All posts by Guest Post

Housing, Indigenous Nations

Homeless allege harassment, while Victoria’s bylaw ensures the ‘safe passage of people’

By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Victoria, BC – In the wake of an unsuccessful legal challenge against the City of Victoria’s bylaw department – a case that a tribunal called “extraordinary” for municipal enforcement – members of the city’s unhoused community hosted a rally on March 10 to share the challenges they face.

Niki Ottosen is founder of the Backpack Project in Victoria, an organization that provides supplies like tents, sleeping bags, clothing, and food to Victoria’s homeless. 

Continue reading Homeless allege harassment, while Victoria’s bylaw ensures the ‘safe passage of people’ →
Justice, Women

Greens Take Lead to Stop NDAs from Silencing Victims

By  Zak Vescera, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Susan MacRae wants to talk about what happened to her, but she can’t.  

As a young girl, MacRae  signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that prohibits her from discussing  sexual abuse she suffered, even with family members or therapists. 

Continue reading Greens Take Lead to Stop NDAs from Silencing Victims →
Animals, Environment

Working to reverse the decline of the birds, bees and native plants

By Mark Page, Valley Voice, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Birds need insects to eat and plants to use for nests. Insects must have plants to feed on, and plants require insects for pollination.

The precariousness of this ecological triad was the focus of the West Kootenay Climate Hub’s March 17 offering in their monthly webinar series on local environmental initiatives.

Continue reading Working to reverse the decline of the birds, bees and native plants →
Energy

Challenge to federal law that poses ‘existential threat’ to Alberta goes to Supreme Court

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Supreme Court of Canada this week will examine whether the federal law that evaluates the impacts of proposed resource projects is unconstitutional.

The Impact Assessment Act (IAA) looks into the environmental, health and economic impacts of proposed resource projects — like pipelines and mines — and came into force in 2019 when the federal government passed Bill C-69.

Soon after, the Alberta government brought a legal challenge against the law and its regulations, arguing it was federal overreach encroaching on provincial jurisdiction. The Alberta Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the provincial government in May 2022, calling the IAA an “existential threat” to the provincial right to control and develop resources.

Continue reading Challenge to federal law that poses ‘existential threat’ to Alberta goes to Supreme Court →
Indigenous Nations

SISȻENEM will be the first land trust returned to a First Nation

By Chadd Cawson, The Columbia Valley Pioneer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

An untouched piece of Indigenous land called Halibut Island, also known as SISȻENEM, near Salt Spring Island, will be the first piece of land given back to an Indigenous community through a land trust. The nearly 436,000 square foot island has been stewarded by the Saanich, or W̱SÁNEĆ, Peoples for thousands of years.

Continue reading SISȻENEM will be the first land trust returned to a First Nation →