Black Thursday impacts treaty negotiations

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British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell slashed ministry staffing levels on Jan. 17, and cut the provincial Treaty negotiations office by more than a third.

A total of 51 positions were cut from the office, which takes the staffing level 86 people from 137.

The office's budget was also slashed, taking a $7 million hit, taking the overall budget to $18 million from $25, down 26 per cent.

According to Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Treaty Manager Cliff Atleo Jr., there will be no more regional negotiating teams. Instead the government will use a pool of negotiators who will be responsible for a number of tables simultaneously.

"Decisions on who goes where will be made within the next few weeks, but First Nations will be able to discern whether or not they are priority tables to the province given which negotiator is placed at their table," said Atleo.

Trevor Proverbs, Heinz Dyck and Steve Winn (provincial negotiators at the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council treaty table) have survived the cuts, although which tables they will work is not yet clear. But it is certain there will be a greater focus on fewer tables with an emphasis on signing deals, he said.