APPENDIX B-5:
CORPORATE PERSPECTIVES ON CONSULTATION
New Relationship Business Group in British Columbia
The Government of British Columbia and the First Nations Leadership Council invited
the BC business community to offer its thoughts and recommendations on how a new
consultation and accommodation regime might be structured in the province. Major
business and industry associations (including the BC Chamber of Commerce, tourism
association, forestry associations, and mining associations) formed the “New Relationship
Business Group” to answer this challenge
The New Relationship Business Group encourages First Nations and the Government of
British Columbia to undertake action in the following priority areas:
A new model for First Nation Consultation and Accommodation that considers
both dimensions of the content of the duty to consult: the presence and degree of
First Nation interest in the lands and resources at issue; and the potential of a
project or activity to negatively affect those First Nation interests.
A new government policy that clearly sets out the expectations, time frames and
process for First Nation Consultation and Accommodation, including recognition
that agreements between government and First Nations are to be encouraged.
Recognition that the responsibility for an effective process is shared by
government and First Nations, such that both parties must participate in good faith
in reaching consensus.
Consultation on higher level plans is preferred to engagement on each and every
minor permit.
Acceptance that there are outstanding issues in the reconciliation of aboriginal and
Crown titles that cannot be resolved through consultations on proposed
development activities. Debating those issues in project consultations does not
lead to their resolution and only diverts attention from the applications at hand.
Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA)
The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association has developed a cross-industry Aboriginal
consultation framework for its member companies.
The consultation framework contains core consultation “principles” and associated CEPA
“objectives,” as well as guidelines. Together the principles, objectives and guidelines
form CEPA’s Aboriginal consultation framework and provide CEPA companies with the
essential elements that are needed to guide their consultation activities.