News Release

BC First Nations Leadership Council Welcomes Private Members Bill to

Implement Kelowna Accord

For Immediate Release

May 19, 2006

Coast Salish Traditional Territory/Vancouver, BC – The BC First Nations

Leadership Council applauds the introduction of a Private Member’s bill

to implement the historic Kelowna Accord. The enactment of Bill C-292

requires that the Government of Canada fulfill its obligations and

commitments reached under the Kelowna Accord and recognizes that the

Accord was the result of a collaborative process among the Government of

Canada, provincial and territorial governments, and Aboriginal

leadership across Canada.

The First Nations Leadership Council urges all Members of Parliament to

embark on a non-partisan approach to Aboriginal issues, as demonstrated

by the BC legislature, in supporting the proposed bill. The Bill

supports previous calls made by the First Nations Leadership Council,

Premier Gordon Campbell, and the BC Government for the federal

government to uphold the financial commitments set out in the Kelowna

Accord in order to address critical socio-economic gaps. This includes a

dedicated ten-year plan to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal

peoples. The Act, cited as the Kelowna Accord Implementation Act¸ enacts

that the Government of Canada take all measures necessary to implement

the terms of the Kelowna Accord.

The First Nations Leadership Council reiterates their demand for the

federal government to amend the 2006 federal budget to include the

financial resources required to close the gaps in health, education,

housing and economic opportunity as set forth in the Accord. This Bill

provides an opportunity for the Crown to restore its honour and to

acknowledge that a “new approach” for addressing Aboriginal issues was

demonstrated in the jointly developed Kelowna Accord and notable

tri-partite agreement, the Transformative Change Accord.

The First Nations Leadership Council strongly recommends that the

federal government cooperates with the Leadership Council and the

Province of British Columbia in providing timely investments to ensure

that the mutually agreed upon goals of the Transformative Change Accord

are achieved. The Kelowna Accord and the Transformative Change Accord

are the result of a collaborative process between all parties leaving

the Government of Canada accountable to more than just themselves.

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The First Nations Leadership Council is comprised of the political

executives of the First Nations Summit, Union of BC Indian Chiefs and

the BC Assembly of First Nations. The Council works together to

politically represent the interests of First Nations in British Columbia

and develop strategies and actions to bring about significant and

substantive changes to government policy that will benefit all First

Nations in British Columbia.

For more information:

Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs (250) 490-5314

Colin Braker, First Nations Summit (604) 926-9903

Heather Gillies, BC Assembly of First Nations (604) 922-7733