Roundup: An agreement, and a start to further discussions

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On the fourth day of negotiations, federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett, her BC counterpart, and the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs have come to an agreement regarding land title rights for Wet’suwet’en territory, which has been an open issue for decades. It will need to be ratified by the Wet’suwet’en nation after a period of consultation, but it is a step. This does not, however, completely solve the issue with the proposed Coastal GasLink pipeline – the vocal group of hereditary chiefs remain opposed (while those in the community who support the project feel they aren’t being heard), but this remains an issue where the community needs to come together and use the feast system under their laws to resolve these disputes, which hasn’t been happening. It will also require further discussions with the RCMP about their operations in their territory, but again, there seems to be some progress made.

Meanwhile, a discussion among legal experts is ongoing regarding the efficacy of using legal injunctions when there are land rights protests going on, because they can be too much of a blunt instrument. Some are suggesting that the injunctions be structured to allow for mediated consultation instead of heavy-handed orders to stop their protests, as has been done in some provinces when it comes to labour disputes. And a prime example of something unhelpful is the bill recently tabled in Alberta to further penalize protesters with heavy fines (which is already likely unconstitutional), but there does seem to be a definite mindset behind that kind of legislation.

Good reads:

  • David Lametti hints that the government may not whip the vote on the bill to amend the Medical Assistance in Dying regime.
  • Lametti also is hinting that the creation of an independent panel to review claims of wrongful convictions may be in the works.
  • It’s not just rail blockades holding up Canadian exports – high water levels on the St. Lawrence Seaway are also complicating matters.
  • The Royal Canadian Navy and Coast Guard fleets may be undergoing renewal, but they are short hundreds of sailors necessary to crew their new ships.
  • Here is a recap of the marathon nine-day CRTC hearings on opening up the mobile phone sector to competition.
  • There are questions about the Senate Administration’s contracting practices, both in signing contracts without Senate approval, or in signing them below the threshold.
  • Canada is one of the most prepared nations on the planet for a pandemic thanks to the creation of the Public Health Agency, but Andrew Scheer can’t read a brief.
  • The final list of Conservative leadership candidates has been released, and Rudy Husny has been added, but cartoonish social conservative Richard Décarie is not.
  • Saskatchewan is allocating $10 million to help communities dealing with the transition away from coal.
  • Chris Turner recalls Jim Prentice’s advice to Albertans to “look in the mirror” five years ago, and while they turfed him for it, those problems haven’t gone away.
  • Susan Delacourt looks at the various crises befalling the country and noting that maybe “big government” has helped matters in all of these cases.
  • Chantal Hébert notes that certain parties are looking to undermine reconciliation for short-term gains, which will have long-term consequences for the country.

Odds and ends:

Here is a look at a possible return of airships in order to help fly supplies into remote communities, and cargo out of remote mines and forestry sites.

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