Norm Macdonald MLA                                Columbia River – Revelstoke

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

October 24th, 2007

Private Member’s bill will provide certainty for First Nations and landowners

Today in the House, the Opposition put forward a Private Member’s Bill (First Nations Heritage Protection and Conservation Act, 2007) designed to address the uncertainty that currently surrounds archeological finds on private lands. 

“First Nations archeological sites are of tremendous historical significance to this area,” declared the MLA from Columbia River – Revelstoke Norm Macdonald.  “The people in this area respect and celebrate First Nation history and feel frustration with the lack of a legislative framework to deal with archeological finds.”

Local landowners who discover artifacts on their property find themselves mired in a system that does not meet the needs of any of the parties involved. 

First Nations do not have the staff resources to deal with the volume of archeological sites uncovered by increased development.  The Archeological Branch of the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, while staffed with dedicated professionals, does not have the resources to quickly process claims. 

“Constituents call my office out of frustration because there is no clear process to deal with archeological finds,” continued Macdonald.  “The landowners that I talk to want to protect these valuable artifacts but they also want a process that provides certainty for both First Nations and residents.”

Macdonald and his caucus colleagues understand that government must be responsible for developing a legislative framework that protects British Columbia’s history while ensuring that archeological finds are processed quickly.

“Leaving First Nations and landowners in limbo because government doesn’t take this issue seriously just isn’t good enough.  All British Columbians deserve better.”