Canada’s colonial grip on the North needs to end
Earlier this month, I stood before a crowd in Reykjavik, Iceland, at the 2017 Artic Circle Assembly and again called for a strong vision for Canada’s North from our federal government. There is a lot of talk in Canada about reconciliation with Indigenous people right now. This is good news for a territory where approximately […]
The North
Heavy fuel oil must be banned from the Canadian Arctic
Over the last decades, Canada has taken successive actions to monitor and minimize the impact of human activities on our environment. For the Canadian Arctic, one of the key actions was the passing of the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act (AWPPA) in 1985. Another has been making it compulsory for ships weighing 300 tonnes or […]
Two Senators once denied Indian status fight bill so others can gain rights
Long before Senator Lillian Dyck became the first First Nations woman to sit in the Upper Chamber, white Parliamentarians signed laws stripping women of their Indian status and the ability to confer that legal identity to their descendants. The Saskatchewan Senator can trace discriminatory Canadian legislation through her lineage, an imposed heirloom she passed to […]
Liberals weighing new language to fix sexist Indian Act, says Sen. Sinclair
The government is likely working on new language to address sex discrimination in the Indian Act, to bring it in line with yet another court order and a Senate that may be unwilling to compromise on a bill that could fail a charter test, says one of the Senators advocating for changes to the bill. […]
Huge Health Canada branch could be moved to new ministry, unions blindsided
Unions representing most of the employees in Health Canada’s Indigenous services branch have lambasted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government for announcing that the branch would be moved under the jurisdiction of a new minister and likely a new department without consulting them ahead of time. The branch makes up nearly three-quarters of Health Canada’s total […]
We can make business-First Nations partnerships work
In two important decisions this summer, Canada’s highest court provided long-awaited clarity on the Crown’s duty to consult on energy projects that affect the rights of Indigenous peoples. This clarity is welcome, but it may not last long as the discussion of Indigenous rights now continues in the political arena. Meanwhile, another conversation is developing […]
Inside the Indigenous Affairs split: ‘nobody is losing their job’ during transition, feds say
It will likely be a year before the government makes good on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s pledge to split Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada in two, and “nobody is losing their job” while the details are worked out, says a spokesperson for the department’s two ministers. Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett (Toronto-St. Paul’s, Ont.) […]
Opportunities missed in rural Canada without adequate investments
When you travel throughout Canada there is a certain expectation of safety. At our airports, you expect innovative navigational aids to be used for safe landings and you expect the runway to be paved and well lit. When travelling by land, you anticipate our roads, especially the Trans-Canada Highway, to be safe and well maintained. […]
Canada missing out on business, emissions-cutting opportunity of LNG
Canada has a unique opportunity to use our abundant and clean-burning natural gas to offset coal-fired electricity all over the world, but it will only happen if our governments—federal and provincial—recognize that they are having a severe and negative impact on the investment necessary to help Canada realize this potential. If Canadians truly care about […]
