Baynes Sound produces 1/2 of all BC shellfish. It's an important site for the K’omoks Nation & is a designated Ecologically Sensitive Area
Despite this, the province has allowed #shipbreaking - one of the most hazardous industries in the world - to occur on its shores 1/ #bcpoli
Shipbreaking involves the demolition of seacraft
It is globally recognized as having the potential to pollute shorelines with harmful substances like asbestos, PCBs & heavy metals.
If properly regulated, it is an important industry — but BC lacks clear laws. 2/ #bcpoli
Apr 17, 2023 • 7 tweets • 5 min read
The @bcndp have repeatedly promised to protect old growth forests & meaningfully engage w/ First Nations.
They promised a paradigm shift & a deferral on all at-risk old growth.
Yet, old growth within this deferral area is actively being logged on Kwakiutl territory. 1/ #bcpoli
These culturally significant & biologically rich old growth stands are being cleared against the community's will.
Cuts were approved without consultation, leading the Kwakiutl to issue a letter to Min. @BruceRalston demanding the logging stop 2/ #bcpoli
I've read the stories describing the apology tour of Pope Francis. On Monday after his first visit near Edmonton I decided to comment after the saga had unfolded. It was an emotional week for so many! 1/ #PopeFrancis#Canada#residentialschools#truthandreconciliation
We heard apologies, pleading forgiveness, more apologies, recognition of "cultural destruction" and finally on the flight home #PopeFrancis said "yes, it was a genocide, yes, yes, clearly. You can say that I said it was a genocide." 2/ #residentialschools theglobeandmail.com/world/article-…
Jun 1, 2022 • 5 tweets • 4 min read
Gwa’sala-‘nakwaxda’xw Nation is taking back jurisdiction of child welfare and have been blocked by the @bcndp gov’t from accessing the information from #MCFD they need to abide by their laws and build their programs.
1/ #bcpoli#colonization#MCFD
They have described terrible abuses exacted by #MCFD on their communities and are seeking access to their files...
Files necessary to research their histories, do namings & cultural ceremonies, & develop their services in a culturally-based way.
A week ago, I spoke at a rally outside the legislature about the #healthcare emergency in British Columbia.
The event was about the crumbling primary care system and family doctor crisis hosted by @BC_GP_Shortage
(BC Health Care Matters)
1/ #bcpoli
The week before I attended a vigil/rally hosted by @BCNursesUnion to raise awareness of the deteriorating mental well-being/working conditions of nurses.
ER’s in Clearwater & Port McNeill closed this weekend due to nursing shortage.
Today I stood to mark the one year anniversary of British Columbians and Canadians being awoken with the reality of the fate of thousands of Indigenous children who disappeared and never came home from residential schools. 1/ #bcpoli#EveryChildMatters#IndigenousPeoples
To all our relatives, all our elders, all our residential and day school survivors, to the generations of survivors of these genocidal acts perpetrated by this and other Crown governments, I raise my hands to you… 2/ #bcpoli#EveryChildMatters#IndigenousPeoples
May 18, 2022 • 7 tweets • 6 min read
Yesterday in question period Premier @jjhorgan was surprised that I “don't support investing in our collective history.”
The truth might be uncomfortable, but the history the Premier is celebrating is the graverobbing of our ancestors. 1/ #bcpoli#RBCM#Reconciliation
This museum has had no issue with its natural history or its settler-oriented exhibits. Its problem is how it relates to Indigenous people.
Whatever story the @bcndp want to tell themselves, we don’t need an $800 million new shrine to house systemic rot. 2/ #bcpoli#RBCM
Mar 31, 2022 • 6 tweets • 5 min read
Tomorrow a land management plan will be enacted that will allow the spraying of #glyphosate – a toxic, carcinogenic chemical – broadly across the unceded territory of Stó:lō, St’át’imc, Nlaka’pamux, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh. 1/ #bcpoli#DRIPA
This is where food and medicines are harvested .
The plan will allow BC Timber Sales to spray #glyphosate for 5 years. These poisons will be used to kill berries, salal, mushrooms, hellebore, and other plants. 2/ #bcpoli#DRIPA
Mar 30, 2022 • 6 tweets • 6 min read
Today the entire @bcndp caucus clapped and hollered as Minister @BruceRalston boasted about being the gov't to welcome the largest #LNG investment in BC's history.
Shocking behavior for “climate leaders”, and shameful given the context of my question. 1/ #bcpoli#ClimateCrisis
They did this just after being told the following:
The national inquiry into #MMIWG found that man camps and resource extractive industries directly cause increased violence against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2 Spirit People. 2/ #bcpoli#Reconciliation
Mar 30, 2022 • 5 tweets • 4 min read
I raise my hands to the Indigenous leaders and community members who shaped the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act) Action Plan. 1/ #bcpoli#Reconciliation#DRIPA
While the framing of the Action Plan is fine, the metric for success is not what we hear, but what we see. 28 months after the Declaration Act was unanimously passed in the Legislature, this government is only just moving forward. 2/ #bcpoli#DRIPA#Reconciliation
Feb 14, 2022 • 6 tweets • 5 min read
Today I asked @AdrianDix if he believed in the equitable delivery of health care services to all British Columbians. Under the watch of the @bcndp gov't there is growing inequity in access to primary health care. 1/ #bcpoli#healthcare#UniversalHealthcare
Doctor's clinics in my riding are beginning to introduce fees for services that should be free. Even worse under the watch of the @bcndp multi billion-dollar corporations are getting into the business – an example is Telus Health. 2/ #bcpoli#healthcare#UniversalHealthcare
This @bcndp gov't knew of the fierce opposition to the CGL pipeline. The blockades caused by this pipeline have shut down highways, ferries, railroads, & this legislature. @jjhorgan's CoS @geoffmeggs told me personally that this situation would be resolved. 1/ #bcpoli#Wetsuweten
I guess the @bcndp’s version of “resolved” means Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan people being violently arrested by fully armed RCMP and having two journalists arrested last week, sitting in jail all weekend. So much for the freedom of the press. 2/ #bcpoli#Wetsuweten
Nov 20, 2021 • 7 tweets • 9 min read
While the @bcndp gov’t struggles with the severe impacts of flooding that are a result of the worsening #ClimateCrisis they are diverting critical #RCMP resources into #Wetsuweten territory again to protect the gov’ts #frackedgas pipeline 1/ #bcpoli#LNG
When @geoffmeggs delivered the news to the @bcgreencaucus that the @bcndp were going to support the #CGL#frackedgas pipeline I asked him how they would deal with the long-established blockades on #Wetsuweten territory. He said it was under control. Clearly not! 2/ #bcpoli
Nov 18, 2020 • 7 tweets • 7 min read
For years leaders in the Southern #GulfIslands and Juan de Fuca areas have been advocating to be included in the Island Coastal Economic Trust (@ICET_BC) which would allow them to apply for important grants that other communities outside Victoria and Vancouver have access to. 1/5
The Southern #GulfIslands & Juan de Fuca areas are rural. But as part of the @crd they're deemed "urban" and as a result the regions are excluded from the aforementioned grant programs. Changing the designation to rural would be a game changer in supporting local initiatives! 2/5
