Speaker Raj Chouhan will deliver an official apology on behalf of B.C.含羞草研究社檚 Legislative Assembly to First Nations across British Columbia among other measures as part of an Reconciliation Action Plan.

But Wednesday含羞草研究社檚 official ceremony marking the release of the plan also included criticisms about the tone of Reconciliation, while political opposition questioned the process.

Speaking at ceremony in the legislature, Chouhan told First Nations leaders from across the province that Reconciliation with First Nations is an essential part of the work to make the legislature more reflective of B.C.含羞草研究社檚 population.

The plan tabled Wednesday afternoon 含羞草研究社渞ecognizes the need to address historical injustices by acknowledging the past and working to build new relationships with Indigenous Peoples based on respect and understanding含羞草研究社� in building on work that Chouhan and the assembly含羞草研究社檚 clerk Ryan-Lloyd started four years ago in consultation with First Nations.

The plan includes seven initial actions. They include: the official apology; a Memorial Garden recognizing Indian Residential School survivors and victims; incorporating Indigenous customs and cultures; and implementing consistent practices for Indigenous participation in ceremonies and proceedings.

含羞草研究社淏ut that journey is not over,含羞草研究社� Chouhan said. 含羞草研究社淲e are just starting. We can only complete that journey if we commit ourselves and we continue to hold our hands together and paddle together.含羞草研究社�

Cheryl Casimer of the First Nations Leadership Council was among several senior First Nations leader speaking during the ceremony.

Like other speakers, she referenced historical injustices, which First Nations have suffered since the arrival of Europeans, noting the legislature含羞草研究社檚 responsibility in creating 含羞草研究社渞acist, colonial laws that tried to destroy us.含羞草研究社�

She also noted that the legislature, like all buildings in B.C. is built on the 含羞草研究社渦nceded territory of First Nations.含羞草研究社�

Casimer praised the plan, but also questioned the tone of Reconciliation.

含羞草研究社淩econciliation is not about making each other feel good,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭hat comes later. That comes after the hard work and the heavy lifting is done. Reconciliation is about having those tough conversations, talking about the truth, no matter how hard it is to hear, because it is necessary in order for us to repair and build stronger relationships as we forward.含羞草研究社�

She tried to underscore the point when she rhetorically asked non-First Nations members of the audience 含羞草研究社渂y show of hands含羞草研究社� how many of them would be happy to be treated in the way general society is treating First Nations.

含羞草研究社淔or those of you who can含羞草研究社檛 see, no hands have gone up,含羞草研究社� she said.

Chouhan later tabled the plan, with B.C. New Democrats, B.C. Greens and B.C. Conservatives voting in favour and B.C. United voting against.

B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon questioned the process of government bringing forward the plan out of the legislature含羞草研究社檚 assembly management committee with days left in the legislative session.

含羞草研究社淚 can tell you this is not advancing Reconciliation,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚n fact, that risks setting it back.含羞草研究社�

Falcon said government cannot be working on Reconciliation in isolation.

含羞草研究社淲e have to remember this is the Peoples含羞草研究社� House,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 all the peoples of British Columbia, Indigenous, non-Indigenous and we need to make sure that when we talk about Reconciliation, we are bringing the public along with us. It含羞草研究社檚 can含羞草研究社檛 just be quiet Reconciliation that is made quietly with four chiefs. What about the other 200 chiefs out there, who weren含羞草研究社檛 consulted on this Reconciliation plan?含羞草研究社�

With that last comment, Falcon was referring to the Speaker含羞草研究社檚 Indigenous Reconciliation Advisory Committee. Its four members met regularly with Chouhan.

Falcon said the plan reflects government含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社減attern含羞草研究社� of 含羞草研究社渧ery limited, secretive consultations含羞草研究社� that fail to include the broader community, thereby creating distrust.

House Leader Ravi Kahlon questioned B.C. United含羞草研究社檚 opposition.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 shameful,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淲e spent one year engaging on this topic,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淲e have had multiple meetings in multiple committees. Everybody was supporting it until the last minute yesterday.含羞草研究社�