Stronger commitment needed for a long-term "new relationship"
January 17, 2007 |
BC Office
(VANCOUVER)
BC should turn half of the roughly $1 billion it collects annually in
stumpage fees from forest companies back to First Nations. A new report
by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says such a move would
be an important step towards a lasting “new relationship” with
Aboriginal people.
The report takes a detailed look at nearly
130 forestry accords brokered by the province with First Nations in
recent years. Although the government has made a concerted effort to
share a portion of revenues and forest resources, the report finds that
First Nations forestry accords are not creating a partnership of equals