On July 18, 2016 the residents on Golf Course Rd. in Charlie Lake attended a meeting hosted by MLA Pat Pimm where we were advised of a negotiation in progress between the BC Provincial Government Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation (MARR), the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO) and Northeast BC First Nations to negotiate a settlement that could transfer 31 parcels of Crown Land to the title ownership of First Nations in the Region. The Lands are to be transferred to the Treaty 8 First Nations as part of Treaty Land Entitlements (TLE) and Site C mitigation, and that the Minister is utilizing government to government negotiations as per section 35 of the Constitution and direction by the Supreme Court of Canada. These parcels are spread across our Northeast Region and some are located in populated residential areas. Three of those for example, include a large parcel extending along Charlie Lake starting at the end of Golf Course Rd., another on Charlie Lake bordering Montney Park and the third surrounding a housing development at mile 63 ½ of the Alaska Highway. It was alarming to all meeting attendees that this process was being conducted and intended be finalized with no regional resident awareness or public participation in the process.
Thankfully Pat Pimm heard about this and proactively took this to the Government to object to this process. Pat was successful in having the BC Government recognize the formation of MLA First Nations Stakeholder Advisory Committee which is to be engaged in the negotiation to provide input from the community. The Stakeholder Committee sought more input from the community to support their position so our Golf Course Rd residents submitted the attached letter outlining our position objecting to these decisions being made without community awareness and engagement. While all of the parcels in question must be scrutinized closely, we took the position that the three properties listed above must be removed from further consideration. We further demanded that they organize public forums to ensure that input from the public in the region is heard. The Stakeholder Committee found the letter supportive and circulated it to the negotiating table, the Ministry Offices, the PRRD Board of Directors and to the Premier.
The next meeting of the Stakeholder Committee with the Negotiating Committee is scheduled in Fort St. John on Dec. 9 and the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation will be in attendance. After working with the Stakeholder Committee team for a number of months, it is the opinion of our Golf Course Rd. Committee that they are representing our interests very well. The Stakeholder Committee is comprised of:
• North Peace BCWF rep
• South Peace BCWF rep
• North Peace Guide Outfitter rep
• South peace Guide Outfitter rep
• North Peace Trappers rep
• South Peace trappers rep
• North Peace winter recreation rep
• South peace Winter recreation rep
• North Peace Summer recreation rep
• South Peace Summer recreation rep
• North Peace Grain growers rep
• South Peace Grain growers rep
• North Peace Cattlemen’s rep
• South Peace Cattlemen’s rep
• North Peace resident
• South Peace resident
• Northern Rockies Winter Recreation member
• Northern Rockies Summer recreation member
• Two (2) community specific residents (specific to affected areas)
• Former Government Manager
• Former Government Manager
• Special invitations as requested by the committee
• Committee representatives may designate an alternate, if they are unable to attend.
• MLA for Peace River North
• MLA for Peace River South
THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION TO COMMUNICATE THE SUPPORT OUR REGION’S RESIDENTS HAVE IN THE STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE.
The committee is very concerned about long protected watershed, the environment, development density, property access and recreational impacts that could affect the entire region. We firmly believe that all residents of Fort St. John, Charlie Lake, Taylor and other surrounding communities will also share these concerns.
We urge all interested groups in our communities to circulate this petition for signing. Please take action and sign the attached petition endorsing your support for the Stakeholder Committee in these negotiations and return all signed petitions to MLA Pat Pimm’s office at 10104 100 St., Fort St. John no later than Dec. 6. GIVEN THAT THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR, A STRONG PUBLIC MESSAGE SHOULD BRING WEIGHT TO THE PROCESS. OUR VOICE MUST BE CLEAR THAT THE PUBLIC DEMANDS TO HAVE INPUT INTO THESE NEGOTIATIONS.
For further information, please connect to Pat Pimm’s website:
http://www.patpimmmla.bc.ca/committees/
We thank you for your support.
The Committee Representing the Residents of Golf Course Rd.
PETITION
Northeast BC First Nations Land Transfer
We, the undersigned, are now aware of the negotiations underway to negotiate land transfers of Crown Land property in Northeast BC to Treaty 8 First Nations and wish to express our serious concern over these negotiations. In signing this petition, we support the MLA First Nations Stakeholder Advisory Committee with the expectation that there will also be Community Forums organized to seek community input to the process.
September 11 2016
MLA First Nations Stakeholder Advisory Committee
C/O Pat Pimm
10104 100th St.
Fort St. John, BC
V1J 3Y7
In July of 2016 the residents of the Golf Course Road, Charlie Lake BC became aware that the government has identified 31 parcels of land that may be transferred to the Treaty 8 First Nations as part of Treaty Land Entitlements (TLE) and Site C mitigation, and that the Minister is utilizing government to government negotiations as per section 35 of the Constitution and direction by the Supreme court of Canada. This action is effectively withholding this information from the public.
The residents of the Golf Course Road struck a committee to address the issue (the Committee). The Committee would like to speak to the issue of land transfer on two levels. First: the local issue that directly affects the Charlie Lake Watershed and second: the larger issue of land claims.
The Committee has adopted a principles based approach to the issue of land claims and has used these principles to govern the development of recommendations. The principles are:
The following are our comments related to each of the above:
CONCLUSIONS
The Committee understands the importance of TLE and Land claims to First Nations people and to the long term stability of the north and the nation. We fully support the efforts of the MLA First Nations Stakeholder Advisory Committee that is participating in the Land Transfer process and in doing so, we urge the parties to act on the following recommendations:
The Committee cannot over-emphasize the passion our community is experiencing over this issue. Thank you very much for your consideration of our position. We are very hopeful that these recommendations will be adopted respecting the input from the Community enabling this process to come to a mutually satisfactory solution.
We look forward to your prompt response
Respectfully
The Committee representing the Property Owners on Golf Course Rd, Charlie Lake
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