Jean's Posts

Oil tankers are on many British Colombians’ minds these days. With the many pipeline proposals working their way through environmental assessments, it is clear that there is great pressure to increase tanker traffic in our pristine coastal
waters.

And with the Conservative government proposing a reduction in oversight of pipelines and their decision to close the oil spill response centre in British Columbia, people are right to be worried.

May 15th, 2:50 p.m.

Mr. Speaker, a court case in Vancouver is shaking
residential school survivors' trust in our judicial system.

While the facts of the case are before the courts, nearly
1,400 survivors' claims are sitting in limbo while the deadline for the
independent assessment process fast approaches.

What is the minister going to do to make sure that these
survivors are not victimized once again?

May 15th, 2:55 p.m.

OTTAWA–Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan avoided questions Tuesday on an issue that threatens to derail the multi-billion dollar residential school settlement agreement over corruption allegations against lawyers handling thousands of claims.

Already one Winnipeg lawyer has been disbarred for pocketing $1 million from over 50 residential school survivors and a Calgary law firm handling nearly 4,000 claims is facing serious allegations it wrongfully took money from residential school student clients.

The Cowichan Tribes First Nations administration declared a local state of  emergency Monday, following four incidences of suicide and 57 suicide threats  since January, and now Chief Harvey Alphonse is calling for help from the  provincial and federal governments.

The Cowichan Tribes — with 4,500 members, the largest aboriginal community in  B.C. — have been deeply impacted by the suicides and their counselling staff are  overwhelmed, Alphonse said.

Taseko Mines has reached an agreement with the Tsay Ken Dene in relation to the development of its Aley Niobium project north of Mackenzie.