Shabby. It鈥檚 the best word to describe the way the B.C. Liberal government has treated former colleague George Abbott.
Abbott, who did two stints as minister responsible for aboriginal relations, was asked six months ago to take over as head of the B.C. Treaty Commission when Sophie Pierre ends her term on April 1. Eager to take on the job, Abbott started winding up his business affairs and this week was holding transition meetings.
Without warning, he got a call from aboriginal relations minister John Rustad telling him the appointment was off because he didn鈥檛 get support in cabinet. The only explanation given was that cabinet had decided to go in a different direction on treaty talks.
How can the government suddenly change direction after First Nations and the federal government have signed off on Abbott鈥檚 appointment? After 13 years and $1 billion, the treaty process has little to show, and this will only slow things even more.
If the premier wants a new direction, she should have communicated that to Rustad months ago. The debacle suggests confusion in the government on this key issue, confusion that must be laid at the premier鈥檚 door.
Abbott will suffer for this, but so will First Nations and all the people of B.C. who want to see real progress on treaties.
