Turtle Island Native Network
http://www.turtleisland.org

BC NDP Newswire - April 3, 2002

BC NDP URGES SUPPORTERS TO BOYCOTT REFERENDUM

The British Columbia New Democratic Party is asking its supporters across
the province to boycott the referendum on treaty negotiations now in the mail.

The announcement was made last night during a province-wide teleconference
meeting of the Party's Provincial Council delegates and constituency
association representatives.

"There should be no referendum on minority rights," said Party President
Maura Parte. "It's a waste of money at a time when the Liberals are crying
poor, and instead of bringing British Columbians together it's going to
drive us apart."

"B.C.'s economy is hurting," said Parte. "Our rural communities have
already been hit hard enough - the last thing they need is the conflict and
uncertainty that this referendum will bring."

"Only fair and honourable treaties with B.C.'s First Nations can provide
the reconciliation, the social justice and the economic opportunity our
province so desperately seeks."

"Aboriginal British Columbians are asking their fellow citizens to show
their support for the treaty process by abstaining from participation in
the referendum. The B.C. NDP is supporting that call. We are urging our
members and supporters to boycott the referendum."

Provincial Secretary Ed Lavalle explained why the Party is not advocating
spoiling ballots.

"Aboriginal representatives see the referendum as fundamentally
unconstitutional and disrespectful," said Lavalle. "While they have
suggested negotiation and reconciliation, the government has responded with
questions which impose preconditions on the whole process."

"The aboriginal community feels that returning spoiled or blank ballots
helps validate the referendum because it's a form of participation."

Lavalle added that the referendum questions are so ambiguous that there's
no clear way to reject the premises of the referendum by voting no.

"No matter how the questions are answered, the Liberal government gets the
answers it wants. That's why we're asking supporters to simply boycott the
ballot by just throwing it away or giving it to local organizations who may
be collecting unused ballots to show solidarity with First Nations."

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For more news and information, visit www.bc.ndp.ca
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For more on the BC Treaty Referendum see
http://www.turtleisland.org/news/news-bctreaty.htm


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