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   B.C. Liberals drop Nisga'a lawsuit
   Last Updated Thu Aug 30 10:17:01 2001 

   VICTORIA - The British Columbia Liberals have decided to support a
   native land treaty they opposed three years ago when it went court.

     * INDEPTH: Aboriginal Canadians

   That case against the Nisga'a Treaty has been dropped. The Liberal
   MLAs who filed the suit include Gordon Campbell, who has since become
   premier.

   "Now that we're in government, it's not possible to sue ourselves, "
   said Attorney General Geoff Plant, who was also involved in the suit.

   When Campbell was in opposition he led the charge to have the Nisga'a
   Treaty declared unconstitutional, because he argued it set up a third
   level of government.

   Those arguments were rejected last year by a B.C. Supreme Court, but
   an appeal was under way.

   The government is legally obligated to uphold the agreement. It
   contains a clause that requires governments to support the treaty.

   Plant said the Liberals feel it's time to recognize that the former
   government made commitments to the Nisga'a, and to support those
   commitments.

   The government still intends to proceed with its referendum on native
   treaties. The vote, which will guide the government on how to proceed
   with treaty-making, will take place next summer, Plant said.

   The lawsuit was paid for with tax dollars, and cost tens of thousands
   of dollars, said Plant.

   Nisga'a chief Joe Gosnell says he is pleased the government has
   dropped the case. Gosnell says he wishes the Liberals would also drop
   their referendum plans.

   Written by CBC News Online staff

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   Mary Griffin reports for CBC Radio

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