Perhaps it's time the BC Liberals handed over responsibility for paying and settling land claims to the federal government.\\\\Recent flip-flops have made it clear the provincial government has little power or authority over the treaty process. While Ottawa has the ultimate authority to settle land claims, our role is to share the cost by providing cash, resource revenue and Crown land.

Historically, the BC Liberals have been firm on Aboriginal issues, While in opposition, Gordon Campbell called native-only commercial fisheries morally, ethically and legally wrong.

Referendum results indicated citizens overwhelmingly favoured hunting, fishing and recreation opportunities on Crown land for all BC'ers. They also supported the terms and conditions of leases and licences and agreed there should be fair compensation for unavoidable disruption of commercial interests.

Yet the recent treaty agreement-in-principle between the BC government and the Vancouver Indians Snuneymuxw native band sets up a native only commercial fishery, commercial logging and native hunting.

And the deal is silent on compensation for non-native commercial fishermen, loggers or hunters who may be displaced as a result of the terms.

Furthermore, if the AIP is indicative of the structure of native governments here, they stand little chance of resembling a municipal-style of government which was what citizens approved in the referendum. Attorney General Geoff Plant, responsible for treaty negotiations, said the self-government model for Snuneymuxw includes powers broader than municipal governments.

In addition to exclusive commercial activities and self-government, the Snuneymuxw band will receive $74.4 million in cash, land and other assets. The band's land holdings will increase to 5,000 hectares from 300.

Now, keep in mind that because the BC government is part of the treaty process, taxpayers here pay twice; as a BC taxpayer and as a Canadian.

But that needn't be the case. Under the 1871 Terms of the Union, Ottawa was given authority over Indians and the trusteeship and management of lands reserved for them.

BC's duty was to provide lands. And it did; more than half the reserves in Canada are located here. In turn, Ottawa acknowledged that BC had satisfied all its obligations. Thus, we bear no responsibility to share the cost of treaty settlements with Ottawa.

We believe the feds should pay for the treaties signed here and the BC should limit its involvement in the process.

This would enable all Canadian taxpayers to share the cost of compensating both native people and province of BC, and it would excuse BC taxpayers from having to pay the bill twice.