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Why is BC NDP government limiting the Gwa’sala-‘nakwaxda’xw historical information on child welfare?

The Gwa’sala-‘nakwaxda’xw Nation are in the process of taking back jurisdiction of child welfare as per federal legislation. They have been attempting to get access to historical information from the provincial Crown governments Ministry of Children and Family Development but have been consistently blocked by the BC...

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Ministerial Statement: Marking one year since confirmation of unmarked graves at Kamloops

As we approach the one year anniversary since Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir (Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc) announced the preliminary findings of 215 graves of children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School I stood and marked the occasion in a response to a Ministerial Statement delivered by Minister Murray Rankin. This...

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Why is BC NDP investing $800 million on a new museum and only $500,000 in repatriation?

The BC NDP need to get their priorities straight. They announced an $800 million new Royal BC Museum, when millions of British Columbians are struggling to keep up with the increasing costs of basic needs like food, transportation and housing. And, for months British Columbians have been demanding the BC NDP address...

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Update: Week 10 – 3rd Session, 42nd Parliament

Update: Week 10 – 3rd Session, 42nd Parliament

ÍY SȻÁĆEL (Good Day), Welcome to my weekly update for May 15th, 2022! This week, I attended the first MLA reception since the pandemic started, joining the BC Police Association members on Monday evening. It was an excellent opportunity to hear from representatives of the municipal police services about the transformation we recommended in the...

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Remembering Jim Hume

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...

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Why has BC NDP invested so little in stopping violence against Indigenous women and girls?

It is Moose Hide Campaign Day. The grassroots campaign is for Indigenous and non-Indigenous men and boys to stand up against violence against women and children. As the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls found, instances of violence often increases around resource development sites....

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Update: Week 9 – 3rd Session, 42nd Parliament

ÍY SȻÁĆEL (Good Day), Welcome to my weekly update for May 8th, 2022! Happy Mother’s Day! I raise my hands to all the powerful mothers in my life, my mom Sylvia, wife Emily, sisters Joni and Heather, Pat, Rochana, Leila, Sonia, Maeve, Jonina, and so many more. I hold the memory of my late-grandmothers Laura and Phyllis in my heart. So much love to...

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Ministerial Statement: National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

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...

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Update: Week 7 – 3rd Session, 42nd Parliament

Update: Week 7 – 3rd Session, 42nd Parliament

ÍY SȻÁĆEL (Good Day), Welcome to my weekly update for April 10th, 2022! It was an extremely busy week in the Legislature. With 20 government Bills, 6 Private Members’ Bills and one Private Bill, and Budget Estimates ongoing it makes for a full day in the Assembly. For example on Thursday afternoon, within a span of a couple of hours I was asking...

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Indigenous food security threatened by glyphosate spraying of forest lands

I followed up my previous question to Hon. Katrine Conroy (Minister of Forests) about her defense of the aerial spraying of glyphosate on B.C. forest lands. Ultimately, the food security that the provincial government talks about does not include Indigenous practices of hunting, fishing, and gathering of wild foods...

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