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Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fast-track legislation condemned by B.C. Indigenous leaders
VICTORIA — Premier David Eby was to meet with Indigenous leaders on Wednesday night after they complained he'd failed to properly consult them about the government's new Infrastructure Projects Act. 'I've got some work to do tonight with the leadership council,' Eby conceded to reporters at a midday news conference in Victoria. 'There's clearly some misunderstandings about this legislation and I hope to be able to clear them up.' The Infrastructure Projects Act, Bill 15, gives the NDP cabinet broad powers to override existing regulations and authorities and expedite approval of major projects, public and private. The New Democrats provided the finished text with Indigenous leaders before introducing the bill last Thursday. However, the government did not consult First Nations during the drafting process, as required by the NDP government's own policies regarding the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The government's failure to properly consult Indigenous leaders in advance brought immediate protests. One of the first to speak out was Jody Wilson-Raybould, the former federal justice minister and MP from B.C. 'Having read Bill 15, which purports to fast-track projects, (here's) my prediction: more lawsuits, more uncertainty, and poorer economic and environmental outcomes,' she wrote on her X social media account the day after the legislation was introduced. The post came a week after Wilson-Raybould wrote an opinion piece in The Vancouver Sun with Christine Boyle, the NDP minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation. The two emphasized the importance of respecting Indigenous sovereignty in making policies and laws regarding land and resources in B.C. Now Wilson-Raybould was saying, in effect, that Boyle's own NDP government had failed to respect Indigenous leaders in crafting a major piece of legislation regarding public and private infrastructure. This week came a broad-based blast at the NDP's handling of Bill 15 from the Indigenous leaders who make up the First Nations Leadership Council. 'Bill 15 has the potential to greatly impact First Nations' inherent and Aboriginal rights, title, and jurisdiction both in its application and its intended outcomes,' read the news release. 'It could result in major extractive projects being fast-tracked, contrary to the province's constitutional, legislative, and environmental obligations and commitments.' The council flagged the government's apparent disregard for the Declaration Act, brought in to implement the principles of the UN Declaration. It committed the New Democrats to consult Indigenous leaders on major legislation in advance, during the drafting process, not afterward as happened with Bill 15. 'The province is ramming through Bill 15 without any input from First Nations, who stand to be adversely impacted,' said Terry Teegee, B.C. regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations. 'This law may breach constitutional consultation requirements and is not consistent with the UN Declaration.' 'Reconciliation and economic growth are not incompatible; they go hand in hand,' added Robert Phillips from the First Nations Summit. 'If the province chooses to neglect the former in a misguided attempt to advance the latter, it will quickly find itself mired in legal proceedings that benefit absolutely no one.' Eby insisted it was not the NDP's intention to trample Indigenous rights. The government is still bound by the Constitution and its own laws to consult First Nations and accommodate their interests on projects. It fully intends to do so. But all that will be happening after the fact, not before. The Ministry of Infrastructure acknowledged the delay in a statement accompanying the release of Bill 15 last week. 'The ministry has begun engagement with First Nations on this legislation through notifications and information sessions, and those conversations will continue,' it said. 'Deeper consultation with First Nations is planned to help inform development of regulations.' Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma admitted that the New Democrats skipped over the preliminary consultations because their political agenda called for passage in the spring session of the legislature. 'I acknowledge Bill 15 was expedited legislation,' Ma told Rob Shaw of the Orca online news service. 'There was a shorter process to consultation than we would have liked to have.' Like the premier, she insisted that the government remains committed to the UNDRIP principles, never mind that those weren't respected in the drafting process. 'The bill didn't go through the process that we've agreed to go through in terms of co-drafting with them,' Eby conceded. 'That's something I can acknowledge with them and continue to do the work.' Indigenous leaders who've called on the New Democrats to pause the bill for proper consultations should not get their hopes up in light of a stunt the government pulled on Tuesday night. The New Democrats called a snap vote on a motion that allows them to cut off debate and enact Bill 15 and two other pieces of legislation on May 28, one day before the scheduled adjournment of the spring session. The motion passed by a vote of 46 to 44 with one Conservative and one Independent MLA absent. It suggests the New Democrats have every intention of using their legislative majority to ramrod passage of Bill 15 this month, never mind how they disregarded Indigenous nations during the drafting process. vpalmer@
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nine people killed as car ploughs into Vancouver festival crowd
Nine people were killed and others injured when a driver ploughed a car into a crowd at a street festival in the Canadian city of Vancouver, local police have said. Police said they were confident that the incident on Saturday was not an act of terrorism. A 30-year-old man who was driving a black SUV was arrested. 'We can confirm nine people have died after a man drove through a crowd at last night's Lapu Lapu festival. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic incident, Vancouver police posted online. The incident happened shortly after 8pm as members of the city's Filipino community gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day. The festival commemorates a Filipino anticolonial leader from the 16th century. Footage posted online showed a black SUV with a damaged bonnet parked on a street littered with debris as first-aiders tended to people lying on the ground. One witness told CTV News he saw a vehicle driving erratically in the area of the festival just before the crowd was hit. The Vancouver Sun said thousands of people had been in the area. 'I didn't get to see the driver, all I heard was an engine rev,' said Yoseb Vardeh, a food truck operator, in an interview with Postmedia. 'I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road and there's just bodies everywhere. He went through the whole block, he went straight down the middle.' The Vancouver mayor, Ken Sim, said: 'Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver's Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time.' The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, said he was devastated at the news. 'I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver,' he wrote on X. 'We are all mourning with you.' The incident happened just before Canadians go to the polls on Monday after a frenetic election race where candidates have wooed voters on issues including rising living costs and tackling Donald Trump's tariffs. Carney is favoured to win after promising voters he would stand up to Washington's sweeping import levies. Police set up a 24-hour assistance centre to help anyone who had been unable to contact relatives or friends who were at the festival. Lapu Lapu Day is celebrated in the Philippines in remembrance of the Indigenous chief Lapulapu, who led his men to defeat the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in battle in 1521.
Al Jazeera
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Several killed after car rams into crowd at Vancouver street festival
Several people have been killed and multiple others were injured in Vancouver after a vehicle drove into a crowd at a Filipino street festival in the western Canadian city, police say. Police said the incident happened shortly after 8pm on Saturday (03:00 GMT Sunday) in the city's Sunset on Fraser neighbourhood, and that the driver, a 30-year-old man, had been taken into witness told CTV News that he saw a black vehicle driving erratically in the area of the festival just before the crowd was struck, Reuters news agency reported. Footage shared on social media captured the chaotic aftermath, showing bodies lying on the road as first responders and bystanders tried to help the injured. Victims were rushed to multiple local hospitals, where staff had been warned to expect mass casualty arrivals. At the time of the attack, thousands of people were in the area, said The Vancouver Sun. A food truck owner described scenes of devastation after the car tore through the crowd. 'I didn't get to see the driver, all I heard was an engine rev,' Yoseb Vardeh, the co-owner of food truck Bao Buns, said in an interview with Postmedia. 'I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road and there's just bodies everywhere,' said Vardeh, as his voice broke. 'He went through the whole block. He went straight down the middle.' Vancouver's Mayor Ken Sim said, 'I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today's Lapu Lapu Day event.' The festival commemorates a Filipino anti-colonial leader from the 16th century. 'Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver's Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time,' Sim wrote. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was 'devastated to hear about the horrific events' at the Lapu Lapu festival. 'I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver. We are all mourning with you,' he said, adding that the federal government was closely monitoring developments as the investigation continues. Canada is set to hold its federal election on Monday.
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Suspect, 30, 'known to police' is arrested after SUV drives into huge crowd at street festival in Vancouver - leaving multiple people dead
A suspect 'known to police' has been arrested after an SUV drove into a huge crowd at a street festival in Vancouver. Police said a 30-year-old man, from the city, was 'taken into custody by people in the crowd' before being arrested at the scene following the 'mass casualty incident' at the Lapu Lapu Day event. The vehicle rammed through a packed street festival on Saturday night causing 'multiple fatalities' and scores of people injured. Dozens more were injured after the black vehicle caused carnage at the event - to honor Filipino heritage - at around 8pm local time. Acting Police Chief Steve Rai told press at the crime scene the suspect was 'known to police in certain circumstances'. He would not confirm whether he had a criminal record saying it 'would be inappropriate for me to get into those kind of details at this point' Horrifying video and pictures showed utter devastation as mangled bodies were strewn across the road following the crash. Dazed bystanders could be seen racing away from the scene and from victim to victim as local cops swooped and arrested the driver. The suspect was alleged to have told witnesses he was 'sorry' as he was dragged out of the car. Sources told The Vancouver Sun he appeared to have been suffering from mental health problems. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was 'devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver earlier this evening'. Writing on X, he said: 'We are all mourning with you.' Police said in a statement published at midnight local time: 'A suspect has been arrested by Vancouver Police after several people were killed and multiple others injured at a neighbourhood street party in South Vancouver earlier tonight. 'At approximately 8.14 p.m. on April 26, a man drove into a large crowd of people attending the Lapu Lapu Day Festival near East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street. 'A 30-year-old suspect, a Vancouver man, was arrested at the scene. The investigation is ongoing and is being led the Vancouver Police Department's Major Crime Section.' Cops have not yet released an official death toll, referring only to 'a number of people' confirmed to have passed away. Vancouver Police said: 'A number of people have been killed and multiple others are injured after a driver drove into a crowd at a street festival.' Elizabeth May, the co-leader of Canada's Green Party, said her prayers were with Vancouver and its Filipino community. 'I'm horrified and heartbroken that such an attack could occur, and on an occasion celebrating Filipino culture, resilience, and resistance. I am sending my love to affected families,' she wrote on social media. Officers have not said whether the incident was intentional or the result of reckless driving, but an active investigation is underway. Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, was among the attendees at the event, but left minutes before the vehicle arrived, CTV news said. 'This is so horrific, I don't even know what to say,' CTV quoted Singh as saying. 'I was just there, and I just imagine the faces of the kids that I saw smiling and dancing.' Usually the city parks dump trucks to block streets for festivals but for unknown reasons that didn't happen on Saturday. The VPD emphasized that they would be providing updates as the investigation unfolds. 'I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today's Lapu Lapu Day event. 'We will work to provide more information as soon as we can, but at this time we have confirmed that there are a number of fatalities and multiple injuries,' Vancouver's Mayor Ken Sim said in a statement. 'Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver's Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time.' Major crime detectives and collision reconstruction teams remained at the scene late into the evening, scouring the area for evidence and interviewing witnesses. The festival had drawn families, children, and neighbors from across Vancouver, many eager to enjoy the warm spring evening, unaware of the horror about to unfold. Instead, the street became a makeshift triage center as bystanders rushed to provide first aid before paramedics could arrive. Videos posted on social media showed stunned festivalgoers standing beside twisted tents, toppled chairs, and scattered belongings, the aftermath of what should have been an ordinary, joyous community event. Eyewitness videos from the scene show severe injuries among festival attendees, including reports of a baby trapped under a vehicle, while emergency responders could be seen performing CPR on victims. Police have asked anyone with video footage of the incident or who witnessed the crash to contact them immediately. 'Today was supposed to be a joyful and proud moment for my Filipino community - a celebration of Lapu Lapu Day at our Block Party. 'It was meant to be a day filled with music, food, laughter, and the honoring of our heritage. Instead, it turned into one of the most traumatizing days we will never forget,' wrote Jen Idaba-Castaneto who attended the celebration. 'After the event, a tragic accident occurred that took multiple lives. What was supposed to end with smiles and memories became a nightmare. 'Families, friends, and loved ones are now mourning and in shock. It's heartbreaking beyond words. 'Our community came together to celebrate our history, but we are now united in grief. 'My heart is broken for everyone affected by this tragedy. Please keep everyone involved in your prayers,' Idaba-Castaneto went on. 'We will remember those we lost today, and we will honor their memory in the way we continue to support each other through this unbearable pain.'
Irish Times
27-04-2025
- Irish Times
Several killed in Vancouver after car drives into crowd, police say
A number of people were killed and multiple others were injured in Vancouver after a driver drove into a crowd at a Filipino street festival in the western Canadian city, police said on Saturday. The driver has been taken into custody, police said in a post on social media platform X. The incident happened shortly after 8pm local time near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, where the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party was taking place. One witness told CTV News he saw a black vehicle driving erratically in the area of the festival just before the crowd was struck. READ MORE The Vancouver Sun said thousands of people had been in the area. Vancouver mayor Ken Sim said: 'I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today's Lapu Lapu Day event.' – Reuters More to follow ...
