QUALICUM BEACH — The Regional District of Nanaimo and Qualicum First Nation are working to improve understanding between the two parties.
A signed cooperation protocol will guide discussions on topics of mutual interest.
Qualicum Chief Michael Recalma says the agreement builds on past successes.
RDN Board Chair Bill Veenhof says the future looks bright.
“We’ve had a very positive relationship for quite some time now and lots of very fruitful discussions. There’s been a lot of informal work and we can look at this protocol agreement as a formal signpost on our mutual journey together,” said Veenhof.
The RDN chair goes on to say that there will also be a spot at the table for the Qualicum First Nation.
“The day we signed the agreement I asked the C-A-O to make a sign which is going to say Qualicum First Nation and that will be at the board. So what that means is that Qualicum First Nation will be able to sit at our board table, as a non-voting member. To me that’s somewhat emblematic of our relationship.”
In a release, Qualicum Chief Michael Recalma states that the agreement is based on values that are fundamental to government relationships.
