While reading this, please note it was written yesterday
(February 27th)
With a pipeline blockaded in northern British Columbia, trains stopped
in their tracks across the country, the proceedings of the legislature in
Victoria disrupted, and demonstrations in my riding and communities across the
country, the past few weeks have been confusing and frustrating for many
Canadians.
Despite all the finger-pointing, the current conflict started in the
British Columbia legislature when the BC NDP and BC Liberals voted together to
support Bill 10, a billion-dollar taxpayer subsidy to induce a final investment
decision from LNG Canada.
The BC Green Caucus voted against the subsidy from the beginning and
urged other MLAs to do the same. Instead, our colleagues chose to barrel ahead
knowing that there were existing long-standing and unresolved matters relating
to rights and title in the area. The Coastal Gaslink conflict in the
Wet’suwet’en territory has now spilled out across the country.
In Question Period I canvas why government decided to proceed despite
knowing it could potentially ignite the deep unresolved issues in our province
and I further inquire about why the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal
Affairs still remains idle.
[Transcript]
LNG CANADA PROJECT AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP WITH WET’SUWET’EN NATION
A. Olsen:
Last night we heard news that the federal and provincial governments
will be meeting with the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs. We can all agree that
that's a positive development for all Canadians.
We have to be honest about how we got here. The people in this chamber
today are not responsible for 150 years of colonial policies designed to
undermine and exclude Indigenous people. But they are responsible for their
votes to continue that legacy.
This time last year nearly every member of this chamber voted to provide
the ignition point for this conflict. Bill 10 handed billions of taxpayer
dollars to LNG Canada, inducing their final investment decision. All members of
this chamber, excluding the B.C. Green caucus, voted more than a dozen times,
knowing full well of the c rights and title challenges in that territory.
When the B.C. Green caucus was notified of the government's intention to
push forward on the project, I asked whether they had a plan to resolve the
situation, the long-standing situation. I was told not to worry about it; it's
taken care of. Well, this does not appear taken care of, does it?
My question is to the Minister of Indigenous Relations and
Reconciliation. Why did this government vote to advance LNG Canada before
clarity around governance and reconciliation in the territory had been
established?
Hon. S. Fraser:
I thank the leader of the third party for his question. I also want to
thank him for his continued work on addressing reconciliation issues.
I appreciate the question; however, we have secured meetings with the
Office of Wet'suwet'en, the Hereditary Chiefs, beginning this afternoon and
tomorrow.
I believe this is a hopeful sign. I'm an optimist, of course, but it is
time that we pull together and not reflect on the past.
We have decided that working with the Office of the Wet'suwet'en, in
cooperation, to find a way forward, we'll address the rights and title issues
of the Wet'suwet'en people and do so with respect. That is what I'm focusing
on.
Mr. Speaker: Leader of the Third Party on a supplemental ...
ACTIVATION OF ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
A. Olsen:
Difficult thing, not to acknowledge the actions that got us here — over
generations and decades, actually. Now that the on- and off-again talks are on
again, it's my sincere hope that the representatives going to the Wet'suwet'en
territory to sit at a table for as long as it takes for a good-faith solution
to this Coastal Gaslink conflict, and not just deliver an ultimatum….
It has become painfully obvious to British Columbians and Canadians that
this system is broken. It's not serving anyone well in this country or
province.
This Legislature has had a Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs for the past 30 years. I'm on that committee. It exists in title only, because the government has not empowered it to be effective. That is a fitting symbol, I would say.
We have a tool for all of us here to work together, across party lines,
to find solutions to make the systemic changes that are needed to ensure that
the people in this chamber don't just continue the dysfunctional cycle that has
been going on here for generations.
To the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: I'm calling
on this government to immediately strike and rename the Committee on Aboriginal
Affairs and empower it to better inform the decisions in this chamber. Will
they do so?
 |
| BC Premier John Horgan |
Hon. J. Horgan:
I thank the member for his question. He will know, as a new member of
the House, that committees of this place are struck by consensus. The committee
is going to be convened — all committees are going to be convened — and then we
decide within this place what we charge those committees to do.
The member will also know that although it hasn't received a lot of
attention, earlier this week, the First Nations Leadership Council was meeting
with government officials to begin the work to put in place a work plan to
implement the declaration act that was supported unanimously by all members of
this House not two months ago.
Work is underway, government to government, and that work will then make
its way to the committee so all members can participate in that. But the work
has to be initiated before we can get to that step. But I thank the member for
his thoughtful question. I can't wait for the committee to be constituted and
do its work.
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