There are nearly 200 First Nations in B.C. and provincial Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister John Rustad aims to visit them all on their traditional territories.
By visiting each group individually, Rustad said he has more time to delve into local issues and gain an understanding of where First Nations leaders are coming from.
"It's a much more positive way to build those relationships and I'm hoping it will bear fruit as we continue with our discussions," he said.
During a recent trip to some Treaty 8 First Nations in the northeast, Rustad said he was able to sit down with them and look at the maps of where the used to hunt and fish and listen to why those areas are important. He said that type of detail isn't possible when he holds shorter meetings with groups in Vancouver or Victoria.
It's an ambitious goal and Rustad hasn't developed a timeline for how long it might take to accomplish. Since being named to the cabinet post in June, Rustad said he's met with over 60 First Nations, although some of those meetings have taken place away from traditional territories.
As minister, Rustad aims to continue the Liberal government's plan of reaching agreements with First Nations groups in stages, with the ultimate goal of achieving full treaties.
"A treaty is the ultimate form of reconciliation between a First Nation and the Crown, so our hope is to be able to reach treaties with all First Nations if we can," he said. "We also recognize that's a long process and we want to be able to see things happening that make a change on the ground for people's lives."
Rustad spent his first two terms in office on the Liberal back benches, but was elevated to cabinet shortly after the party won re-election in May. He said he's enjoying the new role, but his ministerial responsibilities mean he has less time to spend in his sprawling home riding of Nechako Lakes, located west of Prince George.
"As a private member many of my weeks were 72-hour weeks and that's just the work that you put in, but he type of work you do is shifted [as a minister]," he said. "You're not able to spend as much time in your riding and that's really unfortunate because I love doing the constituency work and being out in the riding and in the various communities."
Rustad and his 84 MLA colleagues are back in Victoria this week for Tuesday's opening of the next session of the legislature. Rustad expects the Liberals focus will be on their jobs agenda and on developing a liquefied natural gas export industry in B.C., two major planks of their election platform next year.
Tuesday's speech from the throne will give some insight on where the government is headed, as will the budget slated to be tabled on Feb. 18.
The biggest procedural change the Liberals are seeking to make to the working of the legislature is moving question period from the afternoon to the morning two days a week. If adopted, question period would retain its traditional 1:30 p.m. time slot on Mondays and Wednesdays but it would move to 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
"By moving question period to the morning it provides media with a better opportunity to develop a full story," he said. "For us as MLAs, whether its opposition or government MLAs, it's an opportunity to come in the morning, get prepared for it and do question period and then you get on with the rest of things that you need to do during the day."
