Last Thursday, I rose in the House to address the lack of funding for Indigenous communities participating in government consultations. For the last several years, a steadily increasing number of referrals have fallen on the desks of First Nations, creating an overwhelming, psychologically intense workload. Meaningful...
Yesterday, I stood and responded to the statement provided by the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation in acknowledgement of the pain and tribulations that are being felt from our relatives in Shíshálh, Chief Yalxwemult Lenora Joe, and the leadership in the community, acting on the information provided...
When the COVID-19 pandemic began three years ago, it drew the inequalities of our world into the daylight. Disproportionately, it was racialized workers who became ill and died, because they were more likely to work in low-paid jobs deemed essential when everyone else was told to stay home. Gender inequalities in the...
In Members' Statements I offered a few words to mark the passing of my friend, community advocate, and environmental activist Denis Coupland who passed away on February 18, 2023. [Transcript] Mr. Speaker, I was elected in November 2008. That night I received a phone call from Denis Coupland. Now I was a...
In 2008, the Wild Salmon Advisory Council released a report about the future of Pacific salmon in British Columbia. In many respects it was redux of salmon strategies of the past. We updated the information and re-engaged the stakeholders and what we learned is that most of profit in fisheries in British Columbia goes...
I stood as Third Party House Leader to speak in response to a Ministerial Statement provided by Hon. Anne Kang, Municipal Affairs Minister on the one year anniversary of the war in Ukraine. [Transcript] I rise today to offer just a few words to the ministerial statement eloquently provided by the Minister of Municipal...
With the announcement of more findings of likely burial sites at the Alberni Indian Residential School, and the similar announcement in January at the St. Joseph's Residential School in Williams Lake, the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Hon. Murray Rankin, offered a Ministerial Statement about the...
When Melanie Mark was sworn in to the British Columbia Legislative Assembly following her by-election victory in February 2016 her family brought her into the assembly in a good way. Melanie was the first First Nations woman elected as a MLA and the first First Nations woman appointed to Cabinet. Today she announced...
In Members' Statements, I offered a few words to mark the passing of my uncle TEMOSEṈŦET, Dr. Charles Elliott. [Transcript] Today I stand to recognize and honour my uncle, TEMOSEṈŦET, Dr. Charles Elliot. Charles was the preeminent Coast Salish artist. When Charles started to walk his path of artistry 50 years ago,...
The BC NDP are carefully managing the entrance of their new leader Premier-designate David Eby, and they are cancelling important democratic processes to make it happen! Even though Mr. Eby won the leadership event weeks ago the province has been operating with maybe one, or two, Premiers. One Premier who essentially...
The Saanich Inlet is a special place. It has fed countless generations of my family it must be protected. I rose and spoke to the importance of this place to my family and to the thousands of people who live around the inlet. [Transcript] SAANICH INLET The environmental degradation of the Saanich Inlet is personal....
Child welfare in British Columbia has long been a shameful part of our provincial history. As the Ministry of Children and Family Development Fact Sheet noted despite the reality that Indigenous people are less than 10% of the population, Indigenous children represent 68% of the children in care. The provincial child...
In September, former Saanich North and the Islands MLA and Sidney businessman Clive Tanner passed away. In my statement this week I stood to recognize Mr. Tanner and the significant contribution he made to our community and province. [Transcript] Today I stand to celebrate the life of a community leader and former...
On behalf of the B.C. Green Caucus, I responded to the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Hon. Murray Rankin's Ministerial Statement on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ National Day of Action. [Transcript] Mr. Speaker, first I would just like to acknowledge both of the...
I am grateful to Gud Takin Jaad, Rose Williams for preparing this statement about the official name change of Queen Charlotte City back to Daajing Giids. [Transcript] The statement was written by Gud Takin Jaad, B.C. Green caucus intern and proud Haida. In 2019, the Skidegate Haida immersion program submitted a...
On April 13, 2022 Jim Hume passed away. He was an extraordinary, and longest-serving member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly Press Gallery. I am grateful to have the opportunity to honour the memory of Mr. Hume. [Transcript] This was prepared by Stephen Hume. Jim Hume surrendered his seat in the press...
May 5th is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls inquiry began in 2015 and concluded with a final report on June 3, 2019. In 2021, the federal government released a National Action Plan and the provincial government tabled...
April 28th is the National Day of Mourning. This is my 2-minute Members' Statement on the important issue of worker safety and the much needed reform in WorkSafe BC. [Transcript] On the National Day of Mourning, we remember workers who have died, were injured or became ill from their job. We recommit to protecting...
Tsawout First Nation has created a first-of-its-kind Marine Use Law embracing the principles of self-determination and the right to "fish as formerly" captured in the Douglas Treaty. This has enabled Tsawout to realize economic development opportunities, including with Cascadia Seaweed to grow kelp in the waters in...
The BC Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act in November 2019. Section 4 of the Act requires the government to table an Action Plan to ensure key steps toward reconciliation are taken, to ensure the government is accountable for their commitments to Indigenous...
Micah Zandee-Hart is from Saanichton, BC in my riding of Saanich North and the Islands. In February, she was part of the Canadian Women's Ice Hockey team that defeated the United States 3-2 to win gold at the Beijing Winter Olympics. [Transcript] In February, we were lucky to cheer on 215 Canadians competing in the...
Over the last few sessions it has been increasingly apparent that the BC NDP government is serving their own partisan interests rather than the people we all represent! 150 years ago the colonial government of British Columbia tried to join Canada without a responsible government. The Canadian government wouldn't...
I rose to share a two minute statement marking the 170th anniversary of the Douglas Treaties in the W̱SÁNEĆ territory. [Transcript] This February 14 marks the 170th anniversary of the agreement between the first British Columbia governor, James Douglas, and my ancestors, the SIÁM of the W̱SÁNEĆ people. Some history...
On behalf of the BC Green Caucus I rose to pay tribute to late-Hereditary Chief Delgamuukw. [Transcript] HÍSW̱ḴE SIÁM , Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the Minister of State for his comments and also the member for Vancouver-Langara for his comments as well. Today I stand to pay tribute and...
During introductions I took the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate 15 years of marriage with Emily Olsen. [Transcript] Mr. Speaker, today I want to just pause and acknowledge that it's our 15th anniversary. Emily and I were married 15 years ago today, for the second time. That was because in August of the same...
As we paused last week to remember those Canadian service people I took the opportunity during Members Statements to recognize the heroism of Lt. Robert Hampton "Hammy" Gray. Hammy was a Canadian Naval pilot who flew in the Royal Navy, his valour was recognized with the Victoria Cross and recently with a memorial at...