1998/99 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 36th Parliament

The Nisga'a Treaty

"On August 4, 1998, representatives of the Province of British Columbia, the Nisga'a Tribal Council and the Government of Canada initialled the Nisga'a Final Agreement in a ceremony in the Nass Valley. The agreement must be ratified by all three parties to become a treaty.

"The Nisga'a conducted a ratification vote on November 6 and 7 and accepted the Final Agreement.

"B.C. introduced settlement legislation to approve the Final Agreement in the Legislative Assembly on November 30, 1998. The settlement legislation was passed by a free vote of all members on April 22, 1999. Canada will debate and vote on the Final Agreement in the House of Commons this year."

- web site of Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, Province of British Columbia

NOTES ABOUT THE NISGA'A INDEX
AND LINKS TO RELATED SITES

This issue-specific index covers the introduction of the Nisga'a treaty legislation; debate at second reading, committee and third reading stages; and any relevant ministerial statements, motions and question period matters which took place during the November 1998 to April 1999 period.

Links to related sites

The Hansard transcripts can be searched by individual sitting here, or Advanced Search. Choose the 3rd Session, 36th Parliament.

The B.C. legislation (the Nisga'a Final Agreement Act) and its accompanying schedules and appendices can be viewed here.

The Nisga'a Lisims Government website provides a history of the treaty and related information, as well as information on the Nisga'a Constitution.

Government ministry information on the Nisga'a treaty is available here.

Transcripts from the meetings of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, which undertook public consultation around the province, and the committee's report and terms of reference can be viewed here.

Page ranges for the debate on the 1998-99 budget estimates of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs are listed under Aboriginal Affairs, Ministry of here; and the full index (subject/speaker/business) for the debate is in the "Subject-Speaker Index for November 1998 to March 2000 is here.

Nisga'a Final Agreement Act (Bill 51)

The following two lists show the sittings that contained Bill 51 debate and the page ranges of debate, listed by section and topic.

Bill progress by sitting date

1st reading:
November 30 A

2nd reading:
December 1 M & A, December 2 A, December 3 M & A, December 7 A, December 8 M & A, December 9 A, December 10 M & A, December 14 A, January 13 A

Committee stage:
January 14 M & A, January 18 A, January 19 M & A, January 20 A, January 21 M & A, January 25 A, January 26 M & A, January 27 A, January 28 M & A, February 1 A, March 29 A, March 30 M, April 1 A, April 6 A, April 7 A, April 8 M & A, April 12 A, April 13 M & A, April 14 A, April 15 M & A, April 19 A, April 20 M & A, April 22 M

3rd reading:
April 22 M & A

Royal assent:
April 26 A

Bill progress by page number -- Committee stage debate

Section 1, Definition of "Nisga'a Final Agreement":
11075-86, 11089-97

Section 2, Treaty and land claims agreement:
11097-111, 11115-23

Section 3, Nisga'a Final Agreement:
11124-35

Schedule --
Chapter 2, General provisions:
11137-48, 11153-74, 11179-200, 11209-19, 11225-37

Chapter 3, Lands:
11238-42, 11245-67, 11269-79, 11285-304, 11309-27

Chapter 4, Land title:
11327-8

Chapter 5, Forest resources:
11627-34, 11638-58, 11663-88, 11689-98, 11704-18

Chapter 6, Access:
11337-47, 11354-5

Chapter 7, Roads and rights of way:
11759-61, 11768-75

Chapter 8, Fisheries:
11355-71, 11415-33, 11435-46

Chapter 9, Wildlife and migratory birds:
11718-24, 11729-50

Chapter 10, Environmental assessment and protection:
11751-9

Chapter 11, Nisga'a government:
11775-87, 11793-812, 11821-31, 11838-56, 11860-77, 11883-95, 11902-23

Committee stage debate was closed on April 22, 1999. Left undebated were chapters 12 through 22, covering the following topics, some of which were touched on during second reading debate:
Administration of justice
Indian Act transition
Capital transfer and negotiation loan repayment
Fiscal relations
Taxation
Cultural artifacts and heritage
Local and regional government relationships
Dispute resolution
Eligibility and enrolment
Implementation
Ratification.

Please note that:

• When we use "Liberal Party," we mean the B.C. Liberal Party. When we mean the federal party, we use "Liberal Party of Canada."

• When we use "government" (e.g., government position), we mean the B.C. government, unless otherwise specified.

• There was a change in portfolio responsibility partway through the debate (from page 11415 onward). Hon. Gordon Wilson replaced Hon. Dale Lovick as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. Other ministers participating in the debate included:
  Hon. Ujjal Dosanjh, Attorney General;
  Hon. David Zirnhelt, Minister of Forests;
  Hon. Glen Clark, Premier;
  Hon. Corky Evans, Minister of Agriculture and Food;
  Hon. Dennis Streifel, Minister of Fisheries; and
  Hon. Cathy McGregor, Minister of Environment, Lands and Parks.

Copyright © 1999: Queen's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada