Ref. 49056

February 7, 2020

His Worship Bill Beamish Mayor Town of Gibsons PO Box 340, 474 South Fletcher Road Gibsons BC V0N 1V0

Dear Mayor Bill Beamish:

Thank you for your letter addressed to Premier Horgan and me on December 20, 2019, on behalf of the Council and the community of Gibsons regarding the passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (the Act). Premier Horgan has asked that I respond to your letter on his behalf.

With the Act now enshrined in law, ministries across government have begun discussing how they plan to align provincial laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples over time. In addition, the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation is currently in the process of developing an Action Plan to achieve the objectives of the Declaration. This work will be undertaken in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples, including Métis and First Nation communities, in . There will also be opportunities to engage local governments and stakeholders in this work.

While the Act specifically applies to the provincial government, I congratulate your Council and community for your ongoing efforts to build a relationship with the Squamish Nation and incorporate this important work into your processes.

This legislation sets us upon a path for reconciliation, and its introduction is only the beginning. For more information on the legislation, please visit https://declaration.gov.bc.ca/ …/2

Ministry of Office of the Mailing Address: Telephone: 250 953-4844 Indigenous Relations Minister Box 9151 Stn Prov Govt Facsimile: 250 953-4856 and Reconciliation Victoria BC V8W 9E2 email: [email protected] website: www.gov.bc.ca/irr

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Thank you for writing; your support is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Scott Fraser Minister

Pc: Honourable Premier

Nicholas Simons MLA - Powell River-Sunshine Coast

Squamish Nation Council