Treaty Referendum condemned by broad coalition of labour, community and religious leaders

April 08, 2002 — At a joint news conference in Vancouver today, leaders of BC’s faith communities, non-profit societies, community organizations, trade unions and the environmental movement joined forces to urge British Columbians to abstain from participation in the provincial government’s mail-in referendum on treaty rights.

The BC First Nations Summit last week called for a boycott of the referendum. The statement released today rejects the referendum on moral, legal and socio-economic grounds.

"We believe that a bright future for our province can only be assured by reconciliation of the interests and rights of non-Aboriginal British Columbians with the rights and title of BC's First Nations," said B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair.

"Instead of wasting over $8 million on an offensive referendum, the province should resume active treaty negotiations," noted George Heyman, President of the B.C. Government & Service Employees' Union.

"This process is anti-democratic and will lead to chaos," said Maureen Shaw, President of the College Institute Educators’ Association.

"The tyranny of the majority must be rejected outright," said Muslim Canadian Foundation President Aziz Khaki.

"At a time when our provincial economy is in shambles and the environment is being eroded, we should be coming together with First Nations," said Jim Fulton, Executive Director of the Suzuki Foundation. "This referendum is only tearing us apart."

The best course for British Columbians who support the treaty process is to abstain, today's statement says.

For more information, contact Geoff Meggs: 604-220-0739.

This statement is supported by the following groups and individuals:

BC Association of Community Law Offices Executive Committee, BC Coalition of Women’s Centres, B.C. Federation of Labour, BC Human Rights Coalition, BC Government and Service Employees' Union, College Institute Educators’ Association, Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations, Father Jim Roberts, Hotel, Restaurant & Culinary Employees’ & Bartenders Union, Industrial Wood & Allied Workers of Canada, Muslim Canadian Federation, Office & Professional Employees’ Union Local 378, Paul Winn, QC, Society Promoting Environmental Conservation, Suzuki Foundation, Vancouver Status of Women.