Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Barry Penner visited the South Cariboo on Jan. 18 to meet with area First Nations chiefs.
Penner is also British Columbia’s Attorney General, and was environment minister for five years until switching cabinet posts in October.
His past political experience is varied, and includes serving as a member of the Legislature’s Committee on Aboriginal Affairs.
Penner’s meetings with area chiefs are scheduled across the Cariboo-Chilcotin, and are mostly introductory, he said, adding it’s also an opportunity to learn more about issues affecting First Nations in the province.
“My number 1 goal is to listen to [the chiefs] and
see what we can do to help improve
their economic and social realities in the communities they live in.”
Noting he grew up in his riding of Chilliwack, Penner said there are about 23 different First Nations bands in that immediate surrounding area.
“I grew up with many First Nations children as friends in elementary school and high school, and I’m quite aware there are a number of challenges historically that have disproportionately affected First Nations people in B.C.”
In his previous role as environment minister, Penner noted he had also met with a number of First Nations leaders.
Meanwhile, the new aboriginal relations minister said he wasn’t aware of First Nations issues with the Local Government Act that resulted in a letter to Premier Gordon Campbell signed by 11 Shuswap First Nation (Secwepemc) chiefs last summer. Furthermore, he wasn’t aware of the problems with the Green Lake Official Community Plan that the letter referenced.
However, the recall campaign was something Penner was prepared to discuss.
“I know there are still people wondering if there’s going to be a recall campaign against their hard-working [Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett].”
One of the things that concerns him, he explained, is the role of the NDP in driving the recall.
“[The NDP] continue to officially say they’re not involved, but all the evidence continues to point to the fact they are. They’re just trying to hide it from
the public.”
Penner provided a photocopy of a letter, asking
people to consider being canvassers for the recall effort, which he said the local recall team sent out by e-mail in early January.
The letter shows various locations where the completed forms could be dropped off, including the office of NDP party member and former area MLA Charlie Wyse.
Wyse confirmed he did have his office listed as a drop off point for a recall letter, and said he believed the recall is a component of the campaign against the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
“I have let the HST group know on Saturday [Jan. 15] that I no longer have the time to be involved with [that campaign], as I’ll be putting my efforts in on the NDP leadership campaign.”
Meanwhile, Penner said the recall effort is not stopping the local MLA from getting her job done.
“It’s quite a distraction, but despite that, [Barnett] continues to work hard to get cabinet ministers like myself here to help her with local issues, and help her constituents.”
