Abbott blasts treaty decision

Photo: Wayne Moore

The man whose job was pulled from under him as the head of the B.C. Treaty Commission says he's convinced Premier Christy Clark will pay a political price for what he says is a short-sighted approach to First Nations negotiations.

George Abbott, a former Liberal cabinet minister, was supposed to start that job April 1, succeeding Sophie Pierre, but Clark cancelled the appointment saying she wanted the treaty process to go in a different direction.

Abbott says he doesn't know why the appointment was cancelled, and that if the treaty process is not working, as Clark contends, he would jump at the chance to fix it.

He says the government doesn't understand the issues involved, and called the decision short-sighted.

Pierre says blocking Abbott's appointment doesn't create the right atmosphere for reconciliation between the federal and provincial governments and First Nations, and that it is not respectful.

Provincial NDP Leader John Horgan says the decision throws the treaty negotiation process into chaos on a whim when people are waiting for certainty on land and resources rights.