Joyce Green
[email protected]
About Joyce Green
Joyce Green is professor emerita of political science at the University of Regina. Her research interests focus on Aboriginal-settler relations and the possibility of decolonization in Canada; and a transformative ecology of relationships with place, epitomized by many traditional Aboriginal conceptions of land and place.
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National Observer
23-05-2025
- National Observer
Joyce Green
[email protected] About Joyce Green Joyce Green is professor emerita of political science at the University of Regina. Her research interests focus on Aboriginal-settler relations and the possibility of decolonization in Canada; and a transformative ecology of relationships with place, epitomized by many traditional Aboriginal conceptions of land and place.
Vancouver Sun
22-05-2025
- Vancouver Sun
John Rustad: It's time for B.C. NDP to end culture wars and wedge politics
The NDP government's oft-used tactic to silence disparate viewpoints is parroting David Eby's favourite accusatory line of 'racist posturing.' Yet the reality is that they are the biggest perpetrators of radical, ideologically empowered race baiting. This past week, we received confirmation of their brand of divisive and destructive wedge politics. In a disturbing statement in the legislature from Burnaby East MLA Rohini Arora, it was suggested that all non-Indigenous British Columbians should self-identify as 'colonizers,' 'settlers' and 'uninvited guests.' This was her proposed answer to solving the challenges faced by Indigenous peoples across British Columbia. A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Her comments represent the worst kind of tokenism. This alarming position embodies the NDP's complete abandonment of mutual respect, equality and collaboration in the way that they govern. Simply put, they are advocating for a racial hierarchy of British Columbians. The notion that people of all non-Indigenous ethnicities, backgrounds and religious beliefs are intruders is beyond offensive. Let me be perfectly clear: regardless of ancestry, it does not matter where you come from, the community you live in or what your background is. If you are ready to set roots here and work hard to build up this province, you are a British Columbian. As minister of Aboriginal relations and reconciliation, I signed 435 agreements with First Nations, which is more than any Canadian politician in modern history. Economic reconciliation brings people together and fosters an improved quality of life for all — both outcomes that would never be possible through classification of people's racial identities. My approach did not disregard the past but rather worked to create a better path forward for Indigenous peoples and the province. By contrast, the NDP's aforementioned terminology breeds resentment and isolation rather than fostering the unity we so desperately need at this critical juncture in history. As the leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, I have been speaking to Indigenous peoples in every corner of the province. The message that I continue to hear as part of these ongoing conversations is resounding. Reconciliation must be based on empowerment and self-determination, not narrow beliefs that are performative rather than practical. This must be the bedrock upon which support for Indigenous health, prosperity, and property rights is founded. Data and statistics show that Indigenous communities that sign long-term economic agreements have significantly improved outcomes with regards to poverty, addiction, suicide, and rates of education and literacy. This is in stark contrast to the philosophy of a government that cynically transacts in the politics of racial segmentation. Identity politics is not only destructive to British Columbians of all backgrounds, but also very dangerous. Lecturing citizens on offensive labels only serves to judge people on ethnicity rather than the depth of their character and contributions to our province. This is why I have long advocated for Indigenous participation in resource development, recognition of Indigenous governance structures, and clarity in land and title matters that can lead to prosperity for all. Respect. Recognition. Self-determination. Opportunity. These are the foundational principles that can chart a new path forward for British Columbia's First Nations. The NDP government speaks about inclusion by using the language of exclusion. They advocate for justice that is fuelled by degradation. They refer to 'true' reconciliation yet believe that dividing people is a way achieve it. Sadly, this mentality is a pattern of the David Eby-led government, which has an established history of regressive policy-making on our most critical issues. Their response to the opioid and addiction epidemic is drug decriminalization and offering 'safer supply' narcotics for free. The province's dwindling economic position prompts out-of-control spending, resulting in historic deficits and rapidly rising debt for the next generation. Diminished housing supply and growing unaffordability are exacerbated through new unnecessary regulation, taxes, and red tape. The same applies to their failed attempts at improving Indigenous well-being, reconciliation, and future prosperity. Instead of building towards a better collective future, the NDP choose to deploy culture wars and wedge politics. It is truly shameful. In other words, whenever our province is facing a serious NDP-induced crisis, this government relies on ideologically driven schemes that make things much worse. It is time for leadership that is serious, grounded and focused on delivering results for everyday people (regardless of backgrounds), not harmful rhetoric and ideological purity tests. It is time to stop pitting communities against each other. And now more than ever, it is time to end apologies for being Canadian; our country is a beacon of light for people from across the globe. There are no settlers or uninvited guests; there are just British Columbians. This province belongs to all of us. Let's build it together. John Rustad is leader of the Conservative Party of B.C. and MLA for Nechako Lakes.
Vancouver Sun
16-05-2025
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. First Nations prepare for legal fight after Premier Eby refuses to withdraw controversial fast-track legislation
Premier David Eby gave First Nations leaders no indications Thursday that he plans to back down on his government's controversial legislation to give his cabinet wide-ranging powers to approve infrastructure and certain clean-energy projects. Emerging from a virtual meeting with the premier, members of the First Nations Leadership Council said they're already looking at the 'legal ramifications' and preparing for the possibility of court battles challenging Bill 14, the Renewable Energy Projects (Streamlined Permitting) Act and Bill 15, the Infrastructure Projects Act. Indigenous leaders have vehemently opposed the two pieces of legislation in the weeks since their introduction, decrying the lack of consultation with First Nations and the potential negative impacts on their land and communities. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'The premier is backing himself into a situation that potentially could be very explosive,' said Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit Political Executive. 'We do believe that this is a detriment to our Aboriginal rights and title … We do believe that fast-tracking these projects will override even their own laws. So they're, in a way, breaking their own laws. We do believe it's weakening the environmental assessments.' Phillips, who chaired the meeting between Eby and chiefs from around B.C., said there is no way to reconcile the province's position with that of First Nations and that trust has been diminished between Indigenous people and the government. In the First Nations Leadership Council's statement, Indigenous leaders said they wanted the government to 'kill the bill.' Tsartlip Chief Don Tom said Eby's message to First Nations had essentially been 'trust us broh' and that his response to the premier was that 'chiefs on this call are unanimously opposed to the bills.' 'We are also in agreement that we will be taking action to ensure that they're not passed, but if you do manage to force them through despite our collective opposition, we will be exploring every avenue to kill them,' said Tom in a social-media post. 'You did not follow your own law and processes, you did not respect our rights, and that has resulted in legislation that is not redeemable in its present form.' In a statement following the outcry, Eby simply said he had had a 'productive, respectful — and at times — frank conversation' with First Nations leaders and that 'we agreed to continue our conversations as government moves forward with this bill.' The government has set May 28 as the deadline for passing both bills and the premier has defended the legislation as necessary to fast-track schools, hospitals, clean energy and other infrastructure projects that the province needs. The meeting between Eby and the First Nations leaders came a day after Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma admitted the NDP had rushed Bill 15 without proper consultation. She also said the government didn't expect there to be much interest from First Nations. 'We did not have the time to consult on this. We had less time to consult on this act than we would have liked to do. We acknowledge that. We definitely acknowledge that,' said Ma. 'We had interpreted that interest would be quite low from First Nations because we did not interpret the tools that we had provided in this legislation as impacting First Nations, except, again, to provide greater clarity, where those regulations needed to be consulted, developed in consultation with First Nations.' First Nations aren't the only group unhappy with the legislation. Municipalities and environmental advocates, and both the Conservatives and the Greens, have spoken out against the bills. The Union of B.C. Municipalities sent a notice to local governments Thursday saying that Ma had invited municipal leaders to a virtual meeting on Friday in an effort to address their concerns. Conservative Leader John Rustad said the right thing for the government to do would be to pull the bills, do proper consultation over the summer and then bring them back in the fall with the necessary modifications. He said the premier is instead 'hell-bent on just wanting to say it's my way or the highway.' Green MLA Rob Botterell agreed, saying he doesn't understand why the government can't leave the bills as 'exposure bills' and come back to them in October. He added that the bills contravene the government's own Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, passed in 2019, that outlines the requirement for proper consultation with First Nations on legislation. 'It's fundamentally an issue of respect of First Nations,' he said. 'The Declaration Act is pretty clear and the law is pretty clear, and we've been in committee now on Bill 15, and we haven't heard anything yet, that establishes the reason to move quickly and not take the time to do proper consultation.' Ma told reporters that the government did have a consultation plan but that they didn't hear back from many Indigenous titleholders. She said there is still a chance for First Nations to have a say in the regulations accompanying Bill 15. 'Based on the responses that we did receive from the few titleholders that responded to our request to engage, we interpreted those responses as reinforcing what we believed the bill was, that it was largely procedural, and the real deeper consultation that would need to be required would happen at regulation.'
