by Michael Kelly Economic and human equality | for native people is at the heart of the native land question, New Democrat candidate’ for Skeena Heimut Giesbrecht said last week. Noting that many of the questions he is being asked by voters are related to the land issue, Gics- brecht said in an interview, “Our objective and that of the aboriginal people is to provide a means for them to attain self-sufficiency, to change the low employment and then deal with the other problems, to do something with the resources." Giesbrecht believes the system recently adopted by the provincial government is too slow in dealing with the land question. "There’s no reason not to negotiate with alt the bands, otherwise it’s going to take forever. We [the NDP} wouldn’t negotiate with all of them at once, but with those who are ready to come to the table." New Democrats recognized the principle of aboriginal title some time ago, and took some flack for it from the Socred government, Giesbrecht said. "It was seen as a concession. There is some sense that we would turn over and alien- ate large tracts of land, but we see it as a win-win situation. The native people were here first, they have a prior claim and the right to be equals at the table. And, con- trary to the belief of some people, private land is not on that table." Giesbrecht visualizes groups of representative, knowledgeable people who would strike a frame- work for negotiating and go from there in an open, public process. Although he doesn’t see "every stakeholder sitting at the table", a process of communication could be established to ensure that every- one’s interests are considered in settlement talks. Native people realize that a totally traditional way of life is no longer possible, Giesbrecht said. "They’ren not going to sit there demanding that land use be com- pletely devoted to hunting, trap- ping and fishing. It’s just not in ‘the cards." But their sensitivity about land use is something to be expected. “It shouldn’t surprise people that natives are keenly aware of environmental impact and take strong stands. They would carefully seck out developments in areas like forestry, mining and tourism if they had some degree of control." The impact on develop- ment of the uncertainty associated with the claim negotiations is a matter of concern in the region, but Giesbrecht believes interim development is possible, as long as there is an understanding that developments taking place during the course of talks would become a part of the ultimate settlement. Although native groups have assumcd a leading role in assessing and criticizing the environmental CAMPAIGN '91_ fhe se Land settlement mechanism too slow, Terrace Review ——- Wednesday, October 2, 1991 5 Giesbrecht says impact of industry and commerce, their stance on the issue represents the underlying concerns many people have about the integrity of the region’s air, water and jand- scape. Giesbrecht calls the 1990's "a decade of decision”. "Every development has some impact, but the impact has to be minimized. The question is how to satisfy ‘today’ without compromis- ing ’tomorrow’", he said. During past sessions of the legislature, he noted, the NDP has introduced numerous private members’ bills — none of which passed due to as the party’s minority status — that form the basis of their environment platform. These include stronger penalties for polluters, protection for “whistle-blowers", provisions for public consultation on environ- mental issues and greater freedom of information. An expanded Ministry of Envi- ronment is one action the NDP would take to protect public In addition to choosing an MLA and a governing party for the next few years (providing the party chosen has a degree of stability), voters in the Oct. 17 provincial election will also be faced with resources, he said. “If you’re going to police the environment, you. must have the staff to do it." Gies- brecht also favours having the government reclaim control of environmental testing labs that were privatized by Social Credit. "It- must be a public function. We’d look at the actual costs — you can’t reverse the whole [privatization] thing, but we would halt it unless the benefit can be shown." Giesbrecht was also critical of the Major Project Review Process it currently stands, saying, "It has to be impartial.” Referring to MLA Dave Parker’s advocacy for the Kitimat port project, he remarked, "You can’t be a propon- ent and sit in judgment at the same time, it doesn’t wash. It’s like having the defense lawyer go and sit with the jury at a trial." "The MPRP seems to be under the influence of politicians. We need a process the public has confidence in," he concluded.: two referendum questions in the polling booth. The present government has spent, by its own accounting, $1.7 million advertising, explaining and otherwise researching and provid- Hatton takes stance on native affairs and forestry issues Skeena Liberal candidate Juanita Hatton thinks settlement of native land claims could simultaneously tight a long-standing injustice and help society io a better understand- ing of the land and its history. In a statement last week, Hatton noted that despite government policies that purport to recognize the interest of aboriginal people in land use, they have not been con- sulted to-any degree on the Orenda Forest Products proposal to build a pulp and paper operation south of Lakesle Lake, and they weren’t consulted at all on cither the Shames Mountain ski development or the similar development on Kitsumkalum Mountain that pre- ceded it. "There should be more respect," said Hatton. "After all, they were here first." Hatton cited as an cxampic of what socicty at large can learn from natives the discovery of fossils during a road building project near Lakelse Lake scveral years ago. The nature of the fossils confirmed a Tsimshian Icgend that Lakclse Lake had at one time in the distant past been a sea shore. "We stole their land, ruined it and then had ihe gall to tell them to live on reserves,” she commented. Hatton also issued a statement on forestry in the region, calling the condition of the resource "an un- godly mess". She said, "All you have to do is !ook down while you’re flying to Vancouver. The forest companies have a lot to answer for." Hatton added that she believes one of the reasons the battle over the province's forested areas have become so bitter is that loggers arc often people who have left school before praduating and think they will not be able to find other employment if their jobs in the bush disappear. On Premier Rita Johnston’s visit io Skeena last week, Hatton observed, "She was here and gone praciically before anyone knew aboul it. That’s a funny way to run a campaign." Halton said she is looking lor- ward to the all-candidatcs forum al Northwest Community College Oct. 9. ELECTION CALENDAR — Friday, Oct. 4 is nomination day. All candidates have to file their nomination papers with the returning officer. Oct. 5 is the first day of early voting for people who will be absent on election day or otherwise unable to get to tie polls. Notice of Poll is posted Oct. 7 to inform voters of the polling date, polling places and names of candidates. The first day of Section 80 registration is Oct. 8. This registra- tion is for eligible voters who failed to register or were unable to n-do so during regular registration, which closed Sept. 28. Voters registering under Section 80 are required to undergo a procedure — that involves proofs of identity and witnesses. Registration will be laken at the Terrace Government Agent office ‘Tuesday, Oct. 8 through Friday, Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday and Monday, Oct, 13 and 14 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m; and Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The other election While the provincial election has captured headlines over the past two weeks a local election has gone virtually unnoticed. School District 88 will require the election of three new trustees to its nine-member board. This is an off-year for civic elections since the provincial government changed the cycle to three years in 1989, but in the election last year no one filed nominations for three of the seats on the board and the provincial government appointed three trustees to one-year terms. Those terms expire at the beginning of December. Nominations will be taken Oct. 28 for trustees to one Terrace seat,- currently occupied by appointed trustee Stew Christiansen, a trustee for the Hazeltons, currently filled by appointee Mary Spooner, and a trustee to represent the native reserves of Kitwan- cool, Kitwanga and Kitsegucla, represented for the past year by appointee Terry Brown. The election will be held Nov. 16, and the returning officer is Elaine Johnston. Johnston said she will be using the regional district and municipal voters’ lists to determine eligibility. include referendum questions ing information on the referendum questions, so there would appear to be no need to go into great detail here. Voters will be asked if they would like to have the option to fire their MLA between elections and if they would like to have the right to compel the legislature to consider bills that originate from people rather than the politicians they elect. On the ballot, voters can answer either "yes" or "no" to the referen- dum questions. The first is phrased: Should voters be given the right, by legis- lation, to vote between elections for the removal of their Member of the Legislative Assembly? The right of recall, as it is popularly called, is not the same thing as impeachment, which is a process at the disposal of the legislature, used on a member in the event of that member violating the Constitution Act, Criminal Code or committing some other statutory misdeed. Recall would allow the member’s constituents to remove him or her for dissatisfaction with perform- ance. The second question is phrased as follows: Should voters be given the right, by legislation, to propose questions that the government of British Columbia must submit to voters by referendum? Initiative, as ihe subject of this question is called, gives a block of citizens the power to put proposals for taw to a province-wide vote which would be binding on the legislature. . Both of these questions involve whal has become popularly known as “direct democracy". If cither or both get over a 50 percent "yes" vote, the government will be required to act. The ultimate form of the law will be up to the legis- lation and there are a number of items to consider. Both concepts have advantages and drawbacks. Recall can allow voters in a riding to rise up and get rid of an MLA that doesn’t deliver on election promises or violates an election platform, or simply misbehaves in a manner that is disgusting but. not outright illegal. But ihe threat of recall can also prevent MLA’s, due to fear of removal, from making difficult and unpopular but necessary decisions on issues that have long-term or broad-based implications. _ Initiative can give people a more direct role in the legislative pro- cess and allow them to bypass elected representatives who prove indecisive or ambiguous on critical issues, It can also make voting so complicated that the average citi- _ zen can’t cope with it and doesn’t bother to show up at the polls. Strong lobby groups or special interest pressure groups can also successfully launch initiatives that are heavily funded but poorly thought out or downright destruc- tive. Initiatives can also work against the rights and to the detri- ment of people who are disadvan- laged or members of minority groups. Further information on either of these questions is available through local political party campaign offices, the B.C. Government Agent in Terrace, or by calling 1- 800-663-3353.