Latest news with #FinalAgreement
CBC
29-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Floating home community in Delta, B.C., worries silt buildup in Fraser River putting it at risk
Residents of a floating home community on B.C.'s South Coast are worried about their homes as silt builds up in the Fraser River, causing them to sit in the mud during low tide. Ted Dufresne, a resident of Canoe Pass Village in Delta, B.C., said the homes tilt when the tide is low, which is putting residents' safety at risk. "We have a lot of seniors in this community," he said. "Let's say someone got up during the middle of the night and fell, broke a hip or had a heart attack … emergency vehicles, ambulances would have a real problem trying to access them and [for] some houses, they may not even be able to get inside." Paul Scott, head of maintenance for the village, said he's had to get creative to fix damage to docks as a result of this situation. After five years of working in the community, he said sediment buildup under the docks is only getting worse. "It shouldn't be this way." The silt building up in the Fraser River is also affecting Tsawwassen First Nation members; the First Nations said the buildup is threatening river health and access to fishing sites. "For us, this is not only about navigation or infrastructure, it is about our way of life," the Nation said in an email. "Without action, the silt buildup threatens, not just access to the river, but also the reasonable opportunity to fish, a right guaranteed under our Final Agreement." Now, the Tsawwassen First Nation and Canoe Pass Village residents alike are calling for the area to be dredged — but it's unclear who is actually responsible for dredging that particular channel of the Fraser River. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is responsible for dredging the main channel of the Fraser River, but told CBC News no single authority is responsible for the secondary channel, where Canoe Pass Village is located. Delta Mayor George Harvie said the port authority used to dredge the secondary channel, but since it stopped, no one has taken responsibility for taking care of it. Dufresne, who has lived in Canoe Pass Village for 12 years, said the channel hasn't been dredged since he's lived there. In an emailed statement to CBC News, the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said "several organizations and levels of government" have met to discuss the issue "regularly." Harvie said Canoe Pass Village is trying to get emergency dredging done under their float homes, but the community is waiting for a permit. Residents could try having the channel dredged without a permit, but they could face hefty fines, Harvie added. He suggested annual dredging would cost about $3 million per year. Harvie said he, along with Richmond's mayor and local First Nations, sent a letter to the federal government explaining the situation and dire need for support, but they never heard back. "It's $3 million," Harvie said. "It affects public safety, affects people's jobs. I don't understand why they just won't take action on it."
Global News
11-05-2025
- General
- Global News
From the archives: A visit to the Nisga'a Nation on their 10-year treaty anniversary
Sunday, May 11, marks 25 years since the landmark Nisga'a Final Agreement, more commonly referred to as the treaty, came into effect, granting the Nisga'a Nation the right to self-government. The agreement, seen by many as a crucial milestone in working toward reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, was the first modern treaty in British Columbia. 4:54 Nisga'a Treaty 25th anniversary It was also the first treaty in B.C. to provide constitutional certainty regarding an Indigenous Peoples' Section 35 rights. Story continues below advertisement Fifteen years ago, Global's Chris Gailus travelled to the Nisga'a Nation to mark the agreement's 10th anniversary. From the archives, here's his report. Visiting the Nisga'a Nation 10 years after the Final Agreement The Nass River is the third largest river in B.C. Glacier-fed and pristine, it provides an abundance of salmon to the Nisga'a. This river quite literally runs through the veins of the people who live on it. Ben Gnu works for the Nisga'a Fishery, protecting this priceless natural resource. He says he's never damaged a propeller in 10 years, and after our ride, I believe him. He's taking us to one of the fish wheels, where they count the returning salmon. These ingenious contraptions anchored along a 20-kilometre stretch of river pull the returning salmon right up out of the water. DNA samples are taken, and the fish are measured and tagged. Story continues below advertisement The salmon are returned to the water to continue their journey upstream to spawn. Every tag that is put on the fish holds a number and a phone number for the fisheries department. 1:48 Nisga'a Nation celebrates New year Anyone who catches a fish with one of the tags can call that number to receive a record of where that fish was caught, how far it travelled, and how big it was when it was tagged. All of that information helps preserve the fishery. The work ensures an escapement of at least 200,000 salmon, the minimum number required to spawn and sustain fish stocks. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Locals used drift netting techniques perfected over thousands of years, slapping the water to scare the salmon out of the shallows and into the nets. But preserving these ancient traditions is only half the battle for the Nisga'a. They're trying to create a brighter future for themselves, too. Story continues below advertisement Ten years ago, the Nisga'a signed what they call the Final Agreement and moved into a beautiful new legislative building. It was British Columbia's first modern treaty, restoring their right to self-government and control of their own destiny. 'There is no blueprint for us to follow, we have to go out and do it on our own — keeping in mind, there's been government in this country for some 143 years; we're in our 10th year,' said Mitchell Stevens, then-president of the Nisga'a Lisims government. 0:32 Nisga'a language degree launched at UNBC It hasn't always been easy. The Nisga'a struggle with the realities of life on many First Nations communities. Substance abuse is an issue, and with commercial fishing boats sitting idle between openings, unemployment is high, averaging 50 per cent in the Nass Valley. But guided by their mission statement — one heart, one path, one nation — they know education is the key to prosperity. Story continues below advertisement The Final Agreement renewed a sense of pride and allows them to resurrect Nisga'a traditions like canoe carving skills that faded away under the rule of the Indian Act. Master carver Alver Taite is a living link to the past. 'I could work on my own, but I like teaching, helping to bring that culture back and reigniting the enthusiasm of the young people of what they were, who we are,' he said. And if Alver Tait represents one foot firmly planted in the past, these students represent the ones stepping into the future, singing a Bob Marley tune in their native language. The smallest of the Nisga'a villages boasts the highest percentage of post-secondary graduates. Bridging the generation gap is a priority for educators here. 2:38 Nisga'a Nation totem pole returns to B.C. from Scotland Gitwinksihlkw is also home to a degree-granting university in partnership with the University of Northern British Columbia. Story continues below advertisement These kindergartners are expected to be in the class of 2026, and one of the most important lessons for any Nisga'a is the story of the volcano and lava flow that dominate the landscape. They're hoping to tap into its potential as a tourist destination. The flow covers 40 square kilometres at an average depth of 12 metres. At around the same time of the eruption, about 235 to 250 years ago, a Spanish explorer named Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra happened to be sailing at the mouth of the Nass River. He noted in his captain's logbook a massive orange glow in the sky and a warm wind blowing across the bow of his ship. He determined that to be a volcanic eruption. And we now know that that is the only independent verification of the story that's been passed down from generation to generation as part of the Nisga'a oral history. They tell of poison smoke coming down the valley, claiming two thousand of their villagers. The lava left a moonscape that exists to this day, covered in lichen and moss. It's a stunning environment that few outside this region know about. But the Nisga'a hope that changes, bringing more visitors and their money to Anhluut'ukwsim Lax̱mihl Angwinga'asanskwhl Nisga'a Park (Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Park). Story continues below advertisement 4:17 Nisga'a First Nation to bring home stolen totem pole Access to the park is easy enough, but that's not the case everywhere. Getting to the water and its outstanding sport fishing is tricky at best. There's a one-lane road to the government dock in Ging̱olx. Launching a boat out here would take nerves of steel. At the Nisga'a Salmon Lodge bed and breakfast, Ron Nyce and his wife Jackie are ready for the brave adventurers who do make it out to the Nass Valley. 'I really do enjoy this, you know,' Ron Nyce said. He's in the middle of a career change: after 44 years as a commercial fisherman, he gave up cutting bait to cut cantaloupe for his guests. He's hoping the Nisga'a leadership embraces tourism like he has. Story continues below advertisement 'People are coming. They're coming with all different kinds of vehicles, and they need a place to stay,' he said. 'They need a good place to eat. And they need something to do. So yeah, it's time to blow that dust off all those plans and get rolling.' 2:00 Nisga'a Hoobiyee celebrations in Vancouver It's something the Nisga'a are eager to share, the beauty of their land, of course, but their culture and traditions too. Global News was welcomed in Gitlax̱t'aamiks (formerly New Aiyansh) with a big community party. Every celebration, of course, begins with a feast — and this time was no different. Well, it was different for this reporter – I'd be eating things I'd never put in my mouth before, including oolichan, baked spring salmon eggs, deep-fried seaweed, herring eggs and kelp — and the most exotic of all, smoked sea lion. Delicious. Story continues below advertisement After the feast features a performance by the Gitlaxt'aamiks Ceremonial Dancers. Visitors are expected to join in with each of the four Nisga'a clans, Gisk'aast (Killer Whale/ Owl), Ganada (Raven/Frog), Laxgibuu (Wolf/ Bear) and Laxsgiik (Eagle/Beaver), all telling their ancient stories through music and movement. It remains to be seen how the story unfolds for the Nisga'a, but 10 years after signing their final agreement, at least they control how it's written. With their commitment to preserving the salmon they depend on, and sustaining a culture that's rooted to the land they live on, the Nisga'a are ensuring the Nass Valley retains its unspoiled beauty for all of us to enjoy.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's high-stakes call with Putin
This post originally appeared in the Business Insider Today newsletter. You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here. Good morning. A Gen Xer spoke to BI about his plan to earn $800,000 secretly juggling six full-time remote jobs. Occasionally, he will need to be in several places at once. His solution? Pay someone to pretend to be him. In our big story, Trump said he's speaking with Putin today: "We want to see if we can bring that war to an end." What's on deck Markets: Bank of America's coming for a Wall Street tradition in its latest attempt to address junior banker burnout. Tech: Feeling nostalgic? An iconic piece of old Twitter is now up for auction. Business: Toys and TVs have been getting cheaper for decades. That's about to change. But first, Trump's high-stakes call. "We've never been closer to peace," the White House said Monday. US President Donald Trump said he is set to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin today to discuss a pause in fighting in Ukraine. "We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants," Trump said ahead of the negotiations. It will mark the first known conversation between the two leaders since Ukraine agreed to support a US-back cease-fire last week. The ball is now in Russia's court. BI spoke with security and economic analysts about demands Russia is likely to make before agreeing to any deal — and why. US sanctions relief could top the list. The sanctions, which include a microchip ban imposed by the Biden administration, have dented the Russian economy and weakened its defense sector, BI's Tom Porter writes. But the analysts warned that Russia may use an ease in sanctions to re-arm with US tech. Meanwhile, if the front lines were frozen as they stand, military experts told BI that Ukraine would struggle to defend itself against future aggression and that a cease-fire would be unlikely to last. With Russia close to key economic and strategic centers in Ukraine, the temptation for Russia to break any cease-fire deal with renewed vigor would be high. The markets will be watching. Following Trump's last call with Putin in February, the markets shifted on the possibility that the war could soon end. Then came Trump and Zelenskyy's fiery Oval Office clash. The markets saw some big moves amid the fallout, with European defense stocks surging after the region announced "an era of rearmament." Investors are waiting with bated breath. Ahead of today's call, Donald Trump said: "Many elements of a Final Agreement have been agreed to, but much remains." 1. Wall Street forecasters think the worst is over for the stock sell-off. After the S&P 500 tumbled into correction territory last week, Morgan Stanley and Citi analysts think the market may have found a bottom. They shared five reasons why the worst is behind investors. 2. But it might take a few months. Although stocks rallied sharply on Monday, corrections typically take four months to fully recover from, according to data from Covenant Wealth Advisors. If history is any guide, investors could see correction-hit stocks rally back strong. 3. Can a structural change combat junior banker burnout? Bank of America certainly hopes so. It's shifting who assigns tasks to lower-level bankers in hopes they'll prioritize talent development rather than racing to finish deals. 1. Sports betting gets a new platform just in time for March Madness. Robinhood is getting in on the prediction-market action right before college basketball tournaments tip off. The investing app is also debuting a mix of other wagers, like interest rate adjustments and political events. 2. Defense tech's top venture capitalists. On the heels of breakout companies like Palantir, Anduril, and Shield AI, investors and startup founders are invigorated to build more defense technologies. Here are 30 names to know in the space. 3. Twitter's "iconic" blue bird logo sign is for sale. The sign — which formerly hung outside the company's headquarters in San Francisco — is up for auction. Fancy the memorabilia for yourself? Bids have crossed $21,000. 1. America's era of cheap stuff may be coming to an end. The cost of consumer goods has gone down over time, but all that could soon change thanks to Trump's tariffs. We may have to bid the pastime of buying cheap goodies goodbye. 2. Forever 21 is bankrupt again, and it's side-eyeing Shein and Temu. The American fast fashion retailer said its latest bankruptcy was partly due to stiffer competition from international e-retailers, who use an import exemption to lower shipping costs. 3. Get ready for law school hunger games. Law school applications saw a 20% increase compared to last year amid economic headwinds and interest in the field. To get through a more competitive application process, admissions experts told BI staying persistent — without overdoing it — is key. Going to Harvard is getting a lot cheaper for most students. How Coke misled America. I work at a leading quantum lab: Here are the qualifications recruiters in the field are looking for. Hasan Piker probably won't be Joe Rogan, but you should definitely know who he is. An MIT researcher says learning to argue can help you get promoted. Here are his 3 tips for moving up the career ladder. Leaks, a fake Slack channel, and a toilet: A lawsuit reveals wild allegations of corporate espionage. An ex-Microsoft VP of HR explains 3 things you can do to stay on your boss's radar and off the layoff list. Federal Open Market Committee meeting begins. Community notes testing begins on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Jensen Huang delivers keynote speech at Nvidia GTC AI conference. The Business Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York (on parental leave). Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago. Read the original article on Business Insider
Reuters
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Trump to hold call with Putin in test of deal-making strength
WASHINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in an attempt to convince his counterpart to accept a ceasefire in Russia's war with Ukraine and move toward a more permanent end to the three-year conflict. The high-stakes call will serve as a test of Trump's touted deal-making skills and of his prized relationship with the Russian leader, which has left traditional U.S. allies wary. "Many elements of a Final Agreement have been agreed to, but much remains," Trump said in a social media post on Monday. "Each week brings 2,500 soldier deaths, from both sides, and it must end NOW. I look very much forward to the call with President Putin." Ukraine, which Trump has previously described as being harder to work with than Russia, has agreed to the U.S. proposed 30-day truce. Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. "We got a good commitment from Ukraine last week," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told "The Guy Benson Show" on Fox News radio on Monday. "They agreed to stop shooting and freeze everything where it is, and we can get to talking about how to end this permanently. And now we got to get something like that from the Russians," Rubio said. "We'll know more tomorrow after the president speaks to Putin. And hopefully we'll be in a better place." Trump has hinted at what aspects would make up a longer-term peace plan, including territorial concessions by Kyiv and control of a nuclear power plant likely to factor into negotiations. Zelenskiy has consistently said that the sovereignty of his country is not negotiable and that Russia must surrender the territory it has seized. Russia seized the Crimea peninsula in 2014 and now controls most of four eastern Ukrainian regions since it invaded the country in 2022. Putin has said his military incursion into Ukraine was because NATO's creeping expansion threatened Russia's security and has demanded Ukraine drop its NATO membership ambitions. He has also said that Russia must keep control of Ukrainian territory it has seized, Western sanctions should be eased and Kyiv must stage a presidential election. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, elected in 2019, currently rules under martial law he imposed due to the war. PUTIN A TOUGH NEGOTIATOR Trump, who promised as a presidential candidate to end the war in a swift 24 hours, faces a tough negotiator in Putin, who Zelenskiy has argued does not abide by agreements. "There's a danger that he will try to basically create more noise in this conversation with President Trump, pretending to agree on something while at the same time demanding more and more concessions on the Ukrainian side," said Maria Snegovaya, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based policy research organization. "The worst case scenario is that Putin is successful selling some sort of promising lucrative future deal with Russia to Trump," she said. Trump has moved the United States closer to Moscow since coming into office while alienating allies with tariffs and suggestions of annexing Canada and taking over Greenland. He has expressed a kinship of sorts with Putin, but his administration has shown recent signs of willingness to increase pressure on the Kremlin to stop the fighting. Trump held a contentious meeting with Zelenskiy at the White House last month that devolved in part because of Trump and Vice President JD Vance's view that Zelenskiy was insufficiently thankful for U.S. support. Zelenskiy has accused Putin of prolonging the war, saying that when the Russian leader speaks to Trump on Tuesday, he will have been aware of the 30-day ceasefire proposal for a week. Trump said he would speak with Putin on Tuesday morning. White House officials declined to say exactly what time the call was going to take place, while noting the time difference between Washington and Moscow.
