VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s human rights commissioner has called on Canada to stop building a contentious natural gas pipeline until the affected Indigenous groups consent to the construction. “This is a matter of fundamental human rights.”Coastal GasLink is building a pipeline from northeastern B.C. “It’s critical to the future of human rights that Canada and BC cement the credibility of our institutions by meeting our obligations.”Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “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,” he said. These included that the police refrain from enforcing an injunction order until nation-to-nation talks can occur with the provincial and federal governments to address infringements to Wet’suwet’en rights and title.

Source: National Post January 12, 2020 00:33 UTC