OTTAWA--"Is the Nisga'a Treaty so bad that it can't stand the scrutiny of Parliamentary approval prior to ratification by the Government?" said John Cummins, M.P. (Delta South Richmond).

"Ratification of the Nisga'a Treaty by the Minister of Indian Affairs prior to its consideration by Parliament is contemptuous of our democratic traditions."

The Nisga'a Treaty will not be presented to Parliament until the fall.

It is presumptuous for the Government to ratify the Treaty through a formal signing until it has been considered and voted on by Parliament. The credibility of the Treaty is further undermined by this highly unusual step.

The Treaty is a back room deal negotiated by nameless officials, without the direction or approval of Parliament. The Government's approach is to force on Parliament a "done deal" without the ability to amend. Democracy and the democratic process are being ignored.

"The Government's ratification treats Parliament as an ineffectual and irrelevant talk shop. The Nisga'a ratified the Treaty after a referendum. B.C. ratified it after approval by the B.C. Legislature. Canada ratified it six months before presenting the Treaty to Parliament."