WATCH: Raw logs, fish farms and marijuana were among the wide range of topics up for debate at the annual AVICC Convention in Victoria this weekend. Isabelle Raghem reports.
It’s a chance for hundreds of community leaders from the Island and from coastal communities to have their say.
Among the motions passed Saturday was one brought forward by the City of Victoria, it asked the convention to write a climate accountability letter to 20 fossil fuel companies.
“[We’re] asking for compensation for the real effects of climate changes in the same way tobacco companies need to compensate in a way they didn’t have to before,” said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps Saturday.
It’s inspired by a recent move by New York City..
“New York City is suing fossil fuel companies. We’re not doing that we’re simply writing a letter asking them to pay their fair share.” added helps.
There’s also one topic at the forefront of the discussions: Cannabis.
North Saanich brought forward a motion Saturday to call on the federal government to dedicate all profits from sales, that aren’t shared with provinces to be used for drug addiction programs.
The motion was shut down, with a majority voting against it.
“It is disappointing absolutely,” said North Saanich Councillor Jack Thornburgh, who presented the motion at the conference. “I got three decades on the streets of Vancouver and Victoria as a police officer, I’ve seen what drug addiction can do and I’ve seen where it starts.”
“This is trying to tell the federal government how they have to spend tax money that they’re legally entitled to both tax and spend,” ” said North Saanich Councillor Murray Weisenberger who opposed the resolution.
“And I know as a municipal Councillor I don’t want them to do the same thing to us.”
Port hardy and Tahsis brought forward a motion asking for a larger municipal share of cannabis revenues.
Tahsis proposed B.C. give 50 per cent of profits from sales of cannabis to communities ? that motion passed.
You can find details on the convention here and the agenda and list of resolutions here.
Isabelle Raghem
