(Part 2 of 2)
In the conclusion of a series about Canada’s MOU with Alberta, four local leaders delve deeper into specific issues: the pipeline itself; whether Canada needs British Columbia’s support; the proposed lifting of BC’s tanker moratorium; and an Angus Reid poll suggesting a slim majority of British Columbians may be in favour of the MOU.
Continue reading MOU with Alberta: The Poll, Pipeline, Tanker Traffic and Global Temperature Rise
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
British Columbia Premier David Eby kept his cards close about Friday’s meeting with federal Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson — a day after Ottawa struck a pipeline deal with Alberta.
It’s Eby’s first federal face-to-face meeting after being shut out of talks between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith around a possible pipeline crossing BC to the north coast — which would also involve carve-outs to the legislated oil tanker ban in provincial waters.
Days before the Alberta-Ottawa memorandum of understanding (MOU) was revealed, Eby told Carney it was “unacceptable” the deal was brokered without input from BC.
Continue reading Federal minister gets cool coastal welcome in BC after pipeline pact
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The BC coast is “not for sale.”
BC Premier David Eby and coastal First Nations sent that message to Ottawa on Wednesday as they called on the federal government to uphold the oil tanker ban on the province’s north coast.
Eby and First Nation leaders stressed oil spills would cause irreversible environmental harm, the destruction of critical marine ecosystems and significant economic damage to First Nations and coastal communities.
Continue reading BC and First Nations unite to defend tanker ban
IndigiNews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Hereditary and elected leaders of Híɫzaqv Nation are taking the RCMP to court, saying the police force refuses to enforce the nation’s bylaws — including a law expelling drug dealers and sexual offenders from the community.
The lawsuit says this had led to “an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness” on reserve that put members’ safety at risk.
It further states that the case has broader implications around whether “Canada” respects Híɫzaqv jurisdiction on their own territories.
Continue reading Híɫzaqv leaders take RCMP to court, say police discriminate against the nation’s laws
By Matteo Cimellaro, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Long-time climate advocate and First Nation leader Stewart Phillip is walking back controversial remarks he made on Tuesday.
Canada’s climate advocacy world gasped in unison after Phillip appeared to suggest building out pipeline infrastructure at a news conference.
Phillip, who is the Grand Chief of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, was a strong critic of pipelines like Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline and the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion when those projects were under consideration in the early- to mid-2010s. On Tuesday, he said those years were a “different time.” With the uncertainty of the U.S. President Donald Trump, Canada has “no choice” but to reconsider fossil fuel development, Phillip told reporters.
Continue reading ‘No room for fossil fuel expansion’: Grand Chief Steward Phillip clears the air on pipelines
