Aboriginal Relations Minister Mary Polak says she’s disappointed with the Musqueam Indian band for staging a protest that shut down traffic in Vancouver today.
Polak says the band should resolve its concerns over a development on the site of an ancient burial ground at the bargaining table, saying there are some new proposals.
“One of the proposals for example involves land that the Musqueam would be provided in accomodation for the construction of the South Fraser Perimeter road, that would allow the Musqueam to have either land or perhaps cash in lieu of that to be able to purchase property from the developer.”
But NDP critic Scott Fraser says the government is responsible for this dispute because it ignored a request to get involved one year ago.
Musqueam First Nation spokesperson Cecelia Point says its rich of Polak to be talking about bargaining…when her government could solve this issue.
“Absolutely they could…and I believe they are probably scared because its going to be precedent setting, and there’s going to be some new law written.”
Point says the developer and the City of Vancouver have already agreed to a 3-way land deal, but Musqueam needs the province to sign off on it.
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