PRINCE GEORGE
TREATY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
T E R M S O F R E F E R E N C E
(As Adopted on August 24, 1995 And
Amended on April 4, 1996 And Amended on April 24, 1997 And Amended on
September 19, 1997 And Amended on January 20, 1999 And Amended on
December 15, 2000
And Amended on January 26, 2001
And Amended on January 30, 2004
And Amended on March 5, 2004)
The Prince George Treaty Advisory Committee
("the PGTAC") is created pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding
signed on March 22, 1993 ("the MOU") between the Province of British
Columbia ("the Province") and the Union of B.C. Municipalities ("the
UBCM") and the protocol signed by both parties on September 19, 1994
("the Protocol").
The Prince George Treaty Advisory Committee may
consist of one member and one alternate member each to be appointed by the
Regional Boards of the Regional Districts of Bulkley-Nechako and Fraser-Fort
George; the Municipal Councils of the Villages of Burns Lake, Fraser Lake,
McBride and Valemount; the Districts of Fort St. James, Houston, Mackenzie and
Vanderhoof; and the City of Prince George.
The purpose of the PGTAC is to ensure the
interests of local governments within the geographical area of the PGTAC and/or
the sphere of social economic influence related to the local Governments are
identified and taken into account by the Province in the Treaty negotiations
process.
In pursuance of its mandate as set forth in the
MOU and the Protocol, the PGTAC hereby establishes the following:
- Each Council/Board in the PGTAC area may appoint one member
and one alternate member to the PGTAC. The appointing body shall provide PGTAC
written notice of the appointments with addresses and telephone numbers.
- Membership in the PGTAC is voluntary and any municipality or
regional district wishing to withdraw shall do so by giving written notice to
the Chair.
- The Chair's List of Members will be considered correct and
the Chair shall provide a list of the membership to all members of the PGTAC.
- Each regional district or municipality will have one (1)
vote.
- At all meetings of the PGTAC, a quorum shall be a majority of
the list of members.
- The PGTAC shall elect a Chair and a Vice Chair. Such election
shall be held at the first meeting of the PGTAC in each year and will be
determined by a simple majority vote of the members present.
- The Term of the Chair and Vice Chair will be one calendar
year (January 1 to December 31) or portion thereof.
- The office of the Chair and of the Vice Chair may be vacated
by a vote of 2/3 of all the members of the PGTAC.
- Appointments made by the Chair shall be ratified by a simple
majority vote of the PGTAC.
- Meetings of the PGTAC may be held at the call of the
Chairperson or by a call of a majority of the PGTAC members.
- A meeting of the PGTAC may be held via telephone conference
call provided that a quorum of the members participate.
- All meetings (regular or conference calls) shall be preceded
by a minimum of seven (7) days clear notice, with Agenda.
- A special conference call meeting may be called, at the
Chair's discretion, with 24 hours logged notice; Agenda by Fax.
- The PGTAC may appoint a person to act as an administrative
officer to carry out the duties of Secretary and Treasurer to the Committee.
Such an appointee may be a consultant or other persons employed by any of the
Municipalities or Regional Districts who are members of the PGTAC. The costs of
an administrative officer shall be borne by the PGTAC.
- The PGTAC may appoint persons to be the PGTAC representatives
pursuant to Section 4(c) of the Protocol. Such PGTAC representatives will be
the official liaison spokespeople and representatives of the PGTAC in the
Prince George negotiations. The persons appointed as the PGTAC representatives
may be members of the PGTAC or other individuals as decided by the PGTAC.
- The PGTAC will prepare and adopt an annual operating budget.
The budget will include estimates of the costs of an administrative officer, a
PGTAC representative and the cost of PGTAC meetings. Members of the PGTAC and
their alternates are entitled to claim for expenses for attendance at PGTAC
meetings. Funds for the operation of the PGTAC will be raised from the Regional
Districts of Bulkley - Nechako and Fraser-Fort George, and from grants to be
provided by the Provincial Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. The Provincial
funding will be conditional on agreement between the PGTAC and the Ministry's
Regional Consultation Manager, and is subject to appropriation as defined in
the Financial Administration Act
- The PGTAC may pay an honorarium to members for attendance at
meetings and workshops as approved by members of the P.G.T.A.C. The P.G.T.A.C.
will pay an honorarium to the P.G.T.A.C. Representative who attends the Kaska
Dene treaty negotiations. The Chairperson be paid an honorarium, upon approval
from the P.G.T.A.C., to make presentations before Councils and Regional
Districts to inform of the important role of local governments in the BC Treaty
process.
- When any treaty negotiations reach a substantive stage, in the opinion of the PGTAC, the electoral area director or directors whose area will be impacted will be invited to participate in the advisory function of the PGTAC. Furthermore, an honorarium may be provided and the expenses of the director may be paid for attendance at PGTAC meetings or meetings authorized by the Chair, pending budget restrictions.
- The PGTAC may set up sub-committees by simple majority vote
to deal with specific issues or areas.
- Where there is an area of special social/economic interest
with an adjoining TAC, written notice of the PGTAC's interest should be
forwarded to that TAC.
- The Terms of Reference of the PGTAC may be amended by a 2/3
majority vote of the full PGTAC. There must be seven (7) days clear notice of
the proposed changes to all PGTAC members and alternates.
- In terms of participation of the PGTAC in treaty negotiations
within the PGTAC area, the PGTAC will follow the guidelines established by the
Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs appended hereto as Schedule "A".
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