Province Must Change Aboriginal Strategy: Liberals

Province Must Change Aboriginal Strategy: Liberals

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 12:42

 

 

Saskatchewan Liberal Leader Ryan Bater says the provincial government needs to change its position on the duty to consult.

 

Bater has just wrapped up a summer tour of the province.

 

He maintains the Saskatchewan Party government has been focusing on reserves, not traditional territories, which often go beyond reserve boundaries.

 

He says that’s just not right.

 

Bater wants to talk to First Nations about the idea of sharing resource royalties, which he feels needs to be explored a lot further.

 

He also believes the premier needs to deal directly with Aboriginal issues.

 

He says a special Aboriginal issues secretariat should be set up right in Premier Brad Wall’s office.

 

Bater says, that way, Aboriginal concerns could be taken right to the premier, rather than work their way through bureaucracy.

 

“We have to make sure that First Nations and Metis people are full partners in decisions in Saskatchewan,” Bater says.