New Indigenous Economic Strategy builds on TRC report
OTTAWA—Indigenous history is complicated. There is much to be proud of, despite government policies that have been systemically discriminatory, long before Confederation. Last week, a group of Indigenous economic and business groups released their plan for a National Indigenous Economic Strategy. It builds on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action that addressed the economy, […]
Online streaming bill risks pushing out Indigenous voices, says APTN
Indigenous peoples in Canada are at risk of losing their voice on the airwaves if proposed legislation to update the Broadcasting Act forces the smaller, independent broadcasters to do their own negotiating as services increasingly move online, says the CEO of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). “Right now we see online distributors are growing […]
Indigenous advocates won’t turn down visit by UN special rapporteur, but are focused on need for criminal prosecution for residential school abuses
Indigenous leaders want justice for the abuses that took place in residential schools, and say they won’t get it from yet another visit from the UN special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous people to Canada. Nonetheless, at the urging of the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations RoseAnne Archibald, UN special rapporteur […]
Pope sets itinerary for formal apology to residential school survivors in July visit to Canada
Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Canada later this summer to deliver a formal apology from the Roman Catholic Church for its decades-long role in operating residential schools. Scheduled from July 24 to 29, the visit will include stops in Edmonton, Quebec City, and Iqaluit. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted on May 13 that the […]
RCMP neither requested nor planned for Emergencies Act powers, commissioner tells MPs, Senators
The Emergencies Act helped reduce the size of the so-called Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa before the police action that finally cleared the blockade, but those powers were not requested, nor needed, to clear out other protests around the country, according to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki. “I believe that the act provided us with tools […]
Tributes from MPs pour in for former House Speaker John Bosley
The very last Speaker of the House of Commons to be directly appointed to the position by a prime minister before secret ballot voting was introduced in 1986, John Bosley died on April 28 at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital. Bosley, who first served on Toronto’s Metro Council from 1974 to 1978, was elected as a Progressive […]
‘We don’t want to carry this anymore’: papal apology must come with action, so healing and forgiveness can follow, says MP McLeod
Reflecting on the Pope’s coming trip to Canada, Liberal MP Michael McLeod, says that “a sincere apology” for the role played by the Catholic Church in Canada’s residential school system can be a meaningful step toward reconciliation, but he also wants a commitment “to help repair and to restore justice.” McLeod (Northwest Territories) said he […]
Canada’s coat of arms needs a revamp
As a symbol of Canadian identity, Canada’s coat of arms is outdated and is in desperate need of a revamp. Since the coat of arms is used on our money, passports, and federal institutions like the Supreme Court of Canada, it is important for it to represent both Canada’s history and the contemporary makeup of […]
Time to decolonize Canada’s official languages
It’s high time that Canada re-evaluated its definition of French and English as its only official languages, particularly if it is serious about reconciliation. While neither French nor English should be removed as official languages, the government should finally recognize the linguistic diversity of First Nations, particularly in the North, where neither English nor French […]
Indigenous languages on federal ballots could help boost turnout, PROC hears
Directly or indirectly, including Indigenous languages on federal ballots could help to boost Indigenous voter turnout, argue witnesses appearing as part of the House Affairs Committee’s ongoing study into the prospect. But some suggest resources would be better allocated elsewhere. “Having the Inuit language on ballots would help in increasing the voter turnout,” Nunavut Languages […]
