SURVEY OF PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL POLITICIANS:

THE NISGA’A TREATY

 October 16, 1998

Dear MP or MLA:

The Aboriginal Rights Coalition (ARC) is a partnership of community and social justice groups, churches and First Nations. The Coalition is primarily concerned with achieving just solutions, preferably by negotiations, to unresolved aboriginal issues in Canada.

ARC recognizes that you have an important responsibility in deciding whether the Nisga’a Treaty should be ratified. In our view, the public deserves to know MLA and MP perspectives on the Nisga’a Treaty.

Accordingly, the Victoria branch of ARC is asking that you complete the attached survey, and fax or mail it to the address found at the end of the survey. The deadline for submitting responses is November 15, 1998.

After November 15, 1998, we will present the survey results to the media and the public.

Our press release announcing the survey is attached for your information.

PLEASE NOTE: IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE A COMPLETED SURVEY BY NOVEMBER 15, 1998, YOUR LACK OF RESPONSE WILL BE RECORDED IN OUR PUBLIC ANALYSIS OF RESULTS.

Sincerely,
Waldemar Braul
President, ARC Victoria

SURVEY OF PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL POLITICIANS:

THE NISGA’A TREATY

Name of MP or MLA:_______________________________________________

Riding:___________________________________________________________

Questions:

  1. Do you believe that a provincial referendum is necessary to ratify the Nisga'a Treaty?

    2. Yes_____ No_____ Undecided_____

  2. FOR PROVINCIAL POLITICIANS: Assuming that the provincial government will, as stated, call for a free vote on whether to ratify the Nisga’a Treaty, how will you vote?

    3. In favour of the Treaty____ Against____ Undecided_____

  3. FOR FEDERAL POLITICIANS: Will you vote in favour of ratifying the Nisga’a Treaty?

    4. Yes____ No____ Undecided_____

  4. What do you see as the best parts of the Treaty? ______________________

    5. ________________________________________________________________

    Why? _______________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________

    (Use separate page if necessary)

  5. What do you see as the worst parts of the Treaty? _____________________

    6. _____________________________________________________________

    Why? ________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________

    (Use separate page if necessary)

  6. Do you think that the Nisga’a Agreement should serve as a template for other treaty negotiations?

    7. Yes_____ No_____ Undecided_____

  7. On June 8, 1998, the Reform Party of Canada "called on the federal government to legislate an end to the insecurity caused by the Supreme Court of Canada’s unprecedented Delgamuukw aboriginal land claims decision".

    8. Do you believe that the federal government should enact legislation to limit the scope of the Delagamuukw decision?

    Yes_____ No_____ Undecided_____

     

    If you responded "yes" to the above question, which aspects of the decision should be limited?

    _____________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________

Please fax or mail the responses to:

The Aboriginal Rights Coalition of Victoria
1611 Quadra Street
Victoria, B.C. V8W 2L5
FAX 250 386 8272