Late last week, the provincial government decided to unceremoniously dump former B.C. Liberal Cabinet Minister, George Abbott as the incoming First Nations Treaty Commissioner. My thinking was that Mr. Abbott was a good choice. He served twice as the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation (MARR) and had the support of First Nations leadership and the federal government. But just a few days before he was supposed to begin his new role, Minister John Rustad, current MARR, who recruited Abbott, contacted him to say he was unable to get the necessary support from Cabinet for the appointment.

Today in the House I rose to provide my response to the speech from the throne. In it outlined a different vision from the government. That vision is for a diversified, sustainable 21st century economy.

2 hours and 40 minutes later, Chief Councillor Ross is the second-to-last presenter and the first person to even mention the word "emissions" in this presentation on LNG in BC. 

This op-ed was published in the Penticton Herald on July 28, 2014.

The Province of British Columbia has a rich and complex history of ignoring issues with First Nations. Sadly, we all pay for these purposeful omissions at later time. Such is the case of Grace Islet in Salt Spring Island’s Ganges Harbour, where a luxury home is being built on a First Nations cemetery.

I am disappointed at the racist comments made in an email by Pat Pimm, the MLA for Peace River North. As a former member of the British Columbia Cabinet, a B.C. Liberal caucus member and a member of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, I am shocked that he would show such disrespect for the First Nations people of our province.