Tasha Kheiriddin: Indigenous leaders put Carney's dreams on notice
Article content
At Monday's First Ministers' meeting in Saskatoon, the PM rolled out his big plan: slash approval times for 'national interest' infrastructure projects from five to two years. He got buy-in from the premiers, hoping to stimulate growth, counter U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, and pull Canada together as one economy. Despite a shortage of specifics, there finally appears to be a willingness to get things done and reconcile the interests of East and West. Quebec Premier François Legault said he's open to a pipeline, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was positively giddy about energy corridors, and even Alberta's Danielle Smith was cautiously optimistic.
Article content
Indigenous leaders, however, are not impressed. National Chief Cindy Woodhouse of the Assembly of First Nations warned that the plan risks trampling Indigenous rights and took umbrage at being given seven days to review draft proposals. Regional Chief Scott McLeod of the Anishinabek Nation went further, suggesting that Canada could see a new indigenous protest movement along the lines of Idle No More. That movement arose in 2012 in response to Bill C-45, legislation advanced by then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper that sought to streamline the project approvals process, and spawned protests and rail travel disruptions across the country.
Article content
Article content
Now, Carney could face the same opposition, made worse by the actions of his own party and other progressive politicians over the past ten years. Their version of reconciliation did little to advance Indigenous people economically, but much to reinforce the idea that non-Indigenous people are guests in their own country.
Article content
Article content
From the denigration of Canadian historical figures like John A. Macdonald, Henry Dundas and Egerton Ryerson, to the performative and divisive repetition of land acknowledgements, to the spreading of falsehoods about the existence of mass graves at residential schools, Canada was depicted as the country that could do no right by its First Nations. Little wonder, then, that many Indigenous people don't see themselves as part of Canada and have little interest in pulling together for the 'national interest.'
Article content
Article content
There is no question that a succession of Canadian governments implemented policies that damaged generations of First Nations people, including the Indian Act, the residential school system, the pass system, and the potlatch ban. But guilt will not help fix current problems facing First Nations. Nor will opposition to development. It will actually hurt, by weakening Canada economically and reducing its capacity to fund real change in indigenous communities, such as ending all boil water advisories and building adequate housing and schools.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
13 minutes ago
- CTV News
Former top general says reviewing medals for Afghan vets a ‘no-brainer' for Carney
OTTAWA — A former top general who led the military during the Afghanistan conflict is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney's government to revisit the files of soldiers who served there to see if any of their awards should be upgraded to the Victoria Cross. Rick Hillier said that despite the failure of recent attempts to trigger such an independent review, he thinks the odds are better now that Ottawa is bent on revitalizing the Canadian Armed Forces. 'I am more optimistic right now. I think for the government, this should be a no-brainer,' Hillier, chief of the defence staff from 2005-2008, told The Canadian Press. Hillier is part of the civil society group Valour in the Presence of the Enemy, which has been pressing Ottawa to consider awarding veterans of the 2001 to 2014 Afghanistan campaign the country's highest military honour. He said commendations awarded to Afghanistan veterans should be examined in light of new information to see whether any of them qualify for the Victoria Cross. 'Let's do an independent review, not committing to anything, which is right and appropriate,' he said. 'And if we should find that one or two or more individuals are deserving of the Victoria Cross, what a shot in the arm that would be for our soldiers and aviators and sailors.' In 2022, former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole pushed to have a the House of Commons endorse the creation of a review panel that would take a second look at military decorations. Hillier said it may have been a strategic error to have the former leader of the opposition bring that proposal forward, since it 'almost guaranteed' that the governing Liberal party would oppose it. The issue is being brought to the fore again through a parliamentary petition sponsored and endorsed by Liberal MP Pauline Rochefort which also calls for a review panel. Twenty Stars of Military Valour — Canada's second-highest military award — and 89 Medals of Military Valour were awarded to soldiers who served in Afghanistan. No serving Canadian soldier or veteran has been awarded the Victoria Cross since the Second World War. The Government of Canada says just 81 Canadians have ever been awarded the Victoria Cross — 4 from the Boer War, 64 from the First World War and 13 from the Second World War. Gen. Walter Natynczyk, chief of the defence staff from 2008 to 2012, ordered a review in 2012 of the 20 Stars of Military Valour awarded for the Afghanistan conflict. Ottawa has resisted calls in recent years for another review. Department of National Defence spokesperson Andrée-Anne Poulin said in an emailed statement the awards process is designed to be insulated from political influence and public pressure. 'All honours for the Afghanistan mission have been processed and the time limits for such nominations (two years between the action and the nomination for Military Valour and Bravery Decorations) have now elapsed,' she said. 'These time limits ensure events are judged by the standards and values of the time, are compared with other contemporary examples, past decisions are not second-guessed and history is not reinterpreted.' Many have cited the case of Jess Larochelle of North Bay, Ont., as one that deserves a closer look. The late army private's supporters maintain he should be awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions in holding off a 2006 Taliban attack on an observation post after sustaining serious injuries. Hillier, who chaired the committee that awarded Larochelle his Star of Military Valour, said details of his story that came to light in the years since make his case worth a fresh look. 'I don't think we made a mistake, but having done something doesn't mean that it's cast in stone forever and ever,' he said. Hillier said new details about 'how badly injured' Larochelle was during the battle, and the fact that he volunteered to take the position, should merit a reappraisal of his case. Retired lieutenant-general Omer Lavoie suggested the Department of National Defence may be reluctant to reopen awards files because it would be a complex project that would stir up grim memories of the conflict — and because it could quickly give rise to claims of unfair treatment if veterans of other wars aren't also honoured. Hillier also observed that Canadians tend to be hesitant about lavishing praise on individual acts of greatness. 'We in Canada have forever been loath, reluctant, slow to recognize the very top acts of courage and valour,' he said. 'Throughout our history, we seem to have this sort of group-thought process sometimes, where it keeps people all in one level.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 13, 2025. Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press
CBC
44 minutes ago
- CBC
Residents warned against drone use in vicinity of Bayers Lake fire
An emergency alert Tuesday evening cautioned Halifax-area residents that the use of drones within 9.3 kilometres of an uncontrolled wildfire in the Bayers Lake area could jeopardize firefighting operations. The provincial alert, delivered just after 6:30 p.m. AT, said anyone caught operating a drone in the restricted zone could be fined or face jail time. "If unauthorized drones are present, firefighting aircraft must be grounded, and crews must suspend operations," the alert explained. "This puts lives and communities at great risk." The Halifax Professional Firefighters confirmed in a Facebook post on Tuesday night that a drone did pause operations on the Bayers Lake wildfire. "Water bombing operations have been temporarily halted due to an illegal drone in the area. This is directly impacting fire fighter and public safety," the post read. "Flying recreational drones near an active incident is illegal and dangerously interferes with emergency operations. Please keep all drones grounded and away from the scene so our crews can safely continue their work." Unauthorized drones can impede firefighting work CBC videographer Brian MacKay spotted a man flying a small drone — possibly a DJI Mini — along Highway 102 near the Costco location in Bayers Lake on Tuesday afternoon while capturing footage with a regular video camera. "As an advanced drone pilot who is taking courses and things, I know very well that anywhere near an active site like that, a forest fire, anything with search and rescue, anywhere near helicopters in the air or drones are being used by rescue personnel — we are not to fly drones for photography purposes or any purposes because it impedes their job," MacKay said. "But I also know having taken this course and being an advanced drone pilot that you don't need to be an advanced drone pilot to fly a drone." 'It can be very dangerous' Nav Canada refers to small drones as remotely piloted aircraft systems. If someone is flying one near a wildfire without permission, Transport Canada says there's a chance it could collide with firefighting aircraft. "Canadian law requires all drone pilots to fly according to the Canadian Aviation Regulations, which state that only someone with permission can fly a drone over a wildfire, or within 9.3 kilometres (five nautical miles) of a wildfire," Transport Canada said on its website. MacKay said water bombers were getting closer to the highway at the time he spotted the man with the drone. He said the man might not have known the regulations. "I do have patience for people like that, I don't think they're trying to hinder anything. They're just trying to get a good view, get some cool footage to upload or share with family and friends. I don't believe it was malicious but it can be very dangerous," he said.
CBC
44 minutes ago
- CBC
Mahone Bay, N.S., introduces new accessibility guidelines for sidewalk patios
Any future sidewalk patio applications in Mahone Bay, N.S., will need to meet new accessibility guidelines following a decision from the town council after the fall of a well-known senior who later died. Council has adopted — several months early — the provincial accessibility standards that are due to come into effect next April, after hearing what it described as a "significant volume" of both support and concern about the structures. The town began a review of its streets and sidewalk bylaw after 100-year-old Barbara Minard fell earlier this summer outside a restaurant patio. She suffered injuries to her hand and died several days later. No connection between the fall and her death has been officially confirmed. "We've heard all voices at the table," said Mayor Suzanne Lohnes-Croft. "So it's something that we thought would help." However, the change is not retroactive, so Eli + Trix on Main Street remains in compliance, Lohnes-Croft said, noting the restaurant has made a number of modifications to its structure since the incident. The new regulations would require any future installations to be wider to make it easier for mobility scooters to navigate, she said as an example. While the town is writing to the restaurant to ask the business to align with the Nova Scotia Built Environment Accessibility Standard, that is simply a request and not mandatory. "We're trying to find a balance," Lohnes-Croft said. "It's challenging for businesses to make these adjustments as well." Minard's family wants the wooden walkway of the patio removed so the sidewalk is restored to its original form. They say council's action does not go far enough. They've been supported by a number of people who signed a petition that was presented to council. Among them is Antony Irving, who said the walkway is narrow and difficult to navigate on his mobility scooter. "I think it somehow slipped through and hasn't had proper analysis of what the implications of it are," Irving said. Ann Crossman presented the petition to council. "This was not blaming anyone or dragging the whole thing through, this was merely safety because Barbara wanted the sidewalk for the people," Crossman said. Eli + Trix owner Danielle King has maintained since the incident that Barbara Minard fell on the sidewalk, not the wooden walkway. But she said she has made numerous adjustments, including widening the walkway's corners to better accommodate scooters, as well as installing signage, reflectors, traffic cones, metal transition plates and extra railings. 'We did all of the right things' The town had full oversight during construction of the structure, King said, adding it is not realistic to request a new set of standards with time running out in the patio season. "The patio took three months to build, it would require at least three or four days to take it apart, and to rebuild it again would certainly take another couple of weeks," King said. "I am $10,000 to $12,000 into this patio for what is a very short season already." The patio, which has 22 seats, is well used and the backlash against her business has had a detrimental impact, she said. "We did all of the right things. Unfortunately, a terrible accident happened," King said.
