Despite our province being led by so-called NDP leadership, they’ve rolled out conservative policies the past year, including the approval of Ksi Lisims pipeline, the abandonment of drug decriminalization policy, and now, plans to partially suspend the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).
DRIPA, instated in 2019, mandated our government’s intention to work towards reconciliation. To suspend it and treat it as a burden directly contrasts with the social democratic values the NDP was founded on.
Don’t even get me started on the hypocrisy of the Liberal party (who are pretty much conservatives at this point). They welcomed the recent floor crossing of former conservative Marilyn Gladu to their caucus, even though she is known for her harmful, socially conservative views on abortion, vaccines, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. And the Liberals were just like, “fuck it,” I guess?
The bar for political parties is in hell, folks.
Darien Johnsen is a UFV alumni who obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree with double extended minors in Global Development Studies and Sociology in 2020. She started writing for The Cascade in 2018, taking on the role of features editor shortly after. She’s passionate about justice, sustainable development, and education.