Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

BC Premier John Horgan’s statement on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples anniversary

Premier John Horgan has released the following statement in honour of the 11th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP):

Eleven years ago, UNDRIP was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to protect and uphold the inherent rights and human rights of Indigenous peoples around the globe.

One of our first commitments as government was to work to implement UNDRIP, the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Tsilhqot’in Supreme Court decision. The road is long, but we have made reconciliation a cross-government priority and are taking important steps forward, in partnership with Indigenous peoples.

Government after government has made empty promises to First Nations and all Indigenous peoples, and made unilateral decisions about their communities and land. Systemic and institutional racism has left a legacy of trauma and inequality that affects the lives of Indigenous peoples in British Columbia to this day.

Our government is working toward a new beginning, to help heal the traumas of the past and move forward, toward true and lasting reconciliation. It is the only way to build healthy communities, to create jobs and economic stability, where everyone benefits.


BC Premier John Horgan
We’ve taken action to preserve and revitalize Indigenous languages in B.C. by allocating a $50-million grant to the First Peoples’ Cultural Council.

As part of the educational Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, we are implementing the new First Nations history curriculum and developing course offerings in Indigenous languages.

To help transform how the B.C. government works with First Nations and all Indigenous peoples, our government has introduced 10 draft principles as a resource to help guide all public-service employees’ relationships with Indigenous peoples, based on respect and recognition of inherent rights.

BC is the first province in Canada to fund on-reserve housing. In partnership with First Nations communities, we are building and operating 1,750 new units of social housing, both on and off reserve, in Indigenous communities.

We will to continue to do the hard work, together with Indigenous peoples, to build a true government-to-government relationship based on reconciliation, respect and the shared goal of a better future for everyone in BC.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Interfor Moves Headquarters Out of BC as Forestry Crisis Continues

NDP policies are driving businesses out of B.C., and the forestry industry just suffered yet another calamity. Interfor, a BC company founded more than 60 years ago and now one of the world's largest lumber producers, is moving its headquarters from Burnaby, BC to Atlanta, Georgia. As BC’s forestry sector faces mill closures and mounting uncertainty, this move is another warning sign that the crisis is deepening and conditions are fatal. “This is the NDP’s record: endless job losses with no hope in sight for the forestry sector,” said Ward Stamer, Shadow Minister for Forestry. “Interfor still has three mills in BC which are now in serious jeopardy, and it is likely we will see even more companies pull out of BC. The NDP government is suffocating the forestry industry with high taxes, excessive regulations, and permitting delays, while DRIPA has made it impossible to plan for the future.” “Decisions like this are sadly not surprising given the NDP’s indifference if not hostility tow...

Okanagan Farmers Face NDP-Created Water Crisis ~~ BC Conservatives

Okanagan farmers are facing a water crisis as government-imposed restrictions threaten to kill their crops and destroy one of B.C.’s most important agricultural industries. In perhaps the most water-rich province in the country, our farmers have been left high and dry by the NDP government. For nine weeks, Okanagan and Shuswap farmers have proposed solutions, only to be met with NDP foot-dragging. Now forest fires have come to these regions as they are simultaneously reckoning with a water crisis that has been made worse through years of government inaction. Vernon-area farms have lost 70 percent of their water, while Kelowna and Summerland growers face severe restrictions. This situation is unacceptable and cannot continue. Ian Paton, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, said the NDP is once again forcing farmers to pay for its own failure to plan. "Farmers and ranchers must be listened to when decisions affecting their livelihoods are made, and under the NDP, they aren’t," said...

NDP Hypocritically Admits Natural Gas Power Was Needed All Along ~~ BC Conservatives

The NDP just got caught buying back the exact kind of power plant it spent years telling British Columbians they didn't need. The NDP government announced today that BC Hydro is purchasing the Island Generation natural gas facility in Campbell River, an admission that its electrification-only energy policy was never realistic. The 275-megawatt plant was originally privately owned yet kept to a minimal backup role under the NDP, operating just 15 days a year on average. Now, with demand outpacing what the NDP's plan can support, the government is spending taxpayer funds on the very gas capacity it once treated as obsolete. "You cannot electrify everything and pretend natural gas doesn't matter," said Larry Neufeld, Shadow Minister for Energy.  "Buying back a gas plant they once wrote off is proof their own plan couldn't keep the lights on. It's a step towards more energy reality, but the government needs to go further and scrap the impending province-w...

Labels

Show more