The BC Liberals have a long history in taking a strong stance on Aboriginal issues. For example, while in opposition, Gordon Campbell referred to native only commercial fisheries as being morally, ethically and legally wrong. The Liberals also promised to eliminate government subsidies to businesses and to negotiate fair and equitable treaties.

However it wasn't long into their mandate the BC Liberals offered a Nanaimo band its own commercial fishing entitlement as part of land claim treaties. Attorney General Geoff Plant, who is the Minister responsible for treaty negations, indicated that the government still opposed a separate fishery, but believed the government had no choice but to push toward treaty settlements that would allow native-only commercial fishing. No contradiction there.

During their first 90 days in office the BC Liberals eliminated government subsidies to businesses. The BC Liberals correctly determined that government business subsidies give some companies an unfair competitive advantage over others.

Taxpayers must now be scratching their heads over the extension of the three-year, $30-million Economic Measures Fund. The Fund goes toward job and business development in native communities. In other words, the Economic Measures Fund is a fancy title for business subsidy.

The BC government has also announced their intention to share revenue generated from forestry with native bands. This announcement is the thin edge of the wedge. If the BC government is prepared to share forestry revenue with native bands, obviously they are prepared to share the revenue from other natural resource development as well.

The natural resources of a province belong to all citizens of a province and all citizens of a province - native and non-native - benefit from the revenue generated from the development of natural resources.

This is because hospitals, schools and roads for example, are financed in part through tax dollars and revenue generated from natural resources. The act of handing over a percentage of this revenue to native bands has the affect of reducing the amount of general revenue that can be used to benefit all citizens of the province.

There is little that is fair and equitable in establishing native only commercial fisheries, providing business subsidies for native communities and disproportionate resource sharing agreements. Once again, the BC Liberals have flip-flopped on Aboriginal issues.