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It is clear to me that the benefits...in self-reliance for aboriginal communities, in
certainty and security for us all...in a fairer, economically more-prosperous
province...far outweigh the costs.

Premier Mike Harcourt, Dec. 1, 1995, in an address to the Premier's Working
Session on Treaties, Vancouver.

Spurred by court recommendations that existing aboriginal rights are better defined through
negotiation than through the court process, British Columbia has joined the Government of
Canada and the First Nations Summit to resolve land claims.

While the federal government bears the primary responsibility for land claims, the Province
joined the process to ensure the rights of all British Columbians are protected and to bring
economic certainty to our lands and resources.

To date, 47 First Nations representing about 70 per cent of the aboriginal population have entered
the British Columbia Treaty Commission process to settle century-old grievances.

The Province hired the Vancouver consulting firm KPMG to conduct an independent review of
projected financial and economic impacts of treaty settlements. Their report is based on the
study of other modern treaties, including those in northern Canada.

The provincial government is committed to comparable justice and taxation systems for all
British Columbians and to maintain or enhance basic social program standards through the treaty
process. It has announced a number of "bottom lines" to guide its negotiators, including:

Treaties must be affordable to B.C. taxpayers.
Private property is not on the table.
Negotiations must be as open as possible to scrutiny by all citizens.

The Canadian Constitution, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Criminal Code will
apply to all British Columbians.

Current tax exemptions for aboriginal people will be phased out.

The total amount of land held by First Nations should be roughly proportional to their
population (less than 5%).