Lee Berthiaume
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News, Politics
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February 17th 2020
An upcoming meeting in British Columbia is emerging as the focal point for hopes of a speedy and peaceful end to the blockades that have disrupted rail and road traffic across large swaths of the country for more than a week.
As cabinet ministers broker urgent meetings over rail blockades in support of hereditary chiefs in northern British Columbia, a series of negotiations over the Wet'suwet'en Nation's land rights have been quietly taking place for a year.
The competing demands of natural resource development, environmental protection and Indigenous reconciliation appear poised for a head-on crash — with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority government caught in the middle as Parliament resumes on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.
If the Wet'suwet'en solidarity rail blockades can't be resolved, industry is warning of widespread shortages of products like propane and chemicals used to clean drinking water. Meanwhile, lumber and wheat aren't making it to market.
As Indigenous-led, anti-pipeline protests have shut down rail service across much of the country, Quebec and Cree leaders announced on Monday, February 17, 2020, the first steps of a wide-ranging 30-year plan to further develop the province's northern territory together.
The Public Health Agency of Canada says it will review its protocols for health-care workers after nurses' unions denounced the national guidelines set out for dealing with the novel coronavirus earlier this month.
Transport Minister Marc Garneau is easing speed restrictions placed on certain trains following a derailment in Saskatchewan earlier this month that spilled 1.2 million litres of crude oil and started a massive fire.
“These protesters, these activists, may have the luxury of spending days at a time at a blockade, but they need to check their privilege,” Scheer told reporters.
Agriculture is a major contributor to Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, farmers are hit by some of the worst effects of climate change. But a coalition of farming groups says they can also be a part of the solution.
