Thoughts on BC Politics and More

BC’s New Mining Consultation Framework Falls Short on Clarity, Confidentiality, and Respect for First Nations   REVELSTOKE, BC: The Conservative Official Opposition is calling out the NDP government’s rushed and flawed rollout of the Mineral Claims Consultation Framework (MCCF), saying it ignores industry requirements and fails to deliver the meaningful consultation with First Nations that is constitutionally required. “This framework falls far short of the respect these communities deserve,” said Scott McInnis , MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke and Critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. “The NDP have prioritized checking a legal box over building a process rooted in trust and transparency.” McInnis said the entire framework looks like it was rushed through to meet the March 26 implementation deadline. The framework appears only to satisfy the minimum requirements of the Gitxaała ruling. “This is not reconciliation,” said McInnis, “it’s regulatory theatre...

  In February, I reported that the proposed changes to our federal electoral riding boundaries would impact many of our local electoral regions, including Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.   At that time, I pointed out that portions of our existing riding could end up in five different British Columbia ridings.   Princeton, Keremeos, Cawston and Hedley would join the proposed riding of Similkameen-West Kootenay, including the city of Penticton and the Penticton Indian Band.   Summerland, Peachland, West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, and parts of Kelowna will become part of a new proposed riding called Okanagan Lake West-South Kelowna. Merritt and Logan Lake would become part of a new riding called Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola.   Other riding changes will affect riding boundaries in the rest of the Okanagan Valley and beyond.   After that initial proposal was drafted, there was an opportunity for Members of Parliament to submit feedbac...