Province braces for protests

Page 9

A leaked document, posted on David Shreck's Web site StrategicThoughts.com, shows the government's plans for the forest industry, and tells MLAs how to speak on the issues.

In the question-and-answer-style document, the government anticipates questions on how cuts to Ministry of Forests (MoF) staff and tenure reductions may result in civil disobedience from First Nations.

"We expect this to be a challenge. However if incidents occur, government, including MoF, will have to respond, as usual, by refocusing priorities. Government will not tolerate civil disobedience and will enforce its authority through the legal system," MLAs are told to answer.

The leaked document also says that the Ministry of Forests will no longer directly consult with First Nations on forestry issues, rather they will "support the Treaty Negotiations Office on forestry-related interim measures, but will no longer be the lead party to forest related negotiations".

"The proposal for an 'immediate reduction' of opportunities for First Nations tenure is totally unacceptable and will only serve to increase tensions," said a press release from the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. "Rather than being in a position of addressing this, the provincial government seems to be marginalizing our communities even further. As frustrations grow, the likelihood of 'civil disobedience' becomes all the more real."