Originally published in the Times Colonist on November 22, 2019 Re: “Indigenous Peoples bill has good goals but overpromises,” editorial, Nov. 3. I confess I was gobsmacked — and not in a good way — to read the unsigned editorial in the Times Colonist claiming that “the unifying authority of government has been fragmented by […]
Trudeau’s centrist cabinet on the track of no return There’s an old song from the popular folk-rock album Working Man’s Dead about the infamous train conductor Casey Jones. As Trudeau’s new cabinet was sworn in at Rideau Hall, the lyrics wormed their way into my brain. The song retells the story of how an engineer […]
How affordable housing, climate action and Indigenous rights can fit together We were pleased to welcome language teacher, elected councillor and Squamish Nation spokesperson Khelsilem for an hour-long chat with Kai Nagata and Dogwood supporters. Topics included: Sen̓áḵw, the Squamish Nation’s ambitious new 6,000-unit rental housing project in Kitsilano How Indigenous values can inform the […]
With a weak federal government and hostile neighbours, B.C. needs to stand up for itself B.C. is the front line of the overdose crisis and the housing crisis. We have the most crushing ratio of household debt in Canada. Our primary industries are collapsing because of climate change, automation and corporate greed. And yet British […]
Calls to ‘focus on climate’ above justice or equity are misguided, even dangerous I know what Mike Le Couteur was thinking. When NDP leader Jagmeet Singh stood in Grassy Narrows and vowed to fix the drinking water in Indigenous communities, the Global reporter was following his news instincts. “Are you just writing a blank cheque,” […]
In politics, like on the river, local knowledge goes a long way Port Alberni, Parksville, Courtenay. The Puntledge. The Stamp. The Englishman. Autumn is a time of reckoning in towns along the banks of Vancouver Island’s legendary salmon rivers. As the icons of B.C. return home they bring news about the state of the world. […]
After years of groundwork, youth have pushed climate to the top of the national agenda. What comes next? Close to a million Canadians in the street. Groundbreaking resolutions passed at the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference. Politicians tripping over each other to appear as environmental champions. The climate movement has never seen a moment like […]
16-year-olds could boost turnout, revive democracy and keep climate top of the political agenda. A century ago, the people in power came up with some truly ridiculous reasons why women shouldn’t vote. Women’s brains were insufficiently developed, anti-suffragists argued. They lacked life experience outside the home. They would simply vote the way their husbands voted. […]
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