January 11, 2006

Hon. Gordon Campbell
Premier of British Columbia
PO Box 9041 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria BC V8W 9E1
Via Facsimile: (250) 387-0087

Dear Honourable Premier,

As you are likely aware, many of the federal candidates for the Conservative Party have recently made public comments on the preparation for, and outcomes of, the First Ministers’ Meeting on Aboriginal Issues hosted by yourself in Kelowna on November 24-25, 2005.  In particular, Monte Solberg, the Conservative Financial Critic, said “(the) Kelowna Agreement is something that they crafted at the last moment on the back of a napkin on the eve of an election.”  Solberg went on to state that the Conservative Party will not honour the commitments made at the First Ministers’ Meeting, which include significant federal financial commitments, and commitments to improve relationships and review policy and programs.  The made-in BC implementation vehicle for these commitments, the Transformative Change Accord, was also an important outcome of the First Ministers’ Meeting. 

We are well aware of, and highly appreciate, your vigorous efforts in ensuring the success of the First Ministers’ Meeting.  The comments by Conservative Party members disregard those efforts, and further threaten to derail the progress made to date.

We are writing this letter to request that you join us in formally and publicly intervening on this issue.  It is imperative that the First Ministers’ Meeting preparation and commitments, including our Transformative Change Accord, are fully supported, and that progress on implementing a new relationship and achieving transformative change continues.

Sincerely,
FIRST NATIONS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL