PROVINCE APPOINTS TREATY COMMISSIONER

VICTORIA – Dave Haggard has accepted an order-in-council appointment as the provincial representative to the B.C. Treaty Commission.

Effective Feb. 28 2008, Haggard will serve a two-year term as one of four part-time commissioners, replacing outgoing commissioner Jack Weisgerber, who has served as the Province’s representative since 2002.

Haggard is uniquely qualified for this appointment. He is known for developing progressive relationships within B.C.’s Aboriginal communities, having worked with a number of Vancouver Island First Nations, including the Maa-nulth First Nations.

As a long-time labour leader and forestry advocate, Haggard has a proven ability to facilitate negotiations with industry, labour, government and First Nations, and bring about effective solutions that accommodate a diversity of complex issues and interests. He was first elected in 1996 as national president of the Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada, and has served as vice-president of the Canadian Labour Congress and the B.C. Federation of Labour.

The Treaty Commission is an independent and neutral body, tasked with overseeing the progress and effectiveness of the treaty negotiation process in British Columbia. It works with all parties to facilitate, fund negotiations, and provide public information and education. The commission was established in 1992.

The government of British Columbia has negotiated final agreements with the Tsawwassen and the Maa-nulth First Nations, guiding B.C.’s first urban and multi-nation treaty under the B.C. treaty process. Currently, there are 47 ongoing negotiations, including the Sliammon, Yale, In-SHUCK-ch, and Yekooche First Nations, who have each initialled an Agreement-in-Principle and are working towards final agreement.

Biography

Dave C. Haggard

Haggard is the former national and local 1-85 president of the Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers Association (IWA) and a former director of WE Enterprises, Forest Renewal BC, and Concert Properties.

Born in Kamloops and raised in Barriere, Haggard moved to Vancouver Island in 1973 to work as a welder for MacMillan Bloedel. In 1985, he went to work as a business agent for the IWA and became president of the local chapter in 1991. In 1996, he won the national IWA presidency, at the same time becoming the vice-president of the Canadian Labour Congress. He has served two terms as vice-president of the B.C. Federation of Labour.

Haggard led the challenge of building the Native Elders home in Port Alberni. He is semi-retired and happily married to wife Eileen, a Nuu-chah-nulth member who manages the K-12 education programs for the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. Dave and Eileen live in Port Alberni and have raised two children. Haggard’s grandmother was a member of Simpcw First Nation (Chu Chua) situated by the North Thompson River.

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Media contact:	Deborah Bowman Communications Director Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation 250 213-3489 (cell) 250 953-3211

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