Dear Mr. Campbell,

I beg to differ with your assertion that this referendum not about undermining Aboriginal rights and title. Reading the questions, it seems designed to try to strengthen the hand of provincial treaty negotiators seeking to limit what treaties may contain with a majority vote on a minority group's rights. This is truly unethical and I really object to my tax dollars being spent on this exercise.

This is one issue where there is a huge, cross-sectoral majority in agreement on the negative impacts of one of your election promises. The honourable thing to do would be to acknowledge that you have heard the opposition to this referendum from many different constituencies, not least Aboriginal communities themselves, and have decided to cancel it. We would all respect you more for having the courage to follow this path.

Sincerely,
Adrienne Montani
amontani@shaw.ca

----- Original Message -----
From: Office of the Premier PREM:EX OfficeofthePremier@gems9.gov.bc.ca
To: amontani@shaw.ca
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2002 12:47 PM
Subject: Referendum

Thank you for your email regarding our intention to hold a referendum on Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia. I welcome this opportunity to review your comments and respond.

All British Columbians should know that my government's commitment to negotiated treaty settlements and the treaty process is not in question, nor is it open to debate. The referendum will be conducted by mail-in ballot, and administered by Elections BC. Ballots will be mailed to B.C. voters starting April 2. Voting begins when ballots are received. The last day for returning ballots will be May 15 and the results will be announced as soon as counting is complete.

The referendum cannot, and will not, be a tool for interfering in, or undermining, constitutionally protected Aboriginal rights and title. The referendum is intended to help fast-track treaty negotiations by giving all British Columbians a direct say on the principles that they think treaties should reflect, and that will guide my government at the negotiating table.

Our clear intent is to foster greater understand of the treaty process, and to build public support for the critical need for treaties.

Our plan is to help all voters become informed about the referendum questions and the issues they address in as fair and neutral a manner as possible. An independent Referendum Office has been established to provide information about the referendum process, the treaty process, and issues of Aboriginal rights and title.

In addition to providing information itself, the office will help guide the public to other sources of information or perspectives about the referendum. This Office will send voters a householder, which will provide information, positions and arguments on the referendum questions. If you would more information regarding the referendum, I would encourage you to contact this Office:
Toll Free: 1-800-227-0396
E-Mail: Treaty.Referendum@gems1.gov.bc.ca

Website: www.elections.bc.ca/

Please contact Elections BC for information about voter registration and voting procedures:

Again, thank you for sharing your views with me. It was good to hear from you.

Sincerely,
Gordon Campbell
Premier

---Original Message-----
From: Adrienne Montani [mailto:amontani@shaw.ca]
Sent: March 2, 2002 11:07 PM
To: Campbell.MLA, Gordon
Subject: Drop the treaty referendum

Dear Mr. Campbell,

The Treaty negotiations should be between the three parties concerned: the Federal and Provincial governments and First Nations people, not the population at large. Please drop the referendum and stop this divisive waste of taxpayers' dollars.

Adrienne Montani
941 E. 62nd Avenue
Vancouver, BC