Feds forgive treaty loans, but will it revive painfully slow process?

VICTORIA — After accumulating hundreds of millions of dollars in debt to the federal government to finance treaty negotiations, B.C. First Nations learned this week that Ottawa is forgiving all of it.
The news came on federal budget day, with Finance Minister Bill Morneau announcing $1.4 billion to forgive loans currently owing and reimburse others that have already been repaid.
More than $900 million in outstanding loans to bands engaged in negotiations will be cancelled in the current fi