Rising Sea Levels Threaten British Columbia's Waterfront Properties

Tanner Fox, the hitman responsible for the 2022 murder of Sikh businessman Ripudaman Singh Malik, received a life sentence in Canada, according to a ruling by the British Columbia Supreme Court. Fox, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in October, was sentenced without the possibility of parole for 20 years. Malik was shot multiple times in his car outside his family's business in Surrey. During the sentencing, Malik’s family urged Fox to disclose the identities of those who hired him. "We plead with you to reveal the names of the people who hired you," stated Sundeep Kaur Dhaliwal, Malik’s daughter-in-law, in court. Malik had previously been acquitted in relation to the 1985 Air India bombing, which resulted in the deaths of 329 individuals, making it one of Canada's deadliest terrorist incidents. Fox’s sentencing comes amid continuing investigations into Malik's murder and the wider implications of organized crime within the Sikh community in Canada.

For over 150 years, Canada’s First Nations have been fighting for their land rights, yet progress remains elusive. Ron Lameman, president of the International Indian Treaty Council and a member of the Cree Nation, describes the current situation as a "total assault" by the Canadian government on Indigenous rights, threatening the historical agreements made with the British Crown. Lameman emphasizes that traditional territories are vital for cultural and subsistence practices, asserting, "Our land defines who we are." Despite recognition from the Supreme Court of Canada regarding Aboriginal Title, government officials continue to undermine these rights. Sharon Venne, a Cree Nation lawyer, insists that economic self-determination is crucial for overcoming poverty among Indigenous communities. "Our wealth from land rights can build a future for generations," Venne stated. The government's attempts to negotiate financial settlements for land rights have split opinions within Indigenous groups, with some rejecting payments in favor of retaining their rights. The struggle for recognition and justice, fueled by decades of marginalization, shows no signs of resolution.

A coalition of First Nations in northern Ontario is launching a court case seeking billions in compensation, accusing the Canadian government of failing to honor a 175-year-old treaty. The group, which includes the Gull Bay First Nation, asserts that the government has not engaged in "meaningful negotiations" regarding financial obligations stemming from the Robinson treaties signed in 1850, which covered 35,700 square miles around Lakes Huron and Superior. Under the agreements, an augmentation clause was included to increase annual payments as land wealth grew. However, the Crown capped annuities at C$4 ($3) per person in 1874, a figure that has not risen despite substantial revenues generated from the land by private companies and the province of Ontario. In a recent unanimous ruling, Canada's Supreme Court criticized the federal and provincial governments for their "dishonourable" treatment of treaty obligations, which have perpetuated poverty among First Nations communities. The coalition aims for a federal court to determine the actual amount owed, potentially reaching up to C$126 billion ($94 billion), according to economist Joseph Stiglitz.