91裸聊视频淔ree, prior and informed consent.91裸聊视频�

That91裸聊视频檚 the key phrase in the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which B.C. Premier John Horgan has vowed to implement in a province that has long struggled with unresolved aboriginal title and a lack of treaties over much of its area.

That goal came closer in the last days of 2018, as Horgan unveiled an agreement with three Indigenous communities to shut down up to 17 net-pen salmon farms in their traditional territory off B.C.91裸聊视频檚 coast.

Horgan and other politicians frequently say the UN declaration is not a veto over development, but the province91裸聊视频檚 retreat from the Broughton Archipelago amount to much the same thing. Ten of the long-standing provincial tenures between Kingcome and Knight Inlets off the north end of Vancouver Island are to be gone by 2023, and the other seven can continue only if the Kwikwasut91裸聊视频檌nuxw Haxwa91裸聊视频檓is, 91裸聊视频楴amgis and Mamalilikulla First Nations give their consent.

The salmon farming companies, Marine Harvest and Cermaq, give up their sites and get little in return. They are allowed to apply to the federal government for new aquaculture licences elsewhere on the B.C. coast, and company representatives say they intend to protect the jobs of 600 employees affected by the shutdowns.

Map of sites with closure dates. Asterisk marks those that may remain open if they have agreement with local Indigenous community

91裸聊视频� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)

Scientific study of salmon farms and their effects on migrating wild salmon is to continue, and Indigenous communities are to establish monitoring and inspection of remaining sites in the region. But as all sides were praising a new spirit of cooperation, a 91裸聊视频楴amgis councillor said the deal doesn91裸聊视频檛 change the community91裸聊视频檚 long-standing demand that ocean-based salmon farms are on the way out of their territory.

Provincial officials note that there remains debate among marine scientists about the impact of parasites and viruses from salmon farms on wild salmon, which are subject to many stresses at sea and in streams where they spawn.

A by Ottawa91裸聊视频檚 independent panel on aquaculture science was also cautious, recommending mostly processes for further research.

Opposition MLAs argue that the province has thousands of other land-based Crown tenures that could be jeopardized by B.C. conceding to Indigenous claims as they have in the Broughton. B.C. is unique in Canada with more than 200 recognized Indigenous communities, many with overlapping territorial claims and most without treaties ceding land to the Crown.

The salmon farm settlement is 91裸聊视频渃ritical to Canada91裸聊视频檚 development,91裸聊视频� Kwikwasut91裸聊视频檌nuxw Haxwa91裸聊视频檓is Chief Bob Chamberlin said at a ceremony at the B.C. legislature Dec. 14. Chamberlin is vice-president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, a prominent group backing protests against pipelines and other development around the province.

Out of hospital for announcement, says balance reached between jobs and environment

91裸聊视频� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)

Technically, the B.C. agreement is only a set of recommendations to the federal government. Fisheries and Oceans Minister Jonathan Wilkinson was on hand to receive the report, and his remarks were guarded and cautious. He noted that his department provided 91裸聊视频渟cientific input91裸聊视频� but was not involved in the decision to shut down or move salmon farms from disputed areas.

Ottawa is 91裸聊视频渄eveloping a risk management framework that will focus on implementing the precautionary approach in consultation with provinces, territories, indigenous peoples, industry and other stakeholders,91裸聊视频� Wilkinson said.

Former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell made his own effort to solve the puzzle of Indigenous rights, with a province-wide aboriginal title proposal based on historic territories mapped by the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs when it formed in 1969. The 91裸聊视频淩ecognition and Reconciliation Act91裸聊视频� was withdrawn after Indigenous leaders, notably those in the UBCIC, rejected it as a backroom deal that was pushed through just before the 2009 B.C. election.

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on .