Tag Archives: Gov of BC

Indigenous Nations

Court decision recognizes UNDRIP as law, but leads province to look at revising legislation

By Nora O’Malley, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

First Nations in B.C. may be entitled to raise their UNDRIP rights if they are not adequately consulted on natural resource projects within their territory, following a precedent-setting B.C. Court of Appeal decision released on Dec. 5.

Ehattesaht Chief Counsellor Simon John says the court decision “provides important legal recognition of UNDRIP as a tool to help ensure that First Nations’ interests are respected and their role in decision making is realized.” 

Continue reading Court decision recognizes UNDRIP as law, but leads province to look at revising legislation →
Politics

BC Conservative leadership bids cropping up, but party politics remain perilous

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Potential leadership candidates for the BC Conservative Party are rapidly emerging after the party’s near implosion and the forced removal of John Rustad last week. 

At this stage, many of the higher profile candidates, including newly elected federal Conservative MP Aaron Gunn and former BC Liberal premier Christie Clark, are playing coy, floating social media messages that suggest they are open to running, but reserving the right of refusal. 

Gunn declined an interview with Canada’s National Observer, however, the BC MP for North Island-Powell River said he’ll likely make a final decision by the end of next week. 

Continue reading BC Conservative leadership bids cropping up, but party politics remain perilous →
Cost of Climate Change, Energy, Politics

Conservative Pipeline Motion defeated

On Tuesday, December 9, Tim Uppal, the Conservative MP for Edmonton Gateway (AB), moved that the House of Commons “support the construction of one or more pipelines enabling the export of at least one million barrels a day of low-emission Alberta bitumen from a strategic deep-water port on the British Columbia coast to reach Asian markets, including through an appropriate adjustment to the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, while respecting the duty to consult Indigenous peoples.” The wording, he pointed out, was taken directly from the Prime Minister’s MOU with Alberta. After a heated debate, his motion was defeated 139 to 196.

Continue reading Conservative Pipeline Motion defeated →
Cost of Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Politics

Liberal Environmental Policies for Dummies

1 Comment

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Justin Trudeau’s environmental policy is often either purchasing the Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX) or expanding Canada’s LNG sector. Yet Jennifer Lash, a former senior advisor with Environment and Climate Change Canada, speaks of his accomplishments in the fight against climate change. In this morning’s interview, she explains the rationale behind Liberal environmental policies. As it is actually quite simple once you get the underlying theme, Cortes Currents is calling it ‘Liberal Environmental Policies for Dummies.’

Continue reading Liberal Environmental Policies for Dummies →
Forests

High-stakes fight over old growth trees intensifies as police make seven arrests

By Nora O’Malley, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The 15-foot wooden cougar sculpture erected this summer to block forestry workers from accessing the Upper Walbran Valley in Pacheedaht First Nations territory is a pile of cold ashes on the dirt road. 

Pacheedaht elder Bill Jones, 85, has been a constant advocate for the old growth forest within Pacheedaht lands. He says his prayer hut and guest cabin were also torched during enforcement of the court-ordered injunction that was granted to C̕awak ʔqin Forestry (Tsawak-qin), which is 35 per cent co-owned by Huu-ay-aht First Nation and 65 per cent co-owned Western Forest Products (WFP), began on Nov. 25.

Continue reading High-stakes fight over old growth trees intensifies as police make seven arrests →