The Premier’s special community liaison in the talks to save B.C.’s endangered caribou in the Peace River region is giving the federal government a blunt warning.

Speaking on Radio NL’s Inside #bcpoli Blair Lekstrom says while the province blundered with its lack of community consultations, the real problem in finding a way forward will come from Ottawa.

“The issue is going to be the Federal Government. This is under Section 11 of the Species at Risk Act where they determine these species are threatened,” he said. “They have a time frame they have to operate under.”

Lekstrom warns if there is progress being made and the Trudeau government interferes and tries to impose, it will be at their peril.

“If we are making progress and this region is working collaboratively to try and find a solution with our First Nations, with the provincial government in the region and industry altogether, then far be it from the Federal Government to stick their nose in here and try and shut us down,” he added.

Lekstrom says for the province to hold consultations with Peace River First Nations and leaving the communities out was a mistake.

“This has set the relationship back in my mind 20 to 40 years. There’s things being said now that you wouldn’t have never expected to hear. When people are concerned about their livelihood, their well being, the possibility that they could lose their job over something like this, and have never been consulted, a lot of things happened in their mind.”

He says West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations are providing some hope with comments about not having back country closures and no hunting and fishing restrictions.

Lekstrom has a May 31st deadline to engage with First Nations, community groups, local governments, and industry on a caribou recovery draft partnership and report back to the Premier.