B.C. human rights commissioner asks Canadian government to halt pipeline project
British Columbia’s human rights commissioner is calling on Canada to stop building a contentious natural gas pipeline until the affected Indigenous groups consent to the construction. Kasari Govender said in a series of tweets she believes Canada is shirking its obligations as a signatory to the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination... “Canada cannot simultaneously vie for a seat at the security council while ignoring their obligations to other parts of the UN,” she wrote. “It’s critical to the future of human rights that Canada and B.C. cement the credibility of our institutions by meeting our obligations.”
... Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs said he welcomed the pronouncement... “I believe that this represents the beginning of a genuine transition to a consent-based decision making in regard to Indigenous land rights and Indigenous human rights,”... Unist’ot’en spokeswoman Freda Huson said in an email that the UN must intervene to help defend against the human rights violations.
... Earlier this week, Coastal GasLink posted an injunction order giving opponents 72 hours to clear the way toward its work site in northern B.C... however, said that posting the order was procedural and the company has no plans to request police action.