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Basis of land claim agreement reached with LIA

Premier Brian Tobin confirmed today that the recent land claims discussions among senior officials of the province, Canada and the Labrador Inuit Association, were positive. The three parties will now take the outcome of these meetings to their principals for ratification; both levels of government will report to their ministers and the LIA negotiators will report to their Board of Directors.

"I am pleased that senior officials have been able to make progress on some very difficult and long-standing issues in the LIA land claims negotiations," said Premier Tobin.

This is an important milestone and marks the culmination of almost 10 years of effort to resolve the LIA's claim. Negotiations toward an Agreement-in-Principle began in 1991, but had stalled on several issues. Those issues have been addressed in the course of these discussions.

"Officials of all three parties should be commended for their efforts in these negotiations," said the premier. "Once all parties have had a chance to review the results of the Ottawa meeting, we may be in a better position to give more details, but for now the particulars will remain confidential."

Contact: Heidi Bonnell, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3564.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Premier Tobin will be available to the media for a scrum at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon (Thursday, October 30) at the Media Centre, Main Floor, East Block, Confederation Building.