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.
I’m grateful to be here alive today with all of you on sacred, unceded Coast Salish territories, the homelands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh peoples.
In the last year the Court has seen people from all walks of life, class backgrounds, nationalities and political persuasions appear, charged with the same allegation, criminal contempt of court, for blocking Trans Mountain’s operations.
What unifies us all is the shared understanding that humanity is teetering on a precipice, and only decisive action to reverse climate change can prevent an unprecedented catastrophe.
The words may not have been explicit, but oilpatch contractor Matthew Linnitt says he read between the lines: lie on official documents about an incident that could have killed him, or someone would be fired.
The tacit threat, he alleges, was handed down by his supervisor at Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) after a close call with hydrogen sulfide on a northwestern Alberta well site on May 2, 2016.
