GLOBE AND MAIL
October 30, 1998

B.C. BUSINESS URGED TO BACK NISGA'A TREATY

Key business leaders urged their pinstriped counterparts yesterday to rally behind the proposed landmark treaty settling Nisga'a land claims on a large swath of northwestern B.C.

And they had rare words of praise for beleaguered NDP Premier Glen Clark and his high-profile campaign to sell the merits of the treaty, the first to be signed with the province's Indians for more than 100 years.

"I would never be accused of being Glen Clark's campaign manager, but I think he has shown tremendous courage expending so much of his energy to ensure the Niga'a treay is implemented," Canadian National chairman David MacLean told more than 125 business executives at a special gathering, organized by Mr. McLean and B.C. Hydro charman Brian Smith.

Using emotional terms unusual for a business executive, the CN chairman said it is time "to open our hearts," not only to accept the terms of the treaty "but to welcome the Nisga'a into our country as full partners."

He said the Nisga'a treaty will change "the way we do things in this province forever, and it's important for business to do some real thinking about building a new relationship with our aboriginal people."

Mr. Smith said it is time for the business community to take a public stand in favour of the treaty, which has aroused controversy by granting unprecedented powers to the Nisga'a in addition to turning over nearly 2,000 square kilometres of land and several hundred million dollars to them.

"You should not be passive. We believe the Nisga'a's agreement should be supported from its social perspective and a moral standpoint," Mr. Smith said. "Wes also think it's very good business."

He, too, praised Mr. Clark, telling the Premier that "the buoyancy and energy" he has brought to the treaty campaign "is the kind of thing that is needed."

This was the most outspoken support the provincial government has received from the business community since the deal was signed on Aug. 4.

The NDP has been accused by the opposition Liberals, who have gone to court to have the treaty overturned, of waging an expensive, one-sided propoganda battle on behalf of the comprehensive Nisga'a agreement.

As much as $5-million has been set aside to publicize the treaty, including a package sent to all schools in the province featuring a 17-minute video strongly supporting the deal.

The stout defence of the Nisga'a treaty by Mr. Smith is a dramatic turnaround from his position as attorney-general in the Social Credit government under former premier Bill Bennett during the mid-1980s.

At that time, Mr. Smith rejected any suggestion that B.C. natives had aboriginal title to provincial lands and refused to take part in negotiations going on at that time between the Nisga'a and the federal government.

"I don't like the views that I had at that time," the Hydro chairman declared in an interview. "I've changed my views unabashedly, but some people haven't changed."

Mr. Smith said settling native land claims is essential to resolve the great uncertainty that continues to hang over access to resources in the province, with many projects blocked by native claims to the land.

Providing more resources to natives is also the only way for them to prosper economically, he added.

"The world has changed a lot since, and hopefully I've learned a little bit. I think there's growing support in the business community for the Nisga'a treaty, and I would like to encourage them to speak out a little louder," Mr. Smith said. "That's now the name of the game."

Mr. Clark received generous applause from business leaders in attendance as he spoke in favour of the Nisga'a treaty and land-claims negotiations in general.

Acknowledging the slow pace of native negotiations, the Premier called for a two-track strategy, urging that "land and resources" matters be settled first, with more ticklish self-government details to be decided later. Mr. Clark argued this approach would remove uncertainty over native claims.