Atlantic chiefs balk at signing fishery pacts

MONCTON, New Brunswick – Atlantic tribal chiefs say they’re not prepared to sign fishery agreements with the Canadian government.

However, that could change.

The chiefs emerged from a meeting Tuesday to announce that federal Fisheries Minister Herb Dhaliwal has until Thursday to have his legal advisers meet with tribal lawyers to discuss whether or not agreements are possible.

“We are committed to finding a solution to avoid conflict on the waters or in courts,” said Chief Peter Barlow, co-chairman of the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs.

The chiefs take issue with proposed three-year agreements they characterize as a federal attempt to “assume all control on how the First Nations are to exercise their constitutionally protected right.”

“It’s more of a case where they are telling us how we’re going to exercise our rights with no consideration of our management plans,” said Chief Lawrence Paul, congress co-chairman.

Barlow said the proposed agreements don’t address the issue of long-term joint management of the resource.

“Today, we stand together as First Nations to make our point to both minister Dhaliwal and Canada that we do not desire conflict, but want a negotiated solution,” he said during a news conference.

The chiefs want bands to have access and control over fishing resources without Dhaliwal’s interference. As well, any agreement would see Ottawa offer assistance to tribes in capacity building, training and education in the fishery.

Last year, the federal government signed one-year agreements with all but four bands in the Maritimes and the Gaspe region of Quebec at a cost of about $269 million.

Now Dhaliwal wants to have the tribes sign longer three-year agreements at an estimated cost of $505 million.

But the chiefs are balking at signing because the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 1999 that the tribes already have the right to make a moderate living from the sea.

“Our chiefs are determined to exercise our constitutionally protected treaty rights affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada,” Paul said.

Dhaliwal, during question period in the House of Commons on Tuesday, said he respects those who choose not to sign the agreement.

“First of all, just as we did before, for those First Nations that don’t sign agreements, we’ll provide access to them as we’ve done but what they’ll be missing out on is the opportunity to have boats, to have training, to have proper equipment,” the minister said.