Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Coastal First Nations have called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to uphold a ban on tanker traffic on the northern coast of British Columbia. The move comes amid increased pressure from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to allow the construction of a new pipeline. "As the Rights and Title Holders of the North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii, we are writing to express our profound, unwavering, and continued support for Bill C-48, the 2019 Oil Tanker Moratorium Act," Chief Marilyn Slett wrote in an open letter. "We request that your government continue to respect and uphold this legislation as part of your government’s legal obligations and commitment to reconciliation" ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

Talking with a few leaders of First Nations communities in Saanich North and the Islands and on the north coast recently, a common theme emerged ... frustration with the federal and provincial government. The theme, and the frustration, is not new. Indigenous leaders have been expressing this same sentiment for decades. The story-line goes something like this... “ Our fish boats are tied to the docks and our people cannot fish. We are not allowed to harvest other seafood from the ocean like we have done for generations .” “ The forests in our territory are being cut down and the logs are shipped to either a local mill owned by a foreign entity or they go to a mill offshore nearly raw. We see no benefit .” “ Our communities are impoverished. We don’t have clean drinking water, the houses are falling apart, our families are overcrowded and the other poorly built infrastructure is decaying. Unemployment is high and the mental health and well-...