Cullen looks for a way forward in port dispute

Nathan Cullen, the areas Member of Parliament is pointing his finger squarely at the federal government over the current controversy over the negotiations with the Coast Tsimshian about the container port expansion project.

Cullen, who represents Skeena-Bulkley Valley, describes the federal approach to the issue as having dropped the ball and mishandling the entire process, but feels that there is a way forward. A process which he partially outlines in the Daily News.

The current situation between the federal government and the Coast Tsimshian seems to be in a state of limbo at the moment, the federal minister of Industry David Emerson, unable to say if the negotiations are ongoing or suspended.

The latest twists and turns of the headline dominating story appeared on page one of Wednesday’s Daily News.

CULLEN WANTS A NEW WAY FORWARD FOR PORT TALKS
He lays blame squarely at door of the feds for lack of progress to date
By James Vassallo
The Daily News
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Pages One and Seven

The Federal government dropped the ball and screwed up an otherwise good negotiation process with the Coast Tsimshian over the container port expansion, says Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen.

“The last place people want to be is in court… it’s going to mean a certain number of jobs, it’s going to mean training dollars and all of that makes sense for the entire region,” said Cullen. “When the feds came in, they just walked over top of everybody and made a mess of it.

“We’ve got to get them back at the table and I’m trying to find a way that will make sense for all the parties to step back.”

The MP said he’s spoken with Port CEO Don Krusel and some of the local chiefs and council and is fairly confident that there is a way forward.

“The offer I’m considering putting to the First Nations is we need someone at the table who can make the decisions – you put forward your representatives that account for your hereditary systems as well as your current elected systems and you make that decision,” said Cullen. “I think when outside forces start to pick and choose who should sit at the table, that’s when we run into problems and the federal government has been the most guilty of picking one side or another.”

The issue of how government should be negotiating with First Nation’s communities is something that goes right across the region and the province with projects from forestry to mining, he said.

“Who speaks for the First Nations when you have a traditional governance system and then what is a relatively modern and new governance?” said Cullen. “What we’re going to find out of this is actually a much stronger method for negotiating future agreements by allowing the communities to choose for themselves who it is what will speak for them and not saying that Ottawa gets to pick and choose.”

Minister of Industry David Emerson said he “can’t answer” if negotiations are ongoing with the Coast Tsimshian at this point, but that the government is hoping to resolve the issue.

“I have been involved in correspondence and we’ve certainly been attempting to resolve that and find a compromised solution,” he said.

“We are committed to ensuring that First Nations are included, that they’re part of the wealth-creation process and that everyone is working collaboratively and benefits from the opportunity.

“I think the thing that is most absolutely critical is that we not drop the ball and that everybody continue to work in good faith to making sure that this initiative continues to be executed smoothly and we will try very hard to ensure that everyone is involved and benefits from it.”