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CBC
7 minutes ago
- CBC
Elizabeth May says she won't lead Green Party in next election
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May told supporters Tuesday that she won't be leading the party into the next election. May — who is currently the only Green MP — made the announcement in an email to party members which was shared with CBC news. She said she intends to stay on as an MP and leader pending the results of an upcoming leadership review. "My voice, as the sole Green MP in the House of Commons, is stronger as leader. I intend to grow our parliamentary caucus before stepping down," May said in her email. May has led the party through five federal elections dating back to 2008. She stepped down as leader following the 2019 vote and the party selected Anamie Paul to lead the party in the following election. After Paul's departure in the wake of the 2021 election, May returned to co-lead the party alongside Jonathan Pedneault. Pedneault took the lead as the face of the Green's national campaign this past spring, but failed to secure a seat. He resigned days after the election, leaving May as the sole party leader. In her email on Tuesday, May said the party's governing council will decide the best timing for a leadership vote, and that the party is determined to make it a "positive experience" — likely referring to Paul's exit following months of party infighting. "Succession planning in any political party is tricky, but our federal council is determined to learn from past mistakes and make the transition to new leadership a positive experience that builds the party," she wrote.
CBC
7 minutes ago
- CBC
Calgary announces $30M for Indigenous affordable housing project
Social Sharing For the first time, the City of Calgary is launching an Indigenous-led affordable housing project to provide homes for Indigenous people in the city — and it is contributing $30 million to make it happen. Maa'too'maa'taapii Aoko'iyii'piaya, the Blackfoot name for the program, aims to create between 150 and 300 units in what the city calls a "historic investment." Elder Jackie Bromley of Kainai Nation is on the advisory committee, and gifted the name to the program. She called the initiative a symbol of reconciliation in action. "Maa'too'maa'taapii Aoko'iyii'piaya is more than a program. It is a promise," said Bromley. "It is a recognition that Indigenous nations and communities hold the knowledge, the vision and the strength to build homes that honour who we are." "Too often, decisions were made for us, not with us. This program changes that story," she said. Systemic barriers to housing The city says Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by homelessness, making up 41 per cent of the homeless population despite representing only three per cent of Calgary's total population. In the city, 3,800 Indigenous households are currently struggling to afford and keep their housing. Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek was on hand to launch the program Tuesday. She said Indigenous people continue to face systemic barriers when it comes to finding a place to call home. "We have heard that there is discrimination when looking for a home to rent; there is exclusion from culturally safe housing; and there are systemic inequities that perpetuate harm and that keeps intergenerational trauma going, and that keeps families in crisis," Gondek said. The team lead for the city's Indigenous Housing Program, Samantha Efthimiou, said the term "culturally safe" refers to the space and freedom to carry out traditional Indigenous practices, "places where we can smudge without being judged, where we can do ceremony without having questions asked, without being asked permission to have a naming ceremony in our complex." Applications open next week The program is open to all Treaty 7 First Nations, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Districts 5 & 6 and Indigenous non-profits in Calgary. Organizations chosen for the program can receive up to $150,000 over two years for planning and engagement. The remainder of the $30 million will cover up to 40 per cent of eligible capital costs for the building and construction of the affordable units. Operational costs will not be covered. Those interested can submit funding proposals starting Aug. 25, the same day the city will host a virtual information session. As for a timeline on when the first units could be complete and ready for move-in, the city said that will depend on the project type, but it anticipates the earliest could be the start of 2027. Gondek pointed to the use of modular builds as a way to expedite the process. She said she hopes in the future, the program can grow to create more units than currently planned. "It seems like a small number when you look at the crisis, but for every single person that we can house, that matters. That is a life that has changed," said Gondek.
CBC
37 minutes ago
- CBC
Edmonton city councillors forging ahead on river valley plan revamp despite pushback
Edmonton city council will proceed on updating a plan which would direct the future use and management of the North Saskatchewan River Valley despite public concerns raised during a hearing Monday. From environmental conservation to increased public access to the river valley, several members of the public presented their views before Edmonton city council Monday as the city looks to revamp it's river valley plan for the first time in decades. Councillors ultimately voted unanimously to move forward with administration's plan. Ward Sspomitapi Coun. Jo-Anne Wright attempted a motion that would have had administration go back to the drawing board and look at changes to address concerns over language and ensuring environmental protection of the river valley while balancing public access. That motion failed 4-9 with only Wright, Michael Janz, Erin Rutherford and Andrew Knack voting in favour. Concern was raised by various speakers over the use of "shall" vs."should" in plan guidelines. "The proposed bylaw falls short of protecting this treasure," said Ansh Gulati, a law student at the University of Alberta working with the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition. "We are serious about protection and enforcement. The use of 'should' must be altered or restored to 'shall' to be binding and impose a legal obligation." Council ultimately expressed concern that making the change would have been too restrictive. "Shall is, 'you shall do X or you shall not do X, mandatory. It's very prescriptive. There's no flexibility with shall. You need to amend the plan to get some flexibility," said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. "Our goal is to protect the river valley, but at the same time, make sure that Edmontonians are able to enjoy this beautiful asset that we have … it's not to exclude from enjoyment." The city is undertaking this revamp as it has said its approach to planning, engagement and environmental protection has evolved as new challenges like climate change have come into the forefront. Administration is seeking a variety of changes such as a stronger connection to the city's Ribbon of Green plan, placing limits on intensive open space facilities, utility infrastructure and transportation infrastructure, updating assessment requirements and updating triggers for when a project proposal might require council approval. Multiple organizations presented their thoughts on the plan Monday at city hall. "We support the city's efforts to modernize and clarify key elements of its planning framework," said Elise Shillington with BILD Edmonton Metro, a group that represents real estate developers in Edmonton. "Regular updates to statutory plans are vital to maintaining a planning system that is agile, responsive and capable of supporting both development and redevelopment, also ensures the involving needs of current and future residents, while continuing to safeguard our crown jewel, the Edmonton river valley." Other groups like the northern chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society expressed concerns that the plan does not go far enough to protect environmental concerns. Since 2005, the city has lost 4.2 per cent of natural areas in the river valley according to Kecia Kerr, executive director with the society. "It is significant, given that the proposed bylaw will weaken protections, and if our citywide trend continues, natural areas will become extremely rare within the city, outside of the river valley." Concerns of lack of care and consultation Kerr said they see three major gaps in the proposed plan that put the river valley at risk: weak discretionary language, a reduction of oversight of development by council and the public, and a lack of clear binding limits on environmental impact. The proposed plan delegates development decisions to city administration for projects under 10,000 square metres. "These large thresholds mean that significant developments can move forward without council oversight or public hearing under the current language of the plan", Kerr said. Some speakers noted that a reduction of 500 square metres would have been a compromise that allows for potential development. Joe Yurkovich, president of the Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance, said there needs to be a different standard applied to trails. "The bylaw needs to be amended so that pockets within administration don't have the discretion or don't feel compelled to apply the strictest standards against the natural surface trail development," Yurkovich said. Miranda Jimmy, a member of Thunderchild First Nation, said the city is not honouring its commitments to Indigenous people through consultation oversight. "The [area redevelopment plan] and the bylaws before you today do not meet this threshold of free, prior informed consent, the basis of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples and the TRC principles of reconciliation," Jimmy said. "The plan also does not include a requirement for Indigenous consent in future decisions made under these updated rules, Indigenous engagement does not equal consultation with rights holders. Consultation does not equal consent." City administration told council that it undertook Indigenous engagement in each of the four phases of the plan revamp project and reached out to 32 First Nations.
