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

SONIA FURSTENAU -- We must name racism, homophobia, transphobia and all other forms of hate for what they are, and combat them

 

In response to the recent anti-vaccine mandate protests, Sonia Furstenau, leader of the B.C. Greens and MLA for Cowichan Valley, has issued the following statement:

 


"It has been a difficult weekend for people across the country. Explicitly racist imagery has been paraded through our cities and white supremacy has been allowed to find a home within this movement. Like many Canadians, I am frightened by these events.

 

“We must reject white supremacy in all its forms. This means standing with all those who experience true marginalization and violence. These protests took place at the end of a week when we observed Holocaust Remembrance Day, the anniversary of the Quebec City mosque shooting, and at the beginning of Black History month.

 

“We must name racism, homophobia, transphobia and all other forms of hate for what they are, and combat them. We must focus on the scientific facts about the benefits of vaccines, masks, filtration and other public health guidelines, and the role these play in keeping society functioning during a global pandemic. We must always have the expectation of clear, transparent, science-based, and reliable action from our governments. We must have public health guidance that focuses on the health of the community as a whole.

 

“These two years have been difficult for everyone. This pandemic is not over and public health measures and policies can help us stay healthy and protect our already overburdened healthcare system. Millions of Canadians have supported public health measures for close to two years, and continue to do so.

 

“As a historian, I am reflecting on how we have arrived at this place; how easily misinformation has thrived and divided communities, how trust in government has been deeply shaken. It prompts the question, where do we go from here?

 

“Good governance must start with acknowledging the present, and commit to moving forward in the pursuit of a compassionate democracy that focuses on rebuilding trust, creating community, and leading with honesty.”

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NDP Government Blames Everyone but Themselves

The federal government has announced new measures to support British Columbia's forestry sector, including $65 million in funding for projects across the province. While any support is welcome, it falls far short of the level of assistance other provinces have secured for key industries. Conservative Forests Critic Ward Stamer says the NDP government needs to take responsibility for its mismanagement of B.C.’s forest industry instead of trying to pass on the blame. Despite promising to create more jobs in the forest sector, the NDP government has overseen the loss of thousands of forestry jobs and 21 mill closures which have devastated communities. “If Premier Eby spent more time addressing the regulatory issues impacting the forestry sector than he did complaining about the federal government, we would not be in the position we are now,” said Stamer. “And instead of trying to place the blame for mill closures on Donald Trump, Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar should t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tourists Rack Up $200M in Unpaid Health Bills While BC Patients Wait Years for Care

While British Columbians wait years for basic medical care, the NDP government has allowed non-residents to rack up $200.6 million in unpaid health bills since 2020-2021. New research from SecondStreet.org, obtained through a freedom of information request, revealed that people from outside Canada are coming to BC, receiving health services, and leaving without paying their bills.  The losses span every health region in the province. "British Columbians are not guaranteed timely access to healthcare, be it treatment or diagnostics, and this situation continues to deteriorate under the NDP," said Anna Kindy, MLA for North Island and Critic for Health. "Taxpayers are footing the bill for tourists' health treatments to the tune of over $200 million, enough to cover over 21,000 hip replacements in this province while British Columbians wait months to years for that surgery.” The research found BC has the worst record of any province in Canada examined so far. Under a dec...
Post a Comment
Read more

NDP Finance Minister Given "F" on Report Card by Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centres and Official Opposition Finance Critic, released the following statement in response to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation's 2026 Finance Minister Report Card, which ranked BC Finance Minister Brenda Bailey dead last among provincial finance ministers in Canada with an overall grade of "F":  "British Columbians didn't need a report card to know things are headed in the wrong direction. They see it every time they pay their bills, try to buy a home, or watch another government deficit pile up. But now an independent national organization has confirmed that NDP Brenda Bailey is the worst-rated finance minister in Canada. "After nearly a decade of decline under this NDP government, British Columbia has become a province where people pay more, government borrows more, and families get less in return. We have some of the highest debt in the country, repeated credit downgrades, and no credible plan to get our finances back on...
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more