Giving royal assent to B.C.B次元官网网址檚 latest batch of laws this week, Lt. Governor Janet Austin singled out one for special mention B次元官网网址� the worldB次元官网网址檚 first official adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 unusual, and it is for good reason, Premier John Horgan told reporters after the fall session of the B.C. legislature adjourned.

B次元官网网址淚t will transform how we do business in B.C. for the better,B次元官网网址� Horgan said. B次元官网网址淯nanimous support in the legislature, business interests around the province, in fact around the country, looking to B.C. as a leader in how we better make all of the people of British Columbia benefit from the extraordinary bounty we have here.B次元官网网址�

Work begins in January to start amending B.C. laws to meet the dozens of objectives of UNDRIP, and the first set of changes is expected in the spring session that begins in February, Horgan said.

Premier says begins work on in January, after B次元官网网址�200 years of colonial activityB次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)

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B次元官网网址淚 think the patience of Indigenous communities has been well demonstrated over the 200 years of colonial activity here in B.C. and across Canada,B次元官网网址� Horgan said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been invited to speak to the Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa next week about what weB次元官网网址檝e been able to accomplish here, and IB次元官网网址檓 sure IB次元官网网址檒l get some advice from elders and others about how we proceed in the new year.B次元官网网址�

Horgan praised the B.C. Liberal and Green Parties for joining his governmentB次元官网网址檚 support for the change, after detailed questioning of its implications over the past two weeks.

B次元官网网址淚 want to ensure that the public understand that this is not just the NDP whoB次元官网网址檚 doing this,B次元官网网址� Horgan said.

B.C. Liberal MLA Mike de Jong, a former minister of finance, Indigenous relations and justice, led the opposition questioning on Bill 41, described as a B次元官网网址渇rameworkB次元官网网址� bill committing the province to dozens of clauses in the UN document.

De Jong asked about UNDRIP Article 39, which states: B次元官网网址淚ndigenous peoples have the right to have access to financial and technical assistance from states and through international cooperation, for the enjoyment of rights contained in this declaration.B次元官网网址�

Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser said UNDRIP B次元官网网址渄oes not create a positive obligation on the part of the state, but there will be conversations about funding from the provincial government.B次元官网网址�

B.C. has already signed to share seven per cent of B.C. Lottery Corporation net income, which the province estimates will amount to $100 million over the 23-year term of the deal.

Environment Minister George Heyman has completed a rewrite of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Environment Assessment Act, after a consultation tour including mining, forest industry and union representatives.

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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