Chief Baird and members of Tsawwassen First Nation traveled to Ottawa to sign their treaty on Parliament Hill On December 6th, 2007.

Federal Minister Chuck Strahl and Provincial Minister Mike de Jong signed the treaty along with Chief Baird.

After the ceremony, Minister Strahl introduced the legislation into the House of Commons witnessed by the Tsawwassen First Nation delegation.

Once Parliament votes to approve the bill – the Tsawwassen Treaty will be officially ratified as BC’s First Treaty under the BC Treaty Commission process! The Effective Date, the day the treaty comes into force, and Tsawwassen owns its lands and becomes self-governing, is expected to be a year after.

“The Tsawwassen treaty proves that negotiations work. My community and I are absolutely convinced that the treaty is our way forward,” said Chief Kim Baird. “We no longer have to miss out on opportunities other British Columbians and Canadians have enjoyed for over the past century. Once ratified, we will be able to take control over our own destiny.”