Policy and Rights

Speaking briefly with reporters in Kigali, Rwanda, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly react to the United States Supreme Court's decision overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion rights. Trudeau and Joly are in Kigali attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-an...

Security Council briefing by Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, on the situation in Afghanistan. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support .

“I always try to act in the best interests of British Columbians,” said Premier John Horgan. “That involves listening. That also means taking responsibility when you make the wrong call. Over the past few weeks, we listened to British Columbians who have made it clear they want the Royal BC Museum to remain open while we rethink our long-term plans to protect its priceless artifacts. That is exact...

At a news conference on Parliament Hill, interim Green Party leader Amita Kuttner announces the appointment of Angela Davidson, an Indigenous land defender, and Luc Joli-Coeur, a businessman and activist, as the party’s new deputy leaders. They are joined by Green parliamentary leader Elizabeth May and MP Mike Morrice. In response to questions from reporters, Kuttner and the other speakers comment...

WORLD REFUGEE DAY Today is World Refugee Day, and this year’s theme is “Whoever. Wherever. Whenever. Everyone has the right to seek safety.” In a message for the Day, the Secretary-General notes that today, the global refugee population is at a record high, and that the war in Ukraine has triggered the largest and fastest displacement in Europe since World War II. The Secretary-General points out...

People in British Columbia will be better protected from the impacts of wildfires, flooding and extreme heat through the actions included in the new Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy. The strategy includes actions across ministries supported by $513 million of investment to ensure British Columbia is prepared for climate impacts in the near term, while setting the foundation for future...

The Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Liu Zhenmin, said, “If we want to protect our future, we need to save our oceans.” Briefing reporters today (16 Jun) on the upcoming UN Ocean Conference, which will take place from 27 June to 1 July in Lisbon, Portugal, Liu Zhenmin said that governments will adopt a political declaration entitled ‘Our ocean, our future, our responsibilit...

Update on the potential flooding in British Columbia Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support .

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Bloc MP René Villemure, Conservative deputy leader Luc Berthold, NDP House leader Peter Julian, NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice, and Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong speak with reporters about a government official’s attendance at a Russia Day celebration that was held at the Russian Embassy in Ottawa on June 10. Berthold, Julian, Boulerice, and T...

MICHELLE BACHELET  In a statement released today, the Secretary-General said that he was deeply grateful to Michelle Bachelet for her relentless service to the United Nations as High Commissioner for Human Rights. From her earliest days in Chile with enormous personal sacrifice, she has been on the frontlines of the human rights struggle all her life.  In all she has done, Michelle Bachelet lives...

Press briefing by the Secretary-General, António Guterres and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General, Rebeca Grynspan. They will introduce the second report of the Global Crisis Response Group – on the impact of the war in Ukraine on the food, fuel and finance sectors. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/sup...

Flood Warning for British Columbia Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support .

The open Security Council briefing will focus on the war’s effects on women, including the increased risks of conflict-related sexual violence and trafficking. The anticipated briefers are Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten and a civil society representative. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support .

Albania’s Ambassador Ferit Hoxha today (1 Jun) said “we don't see any similarity” between Kosovo’s declaration of independence in 2008, and “the unprovoked military aggression of Russia in Ukraine” or the “prefabricated” Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic. Talking to reporters in New York, Hoxha said, “we don't see any similarity between Kosovo, an independent state, and t...

Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, and Matt MacDonald, lead forecaster from the BC Wildfire Service, for the June wildfire seasonal outlook and an update on seasonal wildfire preparedness. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support .

British Columbia is taking a critical step toward reducing the shame and fear associated with substance use as the federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health announced the granting of a three-year exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) to remove criminal penalties for people who possess a small amount of certain illicit substances for...

The WHO is working hard to keep track of the spread of the new monkeypox virus and is getting urging countries to continue testing and tracking code 19. According to Dr. Tedros and his team pandemic is not over and we still need to keep precautions. Medical aid is still needed for displaced residents and citizens of Ukraine. The WHO is still struggling to meet the needs of these victims of war. Be...

Conserative public safety critic Raquel Dancho speaks with reporters on Parliament Hill about the government's recently tabled gun control legislation. Among the measures proposed in Bill C-21 is implementing a national freeze on handguns, taking away the firearms licenses of those involved in acts of domestic violence or criminal harassment, and fighting gun smuggling and trafficking by increasin...

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said that his country is facing “a real threat of food insecurity, water insecurity and energy insecurity that has obviously been exacerbated by recent geopolitical development.” Following a Security Council meeting in New York, Zardari told journalists in New York on Thursday (19 May) that “as a result of the COVID pandemic and...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with reporters in Ottawa following his government’s tabling of new legislation on gun control. He is joined by federal ministers Marco Mendicino (public safety), David Lametti (justice), Marci Ien (women and gender equality and youth), and Bill Blair (emergency preparedness), as well as several victims of gun violence. Among the measures proposed in Bill C-21 i...

Danielle Smith, former leader of the Alberta Wildrose party, holds a virtual news conference to announce her bid to run for UCP leadership. Premier Jason Kenney stepped down as leader of the United Conservative Party of Alberta on Wednesday night after receiving only a slim majority of support in his leadership review. In British Columbia The Province is introducing a new oil and gas royalty syste...

the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, will brief foreign ministers in a meeting on global food security, convened by the United States. He is expected to warn the gathered ministers that global hunger levels are at a new high, and that the war in Ukraine is amplifying and accelerating driving factors such as climate change, COVID-19, and inequality. The Secretary-General is also expected to hig...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey make brief remarks in St. John's on the province’s child-care agreement with the federal government. In response to questions from reporters, Prime Minister Trudeau comments on investments in green energy, the visit by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to Canada, and on Finland and Sweden's applications to j...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Regina Mayor Sandra Masters comment briefly ahead of their meeting on Parliament Hill. In Ottawa, federal ministers Marc Miller (Crown–Indigenous relations), Patty Hajdu (Indigenous services) and David Lametti (justice) reiterate their government's efforts to support Indigenous communities regarding the ongoing impacts of residential schools. Become a supporter of...

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Tuesday’s visit to Peterborough, Ont., marred by aggressive protesters, was one of the “most intense, threatening, insulting” experiences in his political career. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support .