May 10, 1999
(Executive Council)

The following statement was issued today by Premier Brian Tobin. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I rise in the House today to inform my honorable colleagues about a significant achievement in land claims negotiations with the Labrador Inuit announced this morning.

Just hours ago, chief negotiators representing the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Canada and the Labrador Inuit Association initialled the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement in Principle C an agreement that represents what I believe could be the best, most comprehensive land claims settlement in Canada.

The initialled agreement will now be presented to the Labrador Inuit Association for ratification. That process will unfold this summer, with a ratification vote by mid-July. Following ratification, land selection will be finalized and then the AIP will be presented to the provincial and federal governments for ratification. When the AIP is ratified by the three parties, negotiations on the Final Agreement will begin.

The initialled Agreement in Principle is a significant step toward our ultimate goal, a Final Agreement with the Inuit of Labrador that will benefit all residents of the province.

We are embarking on a new era of prosperity and cooperation between the province, the federal government and the Inuit of Labrador.

This day has been a long time coming for all of us. The process began in 1977, when the LIA filed a statement of claim with the Government of Canada. The Government of Canada accepted that statement of claim in 1978 and, in 1980, at the invitation of the federal government, the province agreed to participate in land claims negotiations with the Labrador Inuit.

Now, 22 years later, after years of often intense negotiations C three years after all parties agreed to fast-track negotiations C we have in front of us an initialled agreement that brings us one step closer to a Final Land Claims Agreement.

It has been a challenging, complex process. Over the years, we have faced difficulties. At times we did not agree. Discussions were often heated. But we did not give up. We accepted the challenge because we know just how important it is for all residents of Newfoundland and Labrador that we reach fair and equitable land claims and self-government agreements with the Labrador Inuit.

It is equally important that we reach fair and equitable land claims and self-government agreements with the Innu Nation of Labrador. We are striving to accomplish that within a reasonable time frame and we are making progress.

The initialled Agreement in Principle is a very important document. This document means the Labrador Inuit - the province's largest Aboriginal group -- are one step closer to achieving an agreement that will promote and protect their language, culture and traditions. With an agreement on land claims and self-government, the destiny of the Labrador Inuit is in their own hands.

Today's ceremony moves the province one step closer to a land claims settlement with the Labrador Inuit. As we move closer to achieving our goal of a Final Agreement on land claims and self-government with the Inuit, I believe it is important to reflect on what a settlement will mean for all residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Quite simply, the settlement of land claims will bring clarity to ownership of the land and management of resources, and therefore will benefit all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Settling land claims will bring economic and social stability, new capital, more jobs and increased tax revenues to the province.

Today's initialled agreement strives to ensure full and fair benefits for all residents, benefits that far exceed any costs associated with a Final Agreement.

The Agreement in Principle provides the basis for final agreement on land ownership, resource management, economic development, land use planning, protected areas, environmental assessment, wildlife, fisheries, self-government and much more.

I believe the Agreement in Principle that has been initialled today provides a framework to ensure that this modern extension of the treaty-making process results in benefits which are shared in a fair and just manner among all parties.

I look forward to the ceremony a year or so from now that will celebrate the culmination of this process C a Final Agreement on land claims and self-government with the Labrador Inuit.

1999 05 10                                    4:55 p.m.