First Nations challenge Canada's fast-track laws in constitutional fight
The two new laws -- one in the province of Ontario and one at the federal level -- 'represent a clear and present danger to the Applicant First Nations' self-determination rights' and violate the government's obligation to reconcile with Indigenous peoples, according to a notice filed in Ontario Superior Court on Monday.
The nine First Nations involved in the lawsuit are located across Ontario and comprise Alderville First Nation, Apitipi Anicinapek Nation, Aroland First Nation, Attawapiskat First Nation, Fort Albany First Nation, Ginoogaming First Nation, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Oneida Nation of the Thames and Wabauskang First Nation. Parliament passed the federal legislation speedily late last month. It would let the government select infrastructure and resource projects in the 'national interest' and then decide whether some laws apply to them.
Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney aims for the law to fulfill a campaign promise to speed up approvals of what he calls nation-building projects, including mines and oil pipelines. The Ontario law, passed in early June, allows the government to declare 'special economic zones' that make some projects exempt from other provincial laws.
Environmentalists oppose both laws, saying they sidestep legislation meant to mitigate ecological harms while Indigenous groups argue they run roughshod over their rights to self-determination and the government's duty to consult.
The national law lets Canada 'unilaterally ram through projects without meaningful engagement with First Nations,' the court filing reads.
Canada is committed to upholding its commitments and obligations to Indigenous peoples, a spokesperson for Canada's Privy Council Office wrote in an email, adding that Carney will meet with First Nations, Inuit and Metis in coming weeks. 'Canada's goal is to pursue projects in the national interest in partnership with Indigenous Peoples,' the email said. 'Indigenous equity participation in major projects is a central focus of this initiative.'
The Ontario government said it has begun talks with First Nations aligned with its economic development goals and will continue consultations this summer. - Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
17 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Japan might ditch its prime minister again today — here's why
TOKYO, July 20 — Shigeru Ishiba likes the nitty gritty of policy, cigarettes and making models, but his dream job as Japanese prime minister could go up in smoke today. Opinion polls suggest that Ishiba's coalition could lose its majority in upper house elections today, a result that might push him to resign. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955, but whether anyone wants to replace Ishiba is another matter. 'I wonder who else wants the job,' Masahisa Endo, politics professor at Waseda University, told AFP. Ishiba, 68, a self-confessed defence 'geek', is the son of a regional governor and is from Japan's small Christian minority. He won the party leadership in September, on his fifth try, to become the LDP's 10th separate prime minister since 2000, all of them men. Ishiba pledged to 'create a new Japan' and revitalise depressed rural regions, and to address the 'quiet emergency' of Japan's shrinking population. He immediately called lower house elections for October but that backfired spectactularly, with the LDP suffering its worst result in 15 years. That robbed the LDP and its coalition party Komeito of their majority, forcing them to bargain with opposition parties to pass legislation. Ishiba's policies on bringing down inflation and spurring growth have 'flip-flopped' as a result, said Stefan Angrick at Moody's Analytics. 'Ishiba's government has boxed itself in, promising only some belated and half-hearted financial support that will do little to improve the demand outlook,' Angrick said. The government's popularity ratings have plummeted, with voters angry about price rises, especially for rice that is twice as expensive as a year ago. Clumsy ways Ishiba, the father of two daughters, also missed a chance to appear more modern by appointing only two women to his cabinet, down from five under predecessor Fumio Kishida. Ishiba's sometimes clumsy ways — ranging from the less-than-perfectly tidy arrangement of his tuxedo to his table manners — have also been rich fodder for social media memes. He drew ridicule after being snapped apparently napping in parliament and for failing to stand up to greet other world leaders at a gathering in South America. Worse was a video that emerged of Ishiba eating an onigiri rice ball — a popular snack — whole and munching on it without closing his mouth. 'He eats like a three-year-old,' one user said on social media platform X. 'How could he have risen to the top with these manners?' asked another. No deal A major challenge has been dealing with US President Donald Trump, who has imposed tariffs on Japanese cars, steel and aluminium. Further levies of 25 per cent on other Japanese imports will come into force on August 1 if there is no trade agreement. Ishiba secured an early invitation to the White House in February and has sent his tariffs envoy to Washington seven times, but there has been no deal yet. Then-premier Shinzo Abe — dubbed a 'Trump whisperer' — fared better during Trump's first term, managing to shield Japan from any tariffs. Abe, who was assassinated in 2022, gifted Trump a gold-coloured golf club and was a frequent visitor to see the US president. According to Trump, Abe even nominated him for the Nobel prize. 'There will never be another like him,' he said after Abe's death. — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Japan rice prices double, raising pressure on PM Ishiba
Crop damage from a previous dry spell and speculative hoarding by traders fuelled the surge in rice prices. (AFP pic) TOKYO : Rice prices in Japan soared 99.2% in June year-on-year, official data showed Friday, piling further pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ahead of elections this weekend. The price of the grain already rocketed 101% year-on-year in May, having jumped 98.4 % in April and more than 92.5% in March. Overall, Japan's core inflation rate slowed to 3.3% in June from 3.7% in May, the data from the internal affairs ministry showed. The reading, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, was slightly below market expectations of 3.4%. Excluding energy and also fresh food, consumer prices rose 3.4%, compared with 3.3% in May. Public support for Ishiba's administration has tumbled to its lowest level since he took office in October, partly because of frustration over the cost of living. One of the main sources of anger has been inflation and in particular the surging cost of rice, as well as scandals within the ruling party. The 68-year-old leader's coalition was deprived of a majority in the powerful lower house in October. It was the worst election result in 15 years for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955. Opinion polls ahead of Sunday's election suggest the ruling coalition may lose its majority in the upper house as well. This could force Ishiba to resign after less than a year in office. Tariff pressure He is under additional pressure to reach a trade deal with the US before new tariffs of 25% take effect on August 1. Japan's important auto imports into the world's biggest economy are already subject to painful levies, as are steel and aluminium. US President Donald Trump wants to get Japanese firms to manufacture more in the US, and Tokyo to buy more US goods – notably gas and oil, cars and rice – to reduce the US$70 billion trade deficit with the Asian powerhouse. Ishiba, who has sent his trade envoy Ryosei Akazawa to Washington seven times to try and broker a deal, was due to host US treasury secretary Scott Bessent on Friday. The Bank of Japan has been tightening monetary policy since last year as inflation crept up but worries about the impact of US tariffs on the world's number four economy has forced it to take a slower approach. Factors behind the rising price of rice include shortages due to an intensely hot and dry summer two years ago that damaged harvests nationwide. Since then some traders have been hoarding rice in a bid to boost their profits down the line, experts say. The issue was made worse by panic buying last year prompted by a government warning about a potential 'megaquake' that did not strike. The government has taken the rare step of releasing its emergency stockpile since February, which it typically only ever did during disasters.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Canada eyes Mercosur trade pact to reduce US reliance, says minister
Canadian exports to the US decreased in May to 68% of total exports, down from a monthly average of 75% last year. (EPA Images pic) OTTAWA : Canada's international trade minister said yesterday that there was interest from both sides to advance trade talks with the South American bloc Mercosur, as Ottawa seeks new deals in a push to diversify from the US. Prime Minister Mark Carney and his team have been locked in talks with US President Donald Trump to hash out a trade deal by Aug 1, which could help reduce tariffs on Canada. However, his government is also preparing to rely less on a relationship that generated bilateral trade of over C$1 trillion (US$727.33 billion) last year and to focus on diversifying trade by signing free trade pacts globally. 'I had conversations with the foreign minister of Brazil, and there is appetite to carry out conversations around Mercosur,' minister Maninder Sidhu said in an interview with Reuters. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had said in April that he was interested in advancing talks for a trade deal between South America's Mercosur bloc and Canada. Mercosur – which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – has had negotiation rounds for a trade deal with Canada in the past. 'Canada is also keen to continue talks with China to address trade challenges and views a thawing of relations between India and Canada as an important step to support trade,' the minister said. 'With China, there are opportunities, there are challenges,' he said, adding that the countries are holding frank discussions on a path forward on trade tariffs around exports of canola, beef, pet food and many other products. Canada has 15 free-trade deals covering 51 countries, giving it access to 1.5 billion consumers and Sidhu said that Ottawa will be pursuing more such deals in the coming months without giving a specific target. He had signed a free trade deal with Ecuador and an investment promotion pact with the UAE in his first two months in office and said discussions are on with the Asean countries and also individually with countries in the Indo-Pacific, including Indonesia and the Philippines. Over-exposure Sidhu said Canadian companies are overexposed to the US and they are not as competitive as they used to be due to Trump's tariffs. 'My job is to be out there opening doors,' he said, adding that he would seek to diversify not only trade but Canada's defence procurements from the US. Carney has promised to increase defence spending by an additional C$9 billion this year to meet Nato's target of spending 2% of GDP. 'We are working with the EU and other partners around the world to help unlock some of those procurement opportunities in defence for our Canadian companies,' he said. Canadian exports to the US dropped in May to 68% of total exports from a monthly average of 75% last year. The US share in May was the lowest on record as companies pushed to diversify from the US. He did not respond directly on what a trade deal between Canada and the US would look like, but said the government would 'work towards a deal that's best for Canadian businesses and Canadian workers'.
