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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Reducing pollution makes economic sense
A ground-breaking report of the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development recommends 87 changes that would significantly strengthen the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). CEPA plays an important role in the daily lives of Canadians, covering a broad range of environmental issues, including the regulation of pollution and toxic chemicals […]
Political consequences of interim measures: B.C. election, Kinder-Morgan Pipeline and federal environmental assessment reform
TORONTO—One of the defining features of former prime minister Stephen Harper’s approach to environmental matters was the dramatic streamlining of the federal environmental review and approval processes for energy and other resource projects through his 2012 budget implementation legislation, Bill C-38. The rewriting of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and the other changes contained in […]
Canada must move fast to preserve Last Ice Area
This World Oceans Day, June 8, brings into focus Canada’s often-overlooked third ocean, the one that borders our country at the top of the world. The Arctic Ocean, along with much of the North itself, has been undergoing rapid change due to the warming of the planet. Ice-dependent species are watching their habitat disappear with […]
Northerners at the front of climate change battle
When I helped get the Yukon Act through Parliament, and the Canada Yukon Devolution Transfer Agreement was signed, and the modern treaty, the Umbrella Final Agreement (UFA), and Self Government Agreements were signed, most of the last major steps were fulfilled in giving the Yukon responsible government. Now the Yukon, and subsequently the Northwest Territories, […]
