Latest news with #Pikas
The Sun
06-08-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Govt prioritises territorial equity in public service reform
PUTRAJAYA: The government will prioritise territorial equity in public sector reforms to ensure service improvements reach beyond urban centres. Chief Secretary Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said this involves empowering district and local-level service delivery. 'We aim to reduce regional disparities by strengthening public institutions nationwide,' he stated during a lecture by economist Prof Mariana Mazzucato. Shamsul Azri emphasised reforms enabling 'directed growth' for a proactive public sector. 'ARPA will institutionalise data-driven efficiency through performance dashboards and real-time tracking,' he added. The Public-Private Partnership Master Plan (Pikas) 2030 will also undergo adjustments for better coordination. Mazzucato urged governments to actively shape markets for sustainable growth instead of just fixing failures. She advocated mission-driven policies with cross-sector collaboration for equitable development. The lecture was organised by INTAN and attended by senior officials. – Bernama
Hamilton Spectator
23-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Lil'wat Nation announces more closures at Joffre Lakes for 2025
Lil'wat Nation has announced further temporary closures at Joffre Lakes Park for 2025, following the April 25 to May 19 reconnection period. The popular recreation site will be closed to the public from June 13 to 17 and Aug 22 to Oct 23 as part of an ongoing partnership agreement between BC Parks and the Lil'wat and N'Quatqua Nations. During those times, both Nations will engage in spiritual activities and carry out cultural practices like hunting, fishing and harvesting medicines. 'Community members are getting to utilize areas where they were previously removed or denied access,' according to a release from Lil'wat . 'This reconnection is integral to the well-being of the two Nations' community members as they look for traditional methods to help cope with grief, addictions, suicide and mental health.' The Nations first employed these temporary closures in Joffre, known as Pipi7íyekw, in 2023 . The Nation said that the reconnection periods, carried out in conjunction with a joint provincial visitor use management strategy , are already 'demonstrating tangible differences' on the park's ecosystem. 'We are noticing the Whiskey Jacks are becoming less conditioned to approach people for food, and the Pikas are being seen in greater numbers without dogs visiting the park' says Casey Gonzalez, director of Title & Rights at Lil'wat Nation, in a statement. The Nations emphasized that they would like to see recreation and cultural land use prioritized equally, moving forward. They added that while efforts to reduce human impacts on the park—including daily visitor limits and mandatory day use passes during peak season—are being made, there is 'still much room for improvement.' 'These changes wouldn't happen if we don't assert our inherent rights,' said Lil'wat Nation's political chief Kúkwpi7 Skalúlmecw Dean Nelson. 'It's our responsibility as stewards to protect the land; it's been overused for too long by too many people.' Joffre Lakes Park has seen a massive increase in traffic over the last decade. The park reached an all-time high of 196,300 visitors in 2019, prompting the province to introduce the day pass system in 2021. As of May 17, day passes are required to visit Joffre. The passes can be reserved online at 7 a.m. up to two days before a planned visit on BC Parks' website .
