The Big Story

Plus: B.C. businesses can access to a billion-dollar regional emergency fund if Canada-focused tariffs go into effect next month, Canadian officials celebrate the Gordie Howe International Bridge’s upcoming opening without their U.S. counterparts on hand, Alberta’s opposition leader raises concerns over the cost of the separation referendum, the Maritimes move to create a new regional electricity operator, and B.C. tightens its regulations on exotic cats. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
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It won't surprise you know that owning an exotic cat like a lion or tiger is illegal in B.C.-- it is in most places, and for good reason. Exotic large cat ownership has led to many preventable tragedies. But there is a middle ground of cat, of breeds much bigger than domestic cats but smaller than cheetah and other big cats, that has remained largely unregulated. Until now.

Host Caryn Ceolin is speaking with Michelle Cyca, the conservation and fellowships bureau chief for The Narwal, who's been covering the issue, to discuss why the BC government is doing this, who it will affect, and what it means for those cats already raised in captivity.

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Plus: The premiers agree to remove interprovincial trade barriers on alcohol sales, Canadians are feeling the pressure to keep up with artificial intelligence, the Bloc Quebecois leader’s X account is hacked, Canadian jazz legend Oliver Jones dies at 91, and a Quebec town grants rights to trees.

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Update since publication:

The Big Story would like to formally recognize Ricardo Rey as the author and initiator of the 'Universal Declaration of Tree Rights', and La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus as its founding organisation and official institutional steward. André Desrochers helped bring the existing Declaration to local attention but did not create, author or initiate it. Ms Trépanier is a member of the Terrasse-Vaudreuil Environmental Committee and her explanation represents her personal interpretation, not the authorized interpretation or official English translation of the Declaration.

The episode refers to the “Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Tree.” The official English title is “Universal Declaration of Tree Rights.”

The Universal Declaration of Tree Rights consists of three foundational articles. The four rights stated in the Terrasse-Vaudreuil municipal resolution — life, natural growth, integrity and regeneration — are distinct municipal provisions. They are not the three articles of the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights. The official page explaining the procedure and legal scope of adoption by local authorities is available here: https://www.declarationuniverselledesdroitsdelarbre.org/local-authorities-universal-declaration-tree-rights/

An official English-language explanation of the nature, purpose and scope of the Declaration, including what it is and what it is not can be found here: https://www.declarationuniverselledesdroitsdelarbre.org/understanding-the-universal-declaration-of-tree-rights/

The trilingual institutional framework governing the Declaration’s origin, stewardship, representation, uses and authorisations can be found here: https://www.declarationuniverselledesdroitsdelarbre.org/cadre-officiel-de-la-declaration-universelle-des-droits-de-larbre/

The detailed legal analysis explaining the progression of the Declaration’s three articles from the legal characterisation of the Tree, through the scientific foundation of the dependence of Life upon trees, to the resulting normative responsibility of humanity can be found here:
https://www.declarationuniverselledesdroitsdelarbre.org/fondements-juridiques-declaration-universelle-droits-arbre/

For certainty - Ms Trepanier is not the author or co-author of the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights, a representative of La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus, an authorized institutional spokesperson for the Declaration; a person authorized to translate, define or reinterpret its three articles; or a person holding a written mandate to represent the Declaration’s international institutional framework.

We regret the errors.

A Quebec town of 2000 people just west of Montreal has become the first place in Canada to recognize the rights of trees.

Inspired by Ricardo Rey, the author and initiator of the 'Universal Declaration of Tree Rights', La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus, its founding organization and official institutional steward, as well as André Desrochers, Quebec filmmaker, the Terrasse-Vaudreuil city council adopted a resolution that protects a tree's right to growth, life, integrity and regeneration, while also signing on to the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights

Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Sylvie Trepanier, a member of the Terrasse-Vaudreuil Environmental Committee to discuss their case for legally protecting the trees, and why other parts of the country may want to consider doing the same.

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
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Plus: the Big Story podcast looks at why President Donald Trump is pushing for more tariffs on Canada right now, U.S. officials could be sending billions more to fund the ongoing war in Iran, Canada's "grocery code of conduct" has some glaring issues, and trade tension is now spilling onto the Gordie Howe bridge between Windsor and Detroit. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
episodes. You can find us:

Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca 

Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

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