitting industry to government, and advocate
for science-based wildlife management. Currently, the
industry directly employs approximately 2,500 people in rural
communities and our industry generates over $191 million annually.
Our vision is for a province with a strong and stable guide
outfitting industry and abundant wildlife populations for all to
enjoy, both today and in the future. As passionate advocates
for wildlife, the GOABC is the recognized voice of the guide
outfitting family. With integrity and professionalism, GOABC
promotes conservation, stewardship, and sustainable use of
wildlife. Learn more at www.goabc.org or email
communications@goabc.org / ellis@goabc.org or telephone
604-541-6332 or 1-877-818-2688.
SOURCE Guide Outfitters Association of B.C.