Tag Archives: UNDRIP

Justice

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip: Why the RCMP must be accountable

It has been a week since the Federal Court of Canada condemned RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki for her failure to respond to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC). The case revolved around an interim report from 2017, but in her Judgement and Reasons Associate Chief Justice Jocelyne Gagné pointed to numerous other cases where the RCMP had acted in the same manner. 

“It is in the public interest to have a police oversight institution that functions properly and is unobstructed.” she wrote.

One of the organizations applauding the Court’s Decision to hold the police accountable is the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.

Continue reading Grand Chief Stewart Phillip: Why the RCMP must be accountable →
Indigenous Nations, Justice

First Nation leaders say BC implementation of UNDRIP is too slow

By Jacob Cardinal, Alberta Native News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

(ANNews) – It has been two years since British Columbia passed legislation requiring the government to align the entirety of its laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). However, despite the legislation, the change seen is extremely limited.

The mandate requires a huge undertaking that involves updating over 5,000 provincial laws. Two major changes announced by the province are: an amendment of the Interpretation Act and an amendment to the B.C Human Rights Code.

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Forests, Indigenous Nations

B.C.’s old growth still falling with delay of provincial logging deferrals

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Old-growth forests the B.C. government has identified for logging deferrals are still at risk of being clear cut, according to a West Coast conservation group. 

“Intentions don’t stop chainsaws,” said Torrance Coste, campaign director for the Wilderness Committee, of the government’s failure to immediately act on the deferrals announced Nov. 2. 

Continue reading B.C.’s old growth still falling with delay of provincial logging deferrals →
Forests, Indigenous Nations

Do clearcuts contribute to BC’s flooding?

By Melissa Renwick, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Thousands of British Columbians remain displaced following a series of devastating floods and landslides that have swallowed highway roads and entire cities in the southern part of the province.

The floods prompted British Columbia to declare its third state of emergency this year on Nov. 17. The devastation was triggered by an atmospheric river that carried rainfall two times the average amount within a 72-hour period.

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Indigenous Nations, Justice

New BC bills welcomed, but UNDRIP implementation moving at a snail’s pace

By Shari Narine, Windspeaker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two bills introduced in the British Columbia legislature on Nov. 17 illustrate the province is heading in the right direction, say two First Nations leaders.

However, both BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee and Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs president Grand Chief Stewart Phillip say more political will is needed to move the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples forward at a faster pace.

Continue reading New BC bills welcomed, but UNDRIP implementation moving at a snail’s pace →