As 2020 draws to a close, we would be remiss if we did not recognize the progress we made this year as people took the time to reflect on the things that really matter.
As COVID-19 shut down our world and the dramatic political divisions south of the border came to a head, we spent more time contemplating the changes needed to build a more compassionate, peaceful society.
In particular, one of the bright spots of 2020 was a much wider of the need to address systemic racism. We must now look for every opportunity to address our own history of racism and advance tangible reconciliation.
As the 150th anniversary of sa国际传媒 joining the Canadian confederation approaches in 2021, our federal government has an opportunity to advance reconciliation with First Nations on Southern 颅Vancouver Island, while also 颅protecting local drinking watersheds and e颅ndangered species, and 颅fostering sustainable economic 颅opportunities.
The negotiation of modern treaties in our part of the province is impeded by the lack of Crown land due to the historic E&N Land Grant. The grant, which disregarded the rights and title of all First Nations in the area, is a legacy of sa国际传媒 颅joining Confederation. As part of the deal, the government awarded coal baron and government minister Robert 颅Dunsmuir more than 20 per cent of Vancouver Island, two million acres of land, along with $750,000. In exchange, Dunsmuir built the E&N railway.
Today, the remaining undeveloped land is at risk due to logging and the potential sale of mineral rights. Local watersheds have come under threat from these activities, with communities being forced to invest 颅millions on filtration and treatment plants to maintain their access to clean drinking water.
Unsustainable development and resource extraction also 颅threatens fish estuaries and animal habitats. Restoring the land to local First Nations could be done in a way that prioritizes vital 颅conservation efforts, while also providing sustainable economic opportunities including selective forestry, recreation and tourism.
There are already programs in place to make this happen. The federal government has committed to protecting 30 per cent of our natural areas by 2030 through sa国际传媒鈥檚 Nature Legacy program. A key part of this commitment is the creation of Indigenous Protected Conservation Areas (IPCAs), which fall under the jurisdiction and authority of the local First Nations.
The government should acquire a minimum of 25 per cent of the existing forest lands that were privatized under the E&N Land Grant and place them under the jurisdiction and control of the affected First Nations.
Land acquisition should focus on the critical habitat around 颅rivers, watercourses and catchment areas for community drinking watersheds, with special consideration given to placing community drinking watersheds under co-management between First Nations and the cities and towns that rely on the water supply.
Under the successful Land 颅Guardian program, co-management could be co-ordinated between First Nations within the Hul鈥檘umi鈥檔um, Kwakwaka鈥檞akw and Nuu-chah-nulth territories of the land grant region.
The acquisition process could include the use of carbon offsets, land transfers, tax incentives and cash purchases to assemble the land. User fees generated by颅颅 颅recreational use of the lands for activities such as camping, rafting and kayaking company tours, and parking fees for day use could also help fund the land acquisition.
The acquisition of a portion of the E&N lands as IPCAs would be a 颅significant step towards advancing reconciliation on Southern 颅Vancouver Island. It can be done in a way that advances other goals that are important to Islanders, like protecting wild salmon, conserving the 颅habitats of endangered species and preserving 颅biodiversity, while also ensuring our communities have access to clean drinking water and outdoor recreation.
If we take one lesson from 2020, let it be that honouring our 颅history means looking at it with clear eyes. If we forget the full 颅reality of our history, we are doomed to repeat it.
So, what better way to celebrate the anniversary of our province joining the Canadian confederation than to address the historic wrong that was perpetrated as part of it? If we do, we can move 颅forward together as a more just and sustainable province.
Paul Manly is the member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Ladysmith.
