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British Columbians told to stop using term ‘British Columbians’ because it’s offensive now

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The Province of British Columbia is now instructing its residents not to refer to themselves as “British Columbians” as the term is offensive.

The guideline — first publicized by True North — is contained within an official guide for B.C. government workers drafting “Indigenous content.”

Writers are told that the term British Columbian “excludes Indigenous Peoples who may not identify with it.”

In referring to First Nations, bureaucrats are told to avoid any moniker associated with B.C. or Canada, a “nation that has actively worked to assimilate (Indigenous) people.”

“’British Columbians’ also excludes other groups such as newcomers and refugees,” it adds.

The correct term, according to the guide, is “people living in B.C.”

It’s a turn of phrase similar to prior government-sponsored revamps of the words “homeless people” or “drug addicts.”

The new government-approved terms — in B.C. and other provinces — are now “people experiencing homelessness” and “people who use drugs.”

Awkwardly, the memo on “British Columbians” now being an offensive term has not yet made its way to the provincial government itself.

The official website of the ruling BC NDP contains nearly 900 usages of the term “British Columbians,” including many press statements issued in just the last few weeks.

On Jan. 30, for instance, the party published a statement about all the ways they are “helping British Columbians with costs.” As per the style guide of their own government, the statement would appear to be directed only at those provincial residents who are not Indigenous, refugees or newcomers.

The “Terminology in Indigenous content” guide also includes a list of outdated terms that bureaucrats are instructed to avoid.

This includes “Aboriginal groups,” “Aboriginal interest” and the word “traditional.” “Traditional knowledge, traditional territories, makes it seem like it is only applicable to the past and not the present,” it reads.

B.C. also happens to be the same province that is engaged in a years-long effort to purge absolutely every piece of provincial legislation of gendered terms.

The program is premised on the notion that non-binary people would not “recognize themselves in the law.” As such, the province has a dedicated team combing through all 154 years of provincial legislation and codes to remove pronouns as well as mentions of any terms that imply the existence of gender such as “father” “aunt” or “herself.”

According to the government’s own style guidelines, the official name for this gender neutrality project is now itself offensive. It is overseen through a regulatory process known as Better Regulations for British Columbians.

 

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Liberals announce expansion to mortgage eligibility, draft rights for renters, buyers

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OTTAWA – Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the government is making some changes to mortgage rules to help more Canadians to purchase their first home.

She says the changes will come into force in December and better reflect the housing market.

The price cap for insured mortgages will be boosted for the first time since 2012, moving to $1.5 million from $1 million, to allow more people to qualify for a mortgage with less than a 20 per cent down payment.

The government will also expand its 30-year mortgage amortization to include first-time homebuyers buying any type of home, as well as anybody buying a newly built home.

On Aug. 1 eligibility for the 30-year amortization was changed to include first-time buyers purchasing a newly-built home.

Justice Minister Arif Virani is also releasing drafts for a bill of rights for renters as well as one for homebuyers, both of which the government promised five months ago.

Virani says the government intends to work with provinces to prevent practices like renovictions, where landowners evict tenants and make minimal renovations and then seek higher rents.

The government touts today’s announced measures as the “boldest mortgage reforms in decades,” and it comes after a year of criticism over high housing costs.

The Liberals have been slumping in the polls for months, including among younger adults who say not being able to afford a house is one of their key concerns.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Meddling inquiry won’t publicly name parliamentarians suspected by spy watchdog

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OTTAWA – The head of a federal inquiry into foreign interference says she will not be publicly identifying parliamentarians suspected by a spy watchdog of meddling in Canadian affairs.

The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians raised eyebrows earlier this year with a public version of a secret report that said some parliamentarians were “semi-witting or witting” participants in the efforts of foreign states to meddle in Canadian politics.

Although the report didn’t name individuals, the blunt findings prompted a flurry of concern that members knowingly involved in interference might still be active in politics.

As inquiry hearings resume today, commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue cautions that the allegations are based on classified information, which means the inquiry can neither make them public, nor even disclose them to the people in question.

As a result, she says, the commission of inquiry won’t be able to provide the individuals with a meaningful opportunity to defend themselves.

However, Hogue adds, the commission plans to address the allegations in the classified version of its final report and make recommendations.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Judge to release decision in sexual assault trial of former military leader Edmundson

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OTTAWA – The judge overseeing the sexual assault trial of former vice-admiral Haydn Edmundson is reading his decision in an Ottawa court this morning.

Edmundson was the head of the military’s personnel in 2021 when he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman while they were deployed together back in 1991.

The trial was held in February, but the verdict has been delayed twice.

The complainant, Stephanie Viau, testified at trial that she was in the navy’s lowest rank at the time of the alleged assault and Edmundson was an officer.

Edmundson pleaded not guilty, and testified that he never had sexual contact with Viau.

He was one of several high-ranking military leaders accused of sexual misconduct in 2021, a scandal that led to an external report calling for sweeping changes to reform the culture of the Armed Forces.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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