B.C. Treaty Commission aims to have 14 treaties signed in 2 years

The B.C. Treaty Commission says the political climatein the province and federally is ripe for pushing ahead stalledtreaty negotiations.

The commission released a report Wednesday saying 14 negotiationsare in the advanced stages, and chief commissioner Celeste Haldanesays the goal is to see those treaties signed in the next two years.

Commissioner Jerry Lampert says the discourse in Ottawa, as wellas early talks with B.C.'s new minister for Indigenous relations andreconciliation, areencouraging.

He says the federal and provincial governments have shown thedesire to address reconciliation, but it's time for it to betransferred to the negotiating table.

The report says local and regional governments have also played akey role in finalizing recent treaty negotiations.

It says the Tla'amin Nation's treaty that was implemented in 2016was signed thanks to a push from the Powell River mayor andcouncillors who went to Ottawa to advocate for its completion.