The conference room applause faded as Chief Roy Jones Jr. walked on stage to address the Natural Resource Summit, hosted by the National Coalition of Chiefs.
“I just have one question for anybody. Is there any Liberals out here?” he asked the crowd.
A split second silence gave way to laughter from the crowd — a mix of Indigenous leaders and representatives from Canada’s oil and gas sector.
“Come on, don’t be afraid to show yourself because we’re going to send a message to Trudeau with ya,” he, and the crowd, laughed.
NDP must push minority Parliament to accelerate transition to a green economy
The federal election results suggest that the first priority of the NDP must be electoral reform to bring to an end the politics of fear and the strategic vote, which favours the Liberals and Conservatives alike.
VANCOUVER—Barbara Gard calls her three-hectare property, nestled below the forested peak of Sumas Mountain, a “miniature Stanley Park.” Its lush trees and flowing creek reminded her of Vancouver’s majestic park, and she immediately knew she wanted to call it home.
[I keep asking politicians, when I'm in the same inside or outside space with them, "If the Trans Mountain Expansion is so amazingly good for us, why do you have to lie about it? About Asian markets, about price-per-barrel, about number of jobs, about tax revenues?" - Gene McGuckin]
[ Editor: Common Dreams reported yesterday that the Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that environmental defenders have the right to employ a defence of necessity when being tried for climate-related offences. This decision follows a similar one from the Minnesota State Supreme Court.
To date this defence has not been allowed in Canada. Will Offley]
The court's decision, explained one attorney, "creates a strong legal basis for climate protesters to justify their actions in a court of law."
As a Minister of the Christian faith, with the United Church of Canada, I’m mindful of the duty to protest, if not resist, if and when civil authorities fail to provide due process and fair outcomes to grieving peoples.
I do not take this to mean that I have the right to disobey court orders anytime I might disagree with them.
I understand and appreciate the importance of our justice system – especially its checks and balances.
