B.C.B次元官网网址檚 first annual report on its embrace of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is being presented in the legislature next week, while debate continues over the obligations it imposes on the province.

The report, a requirement under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act approved by all parties in the B.C. legislature in November, was released July 3 and covers the first four months of its existence. It emphasizes progress such as updating B.C.B次元官网网址檚 school curriculum to include more Indigenous culture and history, and changes to child welfare laws to keep Indigenous children with their families and communities.

Its comes a day after the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the latest appeal against the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project. Work continues on that and B.C.B次元官网网址檚 other pipeline project, the Coastal Gaslink line to deliver natural gas for export from northeast gas fields to a terminal at Kitimat.

Supported by most Indigenous communities on the pipeline route, Coastal Gaslink sparked Canada-wide protests and rail blockades immediately after Premier John HorganB次元官网网址檚 government became the first jurisdiction in Canada to commit to implement UNDRIP. While B.C. politicians insisted its call for B次元官网网址渇ree, prior and informed consentB次元官网网址� isnB次元官网网址檛 a veto over resource projects, protesters and student supporters responded by blockading the legislature as well.

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)

The framework law passed in November commits the B.C. government to an B次元官网网址渁ction planB次元官网网址� to implement the UNDRIP principles in B.C. Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser said the plan is still expected to be completed by the end of 2020, as the province holds a rare summer session after the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The B.C. Liberals ultimately supported the law, after questions about which of many UN commitments it enshrines. One is UNDRIP Article 39, which states: Indigenous people have the right to access to financial and technical assistance from states and through international cooperation, for enjoying the rights contained in this declaration.B次元官网网址�

Fraser replied that 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�

Conversations so far have produced a share of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 gambling revenues and commitments to add provincial funds to the federal responsibility to build housing on reserves.

RELATED:

RELATED:

RELATED:

Indigenous MLAs had their say as well before the framework bill passed. B.C. Green MLA Adam Olsen said Indigenous consent is key to stopping energy projects like Trans Mountain and Coastal Gaslink. B.C. Liberal MLA Ellis Ross, a former Haisla Nation chief counsellor, argued that Indigenous consent already exists in Canadian case law.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why we have LNG,B次元官网网址� Ross told the legislature. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why we have peace in the woods.B次元官网网址�

In a year-end interview, Olsen, Saanich North and the Islands MLA and a member of the Tsartlip First Nation, said B次元官网网址渃onsentB次元官网网址� is more than consultation that has been required of federal and provincial governments.

B次元官网网址淪o while it might be a more stiff task to get consent, it is a more clear determination at the end of it,B次元官网网址� Olsen said. B次元官网网址淐onsent is not a veto over resource development. No rights are absolute.B次元官网网址�

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on .