NDP Favours Expanding Prince Rupert Port to Save Fraser Valley Farmland

VICTORIA – NDP Leader Carole James today congratulated the Tsawwassen First Nation on the ratification of their treaty and said the NDP will support the settlement through the provincial approval process.

“The Tsawwassen people have taken an historic step forward, ratifying a treaty after years of honest and persistent effort at the negotiating table,” said James. “It’s my hope that this treaty marks a new beginning for the Tsawwassen people and for treaty-making in British Columbia – a process stalled for years by Gordon Campbell’s confrontational and divisive referendum.”

James said that all British Columbians benefit from lasting treaty settlements like the Tsawwassen agreement, providing a lasting framework to grow the economy and to achieve equality and justice for First Nations.

“Settling treaties requires compromise,” said James. “The treaty is not perfect for the Tsawwassen. Nor is it perfect for New Democrats and many other British Columbians who want to protect B.C. farmland. But, on balance, we support the treaty.”

James said that in the discussions she and NDP MLAs had with British Columbians there was significant concern about the use of food producing lands to support the Delta Port expansion. The Campbell government plans on tripling container traffic through that port by 2020.

“Gordon Campbell’s rigid commitment to expanding Delta Port puts too much of the remaining Lower Mainland agricultural lands – not just those included in the treaty – at risk. It also threatens the sustainability of Burns Bog,” said James. “It doesn’t have to be that way.”

James said the Province should invest in greater port capacity in Prince Rupert , sharing economic opportunity with rural B.C. and protecting food producing lands in the Fraser River delta.

She also called on the government to approach future negotiations of agricultural reserve land differently.

“I challenge the Premier to commit to the principles expressed in the Agricultural Land Commission Act in future treaty negotiations,” said James. “The Commission is the best place to determine which lands are removed from the ALR.”