Summary

• The principals to the B.C. treaty negotiations process (governments of B.C. and Canada, and the First Nations Summit) are completing the tripartite appointment process of a new chief commissioner for the BC Treaty Commission, for a three-year term
• George Abbott, current provincially appointed commissioner and former B.C. cabinet minister, has been approved as the new chief commissioner by the First Nations Summit and the Government of B.C.
• Before the appointment can be finalized, the Government of Canada must complete its formal approval by the Governor in Council
• Established in 1992, the BC Treaty Commission is an independent, impartial body responsible for facilitating treaty negotiations between the provincial and federal governments, and participating First Nations in B.C.

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The First Nations Summit and the governments of British Columbia and Canada are pleased to announce that George Abbott is set to become the next chief commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission.

As the full-time chief executive officer, the chief commissioner oversees the work of the BC Treaty Commission. The chief commissioner serves a three-year term and is a tripartite appointee made by consensus between the principals, made up of representatives from the governments of B.C. and Canada, and the First Nations Summit.

Abbott’s appointment has been approved by a First Nations Summit resolution passed Thursday, April 2, 2026, and a provincial order-in-council (OIC) issued on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Before the appointment can be finalized, the Government of Canada must complete its formal approvals process, which includes a ministerial recommendation followed by consideration of the federal cabinet. The appointment is official after approval by the Governor in Council, completing the required tripartite process.

Abbott is the provincially appointed commissioner, having been selected for that position on Feb. 28, 2025. He is chair of the board at Technical Safety BC, a former director on the board of the Land Title and Survey Authority, and former chair of the board of the Institute for Health System Transformation and Sustainability.

First elected in 1996, Abbott served with distinction as a member of the legislative assembly for 17 years, including 12 years as a cabinet minister. During his many years of public service, Abbott led portfolios in Indigenous relations, sustainable resource management, health and education. He is an author and adjunct professor in political science at the University of Victoria.

Celeste Haldane, the incumbent chief commissioner, was appointed in 2017 and is serving her third term, which expires on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Before her role as chief commissioner, she served as the First Nations Summit appointed commissioner from 2011 until 2017. Haldane has served on several boards and is a practising lawyer, who holds a master of laws in constitutional law, and was appointed King’s Counsel in 2019.

Haldane’s years of service to the BC Treaty Commission helped shaped the work of the commission. She, along with the commissioners, advocated for stronger Indigenous-rights recognition and innovative reconciliation agreements. Her tenure also included the advancement of treaty negotiations for several First Nations in negotiations, including the initialling of three treaties in 2024 with K’ómoks, Kitselas and Kitsumkalum First Nations in 2024, and their successful community ratifications in 2025.

Appointment process

The appointment of the chief commissioner is a consensus decision of the three principals and follows an agreed-upon process in this order:

• formal appointment by the First Nations Summit by passing a resolution
• provincial order-in-council issued at the recommendation of the minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation
• federal Governor General’s order-in-council issued at the recommendation of the minister of Crown-Indigenous relations

With Abbott taking on this role, the provincial commissioner position would be filled in the coming weeks by an order-in-council appointment at the recommendation of the minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation.

About the BC Treaty Commission

Established in 1992, the BC Treaty Commission is an independent, impartial body responsible for facilitating treaty negotiations between the provincial and federal governments, and First Nations in B.C.

The BC Treaty Commission has three main roles:

• facilitating treaty negotiations, including supporting the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• allocating funding to First Nations for negotiations
• educating the public and providing information about treaty negotiations

The BC Treaty Commission is governed by the federal and provincial legislation (provincial Treaty Commission Act and federal British Columbia Treaty Commission Act) and the First Nations Summit resolution under which it was jointly established. The commission consists of one chief commissioner and four commissioners. Commissioners do not represent the principals that appoint them; they serve independently.

Established modern treaties have resulted in higher average wages for people in their regions and the investment of billions of dollars in local communities and their economies.

Quotes:

Spencer Chandra Herbert, B.C.’s Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation –

“Making treaties with B.C. First Nations leads to greater prosperity, certainty, and togetherness for all of us in B.C. The BC Treaty Commission is key to advancing modern treaty-making and I’d like to recognize and thank Celeste Haldane for her many contributions to the process as the B.C. commissioner, and then as the chief commissioner. I congratulate George Abbott and thank him for taking on the role of chief commissioner. The B.C. government, the BC Treaty Commission, Canada and the First Nations Summit have much work to do together to build on the promise of treaty and agreement making to build that hopeful future we all want, and I look forward to taking those steps together.”

Robert Phillips, First Nations Summit Task Group –

“The First Nations Summit is very pleased to support George Abbott's appointment as chief commissioner. George Abbott's considerable experience in treaty negotiations as a current treaty commissioner and as a former cabinet minister, together with his broad understanding of the Crown-First Nations relationship, position him to play an effective role in leading the BC Treaty Commission. At this time in our history, we need to reaffirm our commitment to advancing reconciliation through modern treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements and recognize the critical role of the BC Treaty Commission as the independent keeper of the British Columbia treaty negotiations process.”

Rebecca Alty, federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs of Canada –

“Congratulations to George Abbott on his appointment as chief commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission. His longstanding public service in British Columbia has made a strong contribution to this work, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration, with Indigenous partners across British Columbia, to advance modern treaties in the province.”

George Abbott, treaty commissioner, BC Treaty Commission –

“I am deeply honoured to be asked to take on the role of chief commissioner. I salute Celeste Haldane for her outstanding leadership of the organization and her invaluable contributions to advance treaty-making and reconciliation. We are at an exciting point in the history of British Columbia and Canada. Three modern treaties with K’omoks, Kitselas and Kitsumkalum reflect a newfound momentum in treaty process, supported by recent innovations which will benefit all partners. I look forward to continuing this important work ahead of us.”

Learn More:

• BC Treaty Commission: https://bctreaty.ca/
• First Nations Summit: https://fns.bc.ca
• To learn more about negotiations in progress across Canada, visit: https://www.rcaanccirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100030285/1529354158736
• To learn more about the treaty negotiations process in B.C., visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/consulting-with-first-nations/first-nations-negotiations/about-first-nations-treaty-process