On September 14th, 2024, Council of Canadians chapter members from around BC and the Yukon gathered in Vancouver for a panel discussion with Indigenous water protectors Janelle Lapointe and Hugh Braker. The discussion explored the tasks ahead for our movement to safeguard watersheds and clean drinking water for future generations, along with the importance of acting in solidarity with Indigenous struggles.
Watch the recording:
Read about panelists
Janelle Lapointe is an Afro-Indigenous climate justice and Indigenous rights organizer from Stellat’en First Nation. She is currently a Senior Advisor at the David Suzuki Foundation and a guest on Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) territories. Janelle is also an organizer with Common Horizon, a regular contributor on CBC Vancouver’s The Early Edition climate panel, a member of the Indigenous Climate Adaptation Working Group and a council member of SevenGen Energy. She leans on her lived experience growing up on her small reserve in Northern British Columbia to ensure that intersectionality is at the forefront of environmental narratives, to build power & help others see their stake in fighting back against the status quo.
Hugh Braker is a lawyer from Tseshaht First Nation with over 25 years of experience specializing in Indigenous rights legislation. Currently the lead negotiator for the Tseshaht’s comprehensive land claim, Hugh also holds a number of other political roles. He is a member of the Political Executive of the First Nations Summit, president of the First Nations Fisheries Council, a member of the First Nations Water Caucus, and a co-commissioner of the joint BC – First Nations Water Table.
Resources to protect water and watersheds at the ballot box
As the BC election nears, the stakes for our water and waterways, public water infrastructure, and entire ecosystems have never been higher. For that reason, the Pacific chapters of the Council of Canadians have been hard at work making sure water stays top of mind for voters and candidates alike.
See what we’ve been up to and get involved!
Voter pledge
This summer, we released a voter pledge calling on British Columbians to vote for an MLA candidate that puts water protection, ecosystem health, and community wellbeing before corporate profits. So far, 723 people have signed our online pledge!
Want to increase your impact and help build our water movement? Print out a pledge form and gather signatures from friends, family, and community members! Please send scans or pictures of completed forms to bcwater@canadians.org.
Candidate pledge
Our friends and allies at the BC Watershed Security Coalition have released a candidate pledge calling on all MLA candidates to champion water and watersheds this election. On their page you’ll find a list of all candidates showing who has signed the pledge, and an email tool that you can use to contact candidates in your riding.
Election questions
Speaking directly to candidates at town halls, campaign offices, and at the doorstep is another great way to highlight the importance of water this election. Below are a few sample questions you can ask when you speak to candidates.
- Public water infrastructure: Will you ensure that all water infrastructure remains in public hands? Will you work to bring small private water systems under public control?
- Enforcement: What will you do to strengthen enforcement of regulations in the Water Sustainability Act and other water legislation? Will you increase fines and penalties for corporate polluters?
- Bottled water: Will you support a moratorium on all new licenses for water extraction for bottling and export? Will you close the loophole that permits bulk water export in small containers?
- Forestry: Which changes to forestry policy will you champion to restore the integrity of BC’s drinking watersheds? Will you advocate for an end to clearcut logging in BC’s remaining primary forests?
- Ecosystem health: What will you do to implement the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health framework proposed earlier this year?
- Wild salmon: What will you do to safeguard wild salmon populations from the threats posed by fish farms and declining water levels in streams and rivers?
Keep track of the answers you receive and send your notes to bcwater@canadians.org to help us hold our elected officials accountable.
