Latest news with #IndigenousRelations
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Indigenous leader pulls out of B.C. trade mission to Asia over Bills 14, 15
Social Sharing B.C. Premier David Eby said Saturday that he is confident that recent opposition from First Nations to infrastructure fast-track legislation will not affect his ability to attract investment from Asia. Eby's remarks came a day after B.C. Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee pulled out of the premier's trade mission to East Asia, citing continuing criticism from Indigenous leaders on the passing of Bills 14 and 15, two pieces of legislation aimed at speeding up certain infrastructure projects. Bill 15, the Infrastructure Projects Act, is aimed at fast-tracking public sector projects like schools and hospitals, as well as private projects, such as critical mineral mines, that are deemed provincially significant. Bill 14, the Renewable Energy Projects (Streamlined Permitting) Act, will speed up clean energy projects across the province. Teegee and other First Nations leaders said the bills — which narrowly passed in legislature this week — have inflicted "profound damage" on the province's relationship with Indigenous communities. WATCH | Bill 15 faces backlash: Eby's mining announcement overshadowed by backlash to controversial Bill 15 6 days ago Duration 2:07 Premier David Eby has unveiled his plan to speed up mining development to boost B.C.'s economy. But as Katie DeRosa reports, the announcement was overshadowed by growing opposition to a controversial bill. "While the Premier seeks to strengthen B.C.'s economic relationships in the Indo-Pacific region and promote investment in major natural resource projects, his government has simultaneously undermined the very rights and relationships that are foundations to sustainable economic development in First Nations territories," reads the statement from the B.C. Assembly of First Nations. In a separate statement, Teegee said the passing of the new bills is the direct reason he decided not to join the trade mission. "How can we participate in trade missions to promote resource development when this government has just rammed through legislation that tramples our rights and threatens our territories?" he said. "During uncertain times, it's imperative that First Nations actively shape economic relationships that impact our lands, peoples, and futures." But Eby said he has promised First Nations leaders that his government will ensure "strong Indigenous partnerships" and strong environmental protections despite the bills passing, as long as he is premier. The premier made his comments on the eve of his departure on a 10-day trade mission to Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. "We do have to move faster," he said, citing opening of the Blackwater gold and silver mine Friday as an example of a project that can be completed faster than expected with First Nation partnership is involved. "This is a mine that ordinarily would take four or five years to build," Eby said. "It was completed in 18 months, including a significant transmission line 160-plus kilometres through some pretty challenging terrain, all of it completed in 22 months." Eby said that international investors need to understand that they must have "strong partnerships with Indigenous people [in B.C.]" and high environmental standards in order to see their projects move quickly in the province. "So what we're seeing is nations becoming full economic partners in the projects, proponents of the projects, as well as participating in the oversight to ensure land protection." Eby said the province will work hard to demonstrate its commitment to ensuring Indigenous partnership, and Teegee's withdrawal from the trade mission is a clear sign that more work needs to be done on that front. "Words will not be sufficient," he said. The B.C. delegation to Asia comes amid a continued push to diversify the province's trading partners amid an ongoing trade war with the U.S. due to President Donald Trump's tariff threats. On Friday, Trump threatened to impose 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, posing a major threat to Ontario and Quebec's economies in particular. "The expertise that we have here, the market access and other pieces, mean that as the president ramps up his attack on core industries in Central Canada, it redoubles the importance of what we have to do here in British Columbia to support the national economy," Eby said.
CTV News
25-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Community farm building bridges between newcomers and First Nations
On a former construction site in southeast Calgary, an urban farm provides newcomers access to land to grow food and build meaningful relationships with the Indigenous community. (Drew Miller/CTV News Edmonton) On a former construction site in southeast Calgary, an urban farm provides newcomers access to land not only to grow food but to build meaningful relationships with the Indigenous community. Rod Olson is now an urban farmer but he was once a refugee settlement counsellor and founded Land of Dreams after seeing some newcomers struggle with city life. 'I saw a lot of people with agriculture backgrounds coming into the city, and we put them in the urban environment, and we hope that they're going to do well, and a lot of them struggle because their identity is as farmers,' he says. 'Typically they're told, 'Well, that's too hard to do in Canada.' So we feel like we're making an opportunity for them to actually become farmers.' When Land of Dreams began, it was just about providing space for people to grow food for their own consumption, but that changed last year after teaming up with Blue Planet. 'They're bringing some of their waste product, which, mixed with our heavy clay soil in Calgary has made things much more productive, and so we've got excess and so we're going to experiment with a social enterprise, which means we're selling some of our produce to some restaurants in Calgary, to some local community associations,' says Olson. Olson says interest in the urban farm has increased over the years but finds the burgeoning relationship between the Indigenous community and the newcomers most rewarding as they work together to rehabilitate the land. 'There's way more in common than people might think,' says Olson. 'We had no idea that was going to be one of the surprises that we found here and so I think there's a real sense of life and joy and love that seems to be emerging because we're treating the land in a good way.' Land of Dreams has been operating since 2019 and is located at 6525 – 84 Street SE.
CTV News
25-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Community farm building bridges between newcomers and First Nations
On a former construction site in southeast Calgary, an urban farm provides newcomers access to land to grow food and build meaningful relationships with the Indigenous community. (Drew Miller/CTV News Edmonton) On a former construction site in southeast Calgary, an urban farm provides newcomers access to land not only to grow food but to build meaningful relationships with the Indigenous community. Rod Olson is now an urban farmer but he was once a refugee settlement counsellor and founded Land of Dreams after seeing some newcomers struggle with city life. 'I saw a lot of people with agriculture backgrounds coming into the city, and we put them in the urban environment, and we hope that they're going to do well, and a lot of them struggle because their identity is as farmers,' he says. 'Typically they're told, 'Well, that's too hard to do in Canada.' So we feel like we're making an opportunity for them to actually become farmers.' When Land of Dreams began, it was just about providing space for people to grow food for their own consumption, but that changed last year after teaming up with Blue Planet. 'They're bringing some of their waste product, which, mixed with our heavy clay soil in Calgary has made things much more productive, and so we've got excess and so we're going to experiment with a social enterprise, which means we're selling some of our produce to some restaurants in Calgary, to some local community associations,' says Olson. Olson says interest in the urban farm has increased over the years but finds the burgeoning relationship between the Indigenous community and the newcomers most rewarding as they work together to rehabilitate the land. 'There's way more in common than people might think,' says Olson. 'We had no idea that was going to be one of the surprises that we found here and so I think there's a real sense of life and joy and love that seems to be emerging because we're treating the land in a good way.' Land of Dreams has been operating since 2019 and is located at 6525 – 84 Street SE.
CBC
17-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Alberta premier shuffles cabinet, splits health portfolio
Social Sharing Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced an overhaul of several government ministries, creating two new health services portfolios and replacing her Indigenous relations minister. Former health minister Adriana LaGrange has been sworn in as minister of primary and preventative health services, while former jobs minister Matt Jones is in charge of hospital and surgical health services. Previous Indigenous relations minister Rick Wilson is now minister of mental health and addiction. Jason Nixon, who already had continuing care added to his seniors, social services and housing portfolio, will lead a renamed ministry of assisted living and social services. Four ministers are now responsible for each of the newly compartmentalized areas of health services, Smith told people assembled at a swearing-in ceremony in Calgary. "With this team of ministers, we will keep our promises to shorten wait times, improve primary care, ensure Albertans' needs are being met in the most appropriate setting, and develop an even stronger focus on mental health and addiction supports," Smith said. Wilson replaces Dan Williams, who moves to municipal affairs. Rajan Sawhney will head Indigenous relations, while cabinet newcomer Myles McDougall, who represents the Calgary-Fish Creek constituency, assumes her former portfolio of advanced education. Change in Speaker necessitated shuffle Smith says the shuffle was needed to fill the vacancy left by former municipal affairs minister Ric McIver, who is taking on the role of Speaker of the assembly. "Once you move one cabinet minister, you have to start moving a few others," Smith said Friday before the swearing-in ceremony with Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani. WATCH | Some promises fulfilled, plus a few surprises: What you might have missed during the Alberta Legislature's spring sitting 1 day ago Duration 3:16 Nathan Cooper, the former Speaker, left the job earlier this week and is stepping down this summer as the MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills to become the province's new representative in Washington. The move created a ripple throughout ministries at the same time that Smith's government is in the midst of major health-care system restructure and separatist talk has soured Indigenous relations in the province. Former tourism minister Joseph Schow is taking over the jobs, economy, trade and immigration file from Jones. Schow's press secretary said he will remain the government's house leader. Cabinet expands The shuffle puts 27 total people in cabinet, a net increase of two people and more than half of the 47-member United Conservative Party caucus. Crestview Strategy vice-president Mandi Johnson, who previously worked for the UCP government, expected Smith to trim cabinet in preparation for a possible early provincial election call. Dividing health duties into four portfolios makes it unclear who's in charge of the health system, and that may be purposeful, Johnson said. "That's probably because the premier is the health minister," Johnson said. "She cares very much about the health file. She obviously wants things to move faster than they're moving." Given the government's investment and focus on changing the addictions treatment system, Johnson said moving Wilson into that file demonstrates that he has the premier's trust. Smith previously added child-care funding negotiations with the federal government to Jones' portfolio, and his move into health is a signal that "she wants something back on track," Johnson said. Under McDougall, the post-secondary sector should expect to see more focus on the pushback against equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives, Johnson said. Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi, who has previously called for LaGrange to be fired as health minister, called Friday's changes a demotion for her. He doesn't see how splitting up health oversight will improve front-line care, he said. "If you don't have a family doctor, if you're waiting for cancer care, if you have a friend or relative or a loved one who is in trouble with addictions and mental health, or if you have to drive by a closed emergency room to get to one, where you're waiting 15 hours, nothing announced today will help you," Nenshi told reporters. He was also disappointed to see Smith leave Justice Minister Mickey Amery in his portfolio. Amery has acknowledged he is related by marriage and has a friendship with the owner of MHCare, a medical supply company whose relationship with the government is currently the subject of several probes. Muhammed Yaseen, who was the minister of immigration and multiculturalism, is now an associate minister of multiculturalism. Demetrios Nicolaides is taking on more responsibility, adding child care to his portfolio. He is now the minister of education and child care. Andrew Boitchenko, who was previously the parliamentary secretary for Indigenous relations, is minister of tourism and sport. Grant Hunter, who served as a minister under former premier Jason Kenney, is associate minister of water. He also takes over as chief government whip from Shane Getson.
CBC
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
N.W.T., Nunavik MPs appointed to new federal cabinet
New members of Parliament for the Northwest Territories and the Nunavik region of Quebec have been named to Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet. N.W.T. MP Rebecca Alty is now the minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, while Nunavik MP Mandy Gull-Masty is the new minister of Indigenous Services. The last N.W.T. MP to be appointed to cabinet was Ethel Blondin-Andrew under Paul Martin in 2003. The riding was called Western Arctic at the time. The new federal cabinet includes 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state — people who have specific roles, but aren't necessarily connected to a particular department.
