George Abbott, a former B.C. cabinet minister, has been appointed as the next chief commissioner of the B.C. Treaty Commission.
The provincial government and the First Nations Summit announced Abbott’s appointment Tuesday (April 7) ahead of the end of Celeste Haldane’s third term on Saturday, April 11. Haldane was first appointed in 2017 and served as the First Nations Summit appointed commissioner from 2011 until 2017.
The chief commissioner is the full-time CEO and oversees the work of the B.C. Treaty Commission in a three-year term.
Abbott 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.
He is currently an adjunct professor in political science at the University of Victoria. He lives in Victoria.
As and MLA, he represented Shuswap for 17 years, first elected in 1996. Abbott held several cabinet positions over the years including positions in aboriginal relations and reconciliation, community, women’s services, sustainable resource management, health and education ministries.
Abbott’s appointment was approved by a First Nations Summit resolution passed on April 2 and a provincial order-in-council on April 7.
While Abbott has been appointed to the role, the federal government still needs to complete its formal approvals process, which includes a ministerial recommendation followed by consideration of the federal cabinet. His appointment will be official after approval by the Governor in Council.