Tag Archives: Christine Boyle

Indigenous Nations

With land transfer deal, once-displaced Lyackson First Nation prepares to return home

By  Julie Chadwick, IndigiNews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After fighting to reestablish its main village site for more than four generations, the Lyackson First Nation is mapping out a new and hopeful future.

The “Vancouver Island” community of roughly 230 people has regained ownership of a 312-hectare land parcel alongside Cowichan Tribes — building on decades of advocacy and work to regain what was lost during colonization.

“This village site will forever change the trajectory of the Leey’qsun Mustimuhw for our community today and future generations,” said Lyackson Chief Laxele’wuts’aat Chief Shana Thomas on May 22.

Continue reading With land transfer deal, once-displaced Lyackson First Nation prepares to return home →
Food Security, Indigenous Nations, Politics

What B.C. Premier Eby’s mandate letters mean for Indigenous peoples

By Bhagyashree Chatterjee, The Squamish Chief, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

What do Premier David Eby’s latest mandate letters for ministers mean for Indigenous peoples? 

These letters, all dated Jan. 16, shape the government’s priorities, and this term, they focus on “reconciliation, economic growth, and community well-being.”

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Jobs, Poverty

Inside Vancouver’s Decision to Scrap Its Living Wage Commitment

Editor’s note: in a memo to the city council one year after the Living Wage program was introduced, City Manager (now Cortes Island resident) Sadhu Johnston reported, “During 2017, the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Park Board signed or renegotiated 17 contracts that meet the Living Wage program criteria with vendors to ensure their staff and subcontractors are paid the living wage. Since the introduction of the policy, eight contracted service employees received a living wage who would not otherwise have been paid one. These employees are part of the contracted graffiti removal team and the contractor has reported reductions in absenteeism, turnover and recruitment costs as well as increased morale and productivity.”

By  Zak Vescera, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Internal emails suggest City of Vancouver staff felt “significant anger and disillusionment” after city council voted to scrap the municipality’s living wage policy this year.

That’s how former chief equity officer Aftab Erfan described the reaction from staff after the city announced in March it would no longer guarantee a living wage, effectively cutting the guaranteed minimum pay for security guards, food vendors, janitors and other low-wage workers. Erfan left the job four months later.

Continue reading Inside Vancouver’s Decision to Scrap Its Living Wage Commitment →
Cost of Climate Change

When climate’s on B.C. communities’ agenda, fossil fuels firms turn up the heat

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Oil and gas companies are still major sponsors at an annual municipal leaders conference even as B.C. reels from a provincewide drought and a fire season driven by climate change.

It’s a contradiction that dismays many municipal and political leaders attending the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) annual convention this week in Vancouver. 

Climate change is one of the top issues at the gathering, with local leaders slated to attend a host of workshops and provincial policy sessions on managing the risks and health impacts of wildfires, emergency disaster response and creating climate-resilient communities. 

Continue reading When climate’s on B.C. communities’ agenda, fossil fuels firms turn up the heat →
Jobs, Poverty

Vancouver’s Decision to Abandon Living Wage Program Creates Shockwaves

By  Zak Vescera, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In 2017, the City of Vancouver committed to ensuring its employees — and workers for city contractors — were paid enough to live there. 

At the time, Vancouver was  the biggest employer in the country to offer a living wage based on the  cost of rent, food and other necessities. 

“It was the largest living wage  municipality, and it did a tremendous job over the years in encouraging  other businesses to sign on,” said Anastasia French, the director of Living Wage for Families BC.  Then-mayor Gregor Robertson told media it was a way to guarantee  workers “a basic level of opportunity” in an expensive place to live and  work. 

Continue reading Vancouver’s Decision to Abandon Living Wage Program Creates Shockwaves →