All posts by Guest Post

Indigenous Nations

From ‘street kid’ to public rep for the Law Society of BC tribunal

By Kelsie Kilawna, The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Jereme Brooks says he’s feeling fortunate to have a voice in the B.C. Law Society tribunal’s process as the first syilx person to serve as a public representative.

He was invited to accept the position in October, after being interviewed by a panel of jurors. He’ll be responsible for sitting alongside lawyers on a panel, hearing allegations against lawyers and helping to decide on appropriate disciplinary measures. 

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Energy

Parliamentary Budget Officer says fossil fuel tax breaks costing Canada $billions

By John Woodside,  National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A report published this week by the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) finds Ottawa’s tax breaks to the fossil fuel sector are leaving nearly $2 billion on the table each year in lost revenue.

The report comes at the request of Sen. Rosa Galvez, who asked the PBO to estimate the cost of deductions related to fossil fuel development. Specifically, it found that from 2015 to 2019, tax deductions related to fossil fuel exploration, development, property expenses and other measures averaged $1.8 billion annually. The low year was 2016 with approximately $1.3 billion worth of tax deducted, but since then, the amount has escalated to nearly $2.4 billion in 2019, the most recent figures available using T2 corporate tax data. 

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Indigenous Nations, Justice

Emergency motion to de-escalate RCMP tactics against land defenders gives way to Wet’suwet’en ‘internal dispute’

By Shari Narine, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com

An emergency resolution calling for “de-militarizing” RCMP from using force against defenders of traditional lands was withdrawn at the Assembly of First Nations gathering because chiefs felt uncomfortable wading into the struggles between hereditary chiefs and elected chiefs in Wet’suwet’en territory.

Continue reading Emergency motion to de-escalate RCMP tactics against land defenders gives way to Wet’suwet’en ‘internal dispute’ →
Indigenous Nations, Justice

Land defenders arrested at Wet’suwet’en blockade allege mistreatment by RCMP

By John Woodside,  National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Three land defenders claim they were subjected to dehumanizing treatment at the hands of RCMP following their arrests on unceded Wet’suwet’en land on Nov. 18.

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Business, Energy

Greenpeace targets RBC for its fossil fuel financing

By Morgan Sharp, National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two Greenpeace activists were hoisted above the entrance to the Royal Bank of Canada’s Bay Street [Toronto] headquarters on Tuesday, part of a sustained campaign to get the country’s banks to divest from fossil fuel projects and respect Indigenous rights.

Continue reading Greenpeace targets RBC for its fossil fuel financing →