Nunavut politicians say feds must ‘step up’ prevention measures, fearing COVID-19 could spread ‘like wildfire’
Nunavut politicians are calling on the federal government to put aside more funds to prepare the territory, saying the $30.8-million promised last week is “a drop in the bucket” and not near enough to prepare for COVID-19 cases, which they warn could spread like wildfire in small communities. As the lone MP representing the largest […]
The case for a ‘For Indigenous, By Indigenous’ housing strategy
OTTAWA—When politicians and commentators discuss Indigenous peoples in Canada, it’s not often recognized that 87 per cent of Indigenous peoples in Canada live in urban, rural, and northern settings. Given that fact, it’s an unfortunate reality that the federal government is not living up to its housing obligations for Indigenous people living in urban, rural, […]
We are not really ‘The North’
OTTAWA—Thirteen years ago, I went to Whitehorse, the first time I had ever been north of the 60th parallel. It was a memorable visit, as I was enveloped by the northern lights, travelled around the region, and met people of all ages and backgrounds to talk about international policy. In doing so, I was part […]
Jason Kenney is shooting off his foot, not just his mouth
CHELSEA, QUE.—The major obstacle to Alberta’s future well-being at the moment is not Justin Trudeau. It is Jason Kenney. The Alberta premier’s belligerent and distorted attacks on “Ottawa,” and his deafness to the climate change concerns that influenced the outcome of the recent election, is winning him no friends in the rest of the country. […]
The Arctic is being overlooked in this election
The silence is deafening. Unless you live in the Arctic, as I do, you probably haven’t heard anything about the region that makes up more than half of Canada’s territory. That’s frustrating, given the attention the Arctic received before the election was called when the Government of Canada made a number of announcements and released […]
Arctic policy framework released ‘last minute’ ahead of October election, say experts
After nearly three years of waiting, the release of the Trudeau government’s much-anticipated Arctic policy framework was rushed ahead of the looming election, possibly with the aim of avoiding a campaign “vulnerability” for the Liberals, say experts. The Arctic and Northern Policy Framework was released with little fanfare on Sept. 10, just a day before […]
Greenland’s gamble
From his purchase of New Jersey casinos to his proposed acquisition of Greenland, Donald Trump’s real estate deals have always been plagued by bad timing. The United States could probably have bought Greenland from Denmark in 1917 (when it did buy the U.S. Virgin Islands from the Danes), but he’s a century too late now. […]
Feds offer ‘lip-service’ on committee roadmap to improve Arctic sovereignty, Tory MP says
The government’s “pablum” and “anodyne” answer to a committee’s call for action in the Arctic doesn’t reflect the urgent need to protect Canadian sovereignty, say a Liberal and Conservative MP. Conservative MP Erin O’Toole (Durham, Ont.), his party’s foreign affairs critic, said the government only offered “lip-service” in response to the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s […]
Premiers’ meeting sheds light on the real dimensions of Canada’s energy politics
OTTAWA—With Doug Ford going on about how the increasingly conservative lineup of provincial leaders is a driver of concerted Canada-wide action, a reporter at a premiers’ press conference asked the Ontario premier if British Columbia fits that mould. “We look forward to meeting with Premier Hogirth…” replied Ford. Nearby, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney prompted: “Horgan.” […]
How Indigenous peoples are reclaiming control over academics’ research agenda
In Canada, the resource-based industry contributes a significant portion of the gross national product. There has been increasing tension, however, between developers and Indigenous peoples, especially when the proposed project affects Indigenous lands. Legacy projects such as the Giant Mine in the Northwest Territories or the chloro-alkali plant upstream of Grassy Narrows in Ontario […]
