B.C. First Nations and logging firm want Walbran Valley old-growth blockade to end
By Darryl Greer The B.C. Supreme Court is set to rule on an injunction to halt a blockade against old-growth logging in the Walbran Valley on Vancouver Island, but a lawyer for one of the blockaders says the law is evolving and in need of a “course correction.” The Pacheedaht First Nation has decried the blockade on its traditional territory near Port Renfrew, B.C., claiming it is undermining its authority and should disband. The First Nation said in a statement that forestry is a “cornerstone” of its economy, and is calling for the blockaders to “stand down and leave.” The statement came after Tsawak-qin Forestry Inc., a firm co-owned by the Huu-ay-aht First Nations and Western Forest Products Inc., filed a lawsuit last week in B.C. Supreme Court alleging that...
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Lecce promotes speedy ‘one project, one process’ for new mines
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source THUNDER BAY — Ontario’s energy and mines minister came to CEN-CAN to preach the value of a “1P1P” – one project, one process – system for getting new mines open. “It cannot take 15 years to open a mine in the province,” Stephen Lecce said Thursday in a conference that was part of the regional mining expo. “And so that’s why … we brought forth landmark one-project, one-process legislation” he said. A streamlined system is necessary because the old one “really undermines the flow of capital, and we need investment,” he said. “We need to attract global investment. We need to retain Canadian investment. “We want to see more Canadians working within our resource sector, and therefore that’s why we...
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No current Yukon ministers are seeking re-election in upcoming vote
By Ashley Joannou Yukon’s premier said he’s excited about the group of candidates he has running in the upcoming territorial election, despite the fact that no incumbent ministers are seeking re-election. Mike Pemberton said he applauds his out-going colleagues for the work that they did during two terms with the Liberal government, and said the new crop of candidates offers experience even if they’re not veteran political candidates. “I would say that the candidates that we’ve announced so far have fairly strong name recognition in the community. Maybe not as politicals, but with NGOs, with different First Nations, so name recognition is not the issue,” he said. “If people do not know their names now, they will know their names by election day.” Speaker Jeremy Harper is the only sitting...
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Proposed Nunavut infrastructure projects not included in initial announcement
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the first major infrastructure projects of national interest to get fast-tracked under Bill C-5, but none of the proposed Nunavut investments made the list. However, the Sept. 11 announcement did include mention of an Arctic security corridor as a strategic area of focus for future development under the bill. Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok said he is optimistic that Nunavut will be part of future plans. “While our projects were not included in the first round of announcements, it is encouraging to see the Arctic Security Corridor — Grays Bay road and port — recognized as a candidate for the second round of announcements,” Akeeagok said. Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) and the Government of Nunavut...
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Qikiqtaaluk Fisheries launches new vessel
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News A new fishing vessel is coming to the Davis Strait off the coast of Baffin Island to trawl for shrimp and turbot. Qikiqtaaluk Fisheries launched its latest ship — the Saputi II — from the Freire shipyard in Vigo, Spain, on Sept. 9. The Saputi II is 79 metres long, 17 metres wide, and has capacity for 34 crew members. Powered by a high-efficiency, low-emission engine, Qikiqtaaluk Fisheries considers this trawler to be built for sustainable harvesting. “This vessel will not only improve our operational efficiency but also support our efforts to protect marine ecosystems,” stated Harry Flaherty, president and CEO of Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, the parent company of Qikiqtaaluk Fisheries. The Arctic freezer trawler will have the capacity to process...
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$61.8M for Geraldton Main Street project is
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source GREENSTONE — Geraldton’s Main Street rehabilitation project is getting $61.8 million in provincial money to prepare for the anticipated heavy traffic surge that will come with Ring of Fire development. The project is “more than a roadworks project,” Greg Rickford, the minister responsible for Ring of Fire economic and community partnerships, said Wednesday during a news conference in Toronto. Instead, said Rickford, “it’s a signal that Geraldton is a gateway to one of Ontario’s greatest assets in the face of economic threats from the United States, and that our government is serious about supporting the communities that anchor the north.” The government sees mining in the Ring of Fire as a means to strengthen local economies, create jobs and build...
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Survey reveals Canadians divided on Indigenous rights
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase A new survey by the Angus Reid Institute has unveiled what experts are calling concerning beliefs towards Indigenous people spreading across Canada. The poll, “Special status or equal treatment?” found that 55 percent of Canadians believe Indigenous nations “have no special status” in Canada. Sixty percent said Indigenous communities should be governed “by the same systems and rules as other Canadians.” According to Jon Roe, research associate with the Angus Reid institute, the survey was a part of a larger survey series, gauging Canadians perceptions on contemporary Indigenous issues. “These were questions that we had asked previously in 2018,” Roe said. “So, it had been a while since we looked at these questions and see whether or not Canadians’ perceptions had changed.”...
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24th Anniversary: Remembering: September 11, 2001
9/11 Memorial in New York City Commemoration marking 24th Anniversary...
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Survey reveals Canadians divided on Indigenous rights
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase A new survey by the Angus Reid Institute has unveiled what experts are calling concerning beliefs towards Indigenous people spreading across Canada. The poll, “Special status or equal treatment?” found that 55 percent of Canadians believe Indigenous nations “have no special status” in Canada. Sixty percent said Indigenous communities should be governed “by the same systems and rules as other Canadians.” According to Jon Roe, research associate with the Angus Reid institute, the survey was a part of a larger survey series, gauging Canadians perceptions on contemporary Indigenous issues. “These were questions that we had asked previously in 2018,” Roe said. “So, it had been a while since we looked at these questions and see whether or not Canadians’ perceptions had changed.”...
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Quebec premier shuffles cabinet, promises ‘shock treatment’ in year before election
By Sidhartha Banerjee Quebec Premier François Legault, one year away from the general election and deeply unpopular with the electorate, announced a major cabinet shuffle on Wednesday and promised to soon present a new vision for the province’s economy. He also pledged to make radical changes to the public service, saying the system needs a “shock treatment” to get out of its lethargy. It’s all part of a plan to revive the fortunes of his party, which according to polls is at risk of disappearing from the electoral map after it won a second mandate three years ago with a decisive majority. In front of his new cabinet on Wednesday, the premier suggested his planned changes for the next year will not be easy, but are necessary. “At my age,...
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MCK Chiefs return from AFN’s Annual General Assembly
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) Chiefs Jeffrey Diabo and Ross Montour have returned from Winnipeg after attending the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Annual General Assembly (AGM) held from September 3 to 5. Although MCK does not hold voting rights within AFN, due to the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between AFN and the Iroquois Caucus, Montour said he and Diabo were attending the AGM last week in an observer capacity. “AFN is not a rights holder,” Montour reiterated. “The individual First Nations, the people elected to serve, are representatives of rights holders.” But even in this role, Montour was concerned about how AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak was characterising the relationship between First Nations and the Federal government. “It painted...
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Ottawa names Indigenous advisory council on major projects
By Alessia Passafiume Eleven Indigenous leaders from across the country were named to the federal government’s new Indigenous Peoples’ Council on Wednesday, tasked with advising the new federal body working to fast-track major infrastructure projects. The federal government says the council will work with Indigenous Peoples to integrate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into government decision-making on major projects. It’s creation was a promise made to Indigenous Peoples as the government pushed through its major projects bill, which caused an outcry in many Indigenous communities as people feared it could impact their rights and permit projects without fair consultation. The law was passed, with support from the Conservatives, less than a month after it was introduced. It allows cabinet to quickly grant federal approvals for...
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Carney plans to announce the first series of major projects on Thursday
By Kyle Duggan The first major industrial projects under the federal government’s strategy to reduce Canada’s economic reliance on the U.S. will be announced Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney told his caucus on Wednesday. The prime minister vowed that these “transformative” projects will align both with the interests of Indigenous people and with Canada’s climate goals. Carney said he wants to “turbocharge” Canada’s economy through “major nation-building projects that connect our regions, that diversify our products and build new markets and create those hundreds of thousands of high-paying careers for our workers, from the trades to technology.” Carney made the comments in Edmonton in a speech to Liberal MPs attending a caucus retreat ahead of the return of the House of Commons next week. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who was...
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Quebec premier shuffles cabinet, promises ‘shock treatment’ in year before election
By Sidhartha Banerjee Quebec Premier François Legault, one year away from the general election and deeply unpopular with the electorate, announced a major cabinet shuffle on Wednesday and promised to soon present a new vision for the province’s economy. He also pledged to make radical changes to the public service, saying the system needs a “shock treatment” to get out of its lethargy. It’s all part of a plan to revive the fortunes of his party, which according to polls is at risk of disappearing from the electoral map after it won a second mandate three years ago with a decisive majority. In front of his new cabinet on Wednesday, the premier suggested his planned changes for the next year will not be easy, but are necessary. “At my age,...
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Concerning allegations emerge against Alberni Valley Senior Citizens Homes Society
By Nora O’Malley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ha-Shilth-Sa Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Senior Citizens Homes Society (AVSCHS) is under fire after multiple tenants of Pioneer Towers have filed for dispute resolution with the B.C. Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB). There are currently four Pioneer Towers tenants with active filings and hearings scheduled throughout Sept. and Oct. According to Anita Eskola, community advocate supporting the tenants of Pioneer Towers, the total amount of compensation being sought by the tenants is “substantial”. Managed by Sandra Rose, Pioneer Towers is a seven-story housing complex that serves residents who are elderly, disabled and often living on low or fixed incomes. Rents range from $500 to $700 per month and include heat, hot water, and hydro. The apartment complex has 56 rental units...
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MLA questions whether immigrants are ‘taking over’ Inuit jobs in Nunavut
By Jeff Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News Human Resources Minister David Akeeagok says the Government of Nunavut makes it a priority to hire Inuit. He was responding Tuesday to a question on immigrants in the workforce from Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki. During question period, Malliki suggested people arriving from outside of Canada are being hired for jobs intended for Nunavut Inuit. “There are people coming [from] outside of our country that are taking over the Inuit positions,” Malliki said in Inuktitut. Akeeagok responded, also in Inuktitut, saying private businesses may target the hiring of immigrants but the GN “does not do that.” Inuit, he said, “are the priority” when it comes to hiring by the government. Malliki doubled down in a followup question. “[It] seems like they are...
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City seeking funding for project to benefit lake
By Darlene Wroe, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Temiskaming Speaker TEMISKAMING SHORES – A committee has been established with the hope of being able to give Lake Temiskaming some “TLC.” At the September 2 Temiskaming Shores committee-of-the-whole meeting, city director of environmental services Steve Burnett outlined for council members that a partnership has been created between the city, the Timiskaming First Nation (TFN), L’Organisme de bassin versant du Témiscamingue (OBVT – the Temiscamingue Watershed Organization) based in Ville-Marie, and the Ottawa Riverkeeper. The hope of the partners is to be able to access funding now available through the Ontario Community Environment Fund to carry out an environmental restoration, remediation and monitoring project which would be beneficial to the lake. Burnett was seeking approval from council at the September 2 meeting to...
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Carney plans to announce on Thursday the first major projects under bill C-5
By Kyle Duggan Prime Minister Mark Carney says the first major industrial projects under the government’s plans to reduce economic reliance on the U.S. will be announced on Thursday. Carney is in Edmonton speaking to Liberal MPs at a caucus retreat ahead of the return of the House of Commons next week. The prime minister says the projects align with the interests of Indigenous people and Canada’s climate goals that will “turbo charge” the economy. He also intends to launch his promised new national homebuilding strategy next week. Carney says later this fall the government will also release a new “climate competitiveness strategy” that will focus on results and investments instead of objectives and prohibitions. The caucus meetings come as Carney inches toward the release of his first federal budget...
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Smiles, giggles … It’s Fair Time at Six Nations!
Food, fun, farming come together at Six Nations’ 156th Fall Fair By Carly McHugh Writer It was another successful year for the longest-running Indigenous fair in Canada, with old favourites and new additions bringing excitement to the Six Nations Fairground from Sept. 5 to 7. The Six Nations Agricultural Society has put on its Fall Fair for 156 years, and throughout that time, it has evolved to include various representations of local horticulture and agriculture, through its programs and shows, vendors, farm equipment displays and agriculture-specific exhibits. The exhibits are a major attraction for both participants and attendees, featuring handiwork from students and members across the community. “It’s a wide variety of everything, from moccasins to art painting to pencil painting to ribbon skirts, and even the food part of...
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Assembly of First Nations: Chiefs vote down major projects resolutions, say AFN shouldn’t negotiate for them
By Brittany Hobson First Nations Chiefs voted down a resolution at their national assembly last week with opponents saying it would have amounted to an endorsement of the federal government’s major projects legislation. The resolution would have called on Ottawa to include First Nations infrastructure ventures in its push to fast-track major projects. It also would have allowed the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) to intervene in lawsuits against the legislation. The resolution failed to obtain the required 60 per cent support at the Assembly of First Nations annual general meeting in Winnipeg. The legislation allows the federal government to fast-track major projects it considers to be in the national interest. Prime Minister Mark Carney insists the bill will not sidestep consultations. First Nations say they were not properly consulted...
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