Category Archives: Politics

The NDP candidate for North Island-Powell River

Roy L Hales
Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1For the past two decades, the majority of British Columbia’s MPs have been Conservatives. Recent polls show that is about to change. The New Democratic Party (NDP) is poised to take over as many as 23 seats in the Federal election this October. One of the important political battles will be fought by Rachel Blaney, the NDP candidate for North Island-Powell River.

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The Green Candidate for Powell River – North Island

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1It has been two and a half years since Brenda Sayers came to national attention, as the leader of the “Hupacasath’s” court challenge of the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) with China. Sayers agrees they were leading the fight, but it was really a people’s struggle for all Canadians. They were not able to stop the Harper Government from making a secret deal which she says, “gives another country control over our resources, our labor laws and how how we protect our environment.” In the process, Sayers came into contact with Elizabeth May and the Green Party. Now she is the Green Candidate for Powell River – North Island.

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How Is Proceeding With Site C Not Breaking A Treaty?

By Roy L Hales

It has been eight days since the RCMP gunned down a demonstrator in Dawson Creek. According to the Independent Investigations Office, he “approached officers in an aggressive manner and when he did not comply with directions and commands, he was shot.” It is the latest in a series of  actions, which appear to have began with the BC government’s decision to break Treaty #8. Though this aspect of the project is not often talked about, the terms of the treaty seem clear. First Nations were to have use of the lands about to be submerged as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the river flows. So how is proceeding with Site C not breaking a treaty?

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Premiers About To Fast Track Pipelines

In response to a Globe & Mail a story about Canada’s Premiers about to fast track pipelines:

“Canada’s premiers are poised to sign an agreement to fast-track new oil sands pipelines while watering down commitments to fight climate change.”

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Bill 30: A Deal Born of Desperation

The BC legislature is debating Bill 30, the Liquefied Natural Gas Project Agreements Act, today.  Premier Christy Clark claims this legislation will “give business certainty and keep British Columbia competitive; to ensure British Columbians see the benefits of the resource they own; and to ensure we build the cleanest LNG facilities in the world.” Critics have another name for Bill 30: a deal born of Desperation.

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