Latest news with #LindaDebassige
CBC
5 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
First Nations advocates disappointed as UN working group on enforced disappearances postpones visit
A United Nations body that investigates cases of enforced disappearance is postponing a visit to Canada due to a lack of money, though First Nations advocates hope the group will soon visit to probe the deaths of children at residential schools. "The postponement of the visit is not only a disappointment, but a continued delay in addressing the real systemic issues," said Linda Debassige, grand council chief of the Anishinabek Nation. Debassige advocates for 39 First Nations in Ontario and wrote the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in August 2024, inviting it to visit Canada and shine an international spotlight on this issue. "The disappearances of these children constitute an ongoing human rights issue, impacting the families and communities," her letter said. However, unbeknownst to Debassige, the working group had already asked to visit Canada — the request went out in February 2024 — and Ottawa accepted on Oct. 24, 2024, the UN's website says. It lists the visit period as between June 2025 and June 2026. That would "mean a lot" to many, Debassige added. "It's not just about me; it's about the survivors and their families," Debassige said. "It's only been in recent recent years that truth has started to come to light." However, the group's chairperson told CBC Indigenous the visit is on hold because the UN had to cut the number of country visits it can do. "The visit is not likely to take place anytime soon, mostly due to the overall UN liquidity crisis," wrote Gabriella Citroni, a professor of international human rights law at the University of Milano-Bicocca in Italy, in an email. The UN outlined its " deepening financial crisis" in May 2025, citing among other things a shortfall of $2.4 billion in unpaid dues from member states. The main culprit is the United States, which owes about $1.5 billion and is withholding money as it cuts spending. Steve Lands, a co-ordinator with the Wiikwogaming Tiinahtiisiiwin Project, started by Grassy Narrows First Nation to investigate the former McIntosh Indian Residential School in northwestern Ontario, said it would be important for the UN group to visit sites like that for a firsthand account. "It was quite exciting for us that the UN would be coming to visit because the UN has a lot of clout," said Lands, a McIntosh survivor himself. "I believe the whole team would be agreeable on the UN to come and visit McIntosh." Last year the project located 114 unmarked burial features on the property, of which 106 were in the historical cemetery. They know of 166 people buried in that cemetery, so they are still trying to find everyone, said project technical lead Aaron Mior. "I think it's good to have an independent body come in and give their opinions and insight into what they've seen, compared to other atrocities or other similar examples across the world," he said. Kimberly Murray, the former federal special interlocutor for missing children and unmarked graves at residential schools, rendered her final report in October 2024 — just days after Canada agreed to the UN working group's request. Yet Murray said federal officials never told her about this potential visit, even though she argued at length these children were disappeared by the state and victims of a crime against humanity. "They never mentioned anything about it at the closing when the minister of justice spoke," said Murray, a law school professor at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. She also met with ministers a month after her final report, yet there too no one mentioned the visit, she said. Murray suspects she was kept in the dark because Canada wants to minimize publicity. "I think that they want to keep it quiet, don't want the public and Indigenous communities to know that the working group has an interest in coming to Canada to investigate whether there is enforced disappearances," she said. In a statement, Global Affairs Canada said it has had a standing invitation for these UN special procedures in place since 1999. "Canada welcomes opportunities for dialogue to help us better implement our human rights obligations," wrote spokeswoman Dina Destin. Citroni, the chairperson, said Canada will be notified of subjects to be covered and places to be visited when the planning reaches a more concrete stage, which can't happen right now. Still, she added, it would fair to consider that, were the working group to visit, missing children linked to residential schools would be of interest, citing interest in related issues from UN entities in the past. She provided as an example an allegation letter sent to Canada in 2021 expressing concerns with the lack of progress implementing the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Ontario environment minister apologizes for ‘confusion' over clean water bill letter
Ontario MPP Todd McCarthy attends Question Period at the Ontario Legislature in Toronto, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young TORONTO — Ontario's environment minister has apologized to First Nation chiefs for any 'confusion' his letter caused when he asked the federal government to not reintroduce a bill that would enshrine clean drinking water rights in law. But many First Nations are not accepting what they call a meaningless apology and still want Todd McCarthy fired. 'The intention of my previous letter was to highlight the urgent need for the federal government to ensure a regulatory environment that fosters economic growth and prosperity for all of Canada, including for First Nations communities, while respecting provincial jurisdiction,' McCarthy wrote in a letter sent to all First Nation chiefs and grand chiefs across the province. 'We strongly believe this is not an either-or proposition: we can and need to bring clean drinking water to First Nations communities, while also bringing the kind of regulatory certainty that attracts investment in businesses and communities. I apologize for the confusion caused by the previous letter.' Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige was fuming on Friday. She called McCarthy 'absolutely incompetent' and said his latest letter was insulting. The biggest issue, she said, was that he did not withdraw his request to the federal government. 'It's all smoke and mirrors because he got caught and now he's trying to cover his tracks,' said Debassige, whose organization represents 39 First Nations in northern and southern Ontario. 'This is not a meaningful apology and he's assuming that our leadership is not intelligent in this letter.' He needs to lose his job, Debassige said. 'I think the premier has both now a moral and ethical obligation to respond to this insanity by removing this minister,' she said. The province has said McCarthy will remain in his post. Last month, McCarthy and Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz wrote to federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin asking her to move away from legislation that they say would 'delay project development and undermine competitiveness.' They singled out Bill C-61, legislation introduced in the last Parliament that sought to ensure First Nations have access to clean drinking water and can protect fresh water sources on their territories. The bill faced a lengthy committee process but was not passed into law before Parliament was prorogued earlier this year. Dabrusin said last week that her government plans to reintroduce it in the fall. Now Debassige, who helped draft the legislation with the federal government, is worried Ottawa may change the clean drinking water bill and weaken it in response. There are 37 First Nations across the country that have long-term boil-water advisories, and 26 of them are in Ontario. Neskantaga First Nation in northern Ontario has not had clean drinking tap water for more than 30 years. The Chiefs of Ontario, which represents all 133 First Nations in the province, and Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations in northwestern Ontario, condemned McCarthy's request. New Democrat and official Opposition Leader Marit Stiles said she's met young First Nation women in their 20s and 30s who have never been able to drink water from the taps. 'The minister of environment had the gall to ask the federal government to suspend any actions to solve that problem,' Stiles said. 'It is depraved and outrageous.' The environment minister's original letter to the federal government came at a fraught time for the province. Premier Doug Ford's government recently passed Bill 5 into law. The aim of that legislation is to speed up the approval and construction of large projects, including mines. One part of that bill gave cabinet the power to suspend provincial and municipal laws through the creation of so-called 'special economic zones.' Ford has said the mineral-rich Ring of Fire in northern Ontario will be the first such zone. That law sparked numerous protests at Queen's Park in Toronto. A similar bill introduced by Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal government that recently passed into law strips away many land protections in an effort to quickly build projects deemed in the 'national interest.' In response, community members from Attawapiskat First Nation and Neskantaga First Nation have begun building permanent encampments along the Attawapiskat River at two proposed bridge crossings for the road to the Ring of Fire. McCarthy's apology was the second by the province to First Nations in recent weeks. Debassige and several dozen First Nation chiefs met with Premier Doug Ford a few weeks ago to discuss Bill 5. Ford had said the day before that First Nations should stop coming to him 'hat in hand' if they don't get on board with the bill. He then apologized to Debassige and those chiefs in a private meeting before repeating it at a news conference on live television. Debassige and the chiefs accepted that apology and agreed to move forward with extensive consultations on the new law. Debassige said Ford told them that day he was in full support of clean drinking water for all Ontario First Nations and was going to figure out a way to help. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025. Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
CBC
11-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Ontario environment minister apologizes for 'confusion' over clean water bill letter
Ontario's environment minister has apologized to First Nation chiefs for any "confusion" his letter caused when he asked the federal government to not reintroduce a bill that would enshrine clean drinking water rights in law. But many First Nations are not accepting what they call a meaningless apology and still want Todd McCarthy fired. "The intention of my previous letter was to highlight the urgent need for the federal government to ensure a regulatory environment that fosters economic growth and prosperity for all of Canada, including for First Nations communities, while respecting provincial jurisdiction," McCarthy wrote in a letter sent to all First Nation chiefs and grand chiefs across the province. "We strongly believe this is not an either-or proposition: we can and need to bring clean drinking water to First Nations communities, while also bringing the kind of regulatory certainty that attracts investment in businesses and communities. I apologize for the confusion caused by the previous letter." First Nation call for minister to resign Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige was fuming on Friday. She called McCarthy "absolutely incompetent" and said his latest letter was insulting. The biggest issue, she said, was that he did not withdraw his request to the federal government. "It's all smoke and mirrors because he got caught and now he's trying to cover his tracks," said Debassige, whose organization represents 39 First Nations in northern and southern Ontario. "This is not a meaningful apology and he's assuming that our leadership is not intelligent in this letter." He needs to lose his job, Debassige said. "I think the premier has both now a moral and ethical obligation to respond to this insanity by removing this minister," she said. The province has said McCarthy will remain in his post. Bill C-61 to reintroduce in fall Last month, McCarthy and Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz wrote to federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin asking her to move away from legislation that they say would "delay project development and undermine competitiveness." They singled out Bill C-61, legislation introduced in the last Parliament that sought to ensure First Nations have access to clean drinking water and can protect fresh water sources on their territories. The bill faced a lengthy committee process but was not passed into law before Parliament was prorogued earlier this year, and Dabrusin said last week that her government plans to reintroduce it in the fall. WATCH | Less than 2 hours from Toronto, people don't trust the tap water: Less than 2 hours from Toronto, people don't trust the tap water 10 months ago Duration 8:59 Six Nations of the Grand River is preparing to sue the federal government because it says the tap water in most homes isn't drinkable. CBC's Jaela Bernstien went there to find out why water is still such an issue on the most populated reserve in Canada, about an hour and a half from Toronto. Now Debassige, who helped draft the legislation with the federal government, is worried Ottawa may change the clean drinking water bill and weaken it in response. There are 37 First Nations across the country that have long-term boil-water advisories, and 26 of them are in Ontario. Neskantaga First Nation in northern Ontario has not had clean drinking tap water for more than 30 years. The Chiefs of Ontario, which represents all 133 First Nations in the province, and Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations in northwestern Ontario, condemned McCarthy's request. New Democrat and official Opposition Leader Marit Stiles said she's met young First Nation women in their 20s and 30s who have never been able to drink water from the taps. "The minister of environment had the gall to ask the federal government to suspend any actions to solve that problem," Stiles said. "It is depraved and outrageous." The environment minister's original letter to the federal government came at a fraught time for the province. Bill 5 recently passed Premier Doug Ford's government recently passed Bill 5 into law. The aim of that legislation is to speed up the approval and construction of large projects, including mines. One part of that bill gave cabinet the power to suspend provincial and municipal laws through the creation of so-called "special economic zones." Ford has said the mineral-rich Ring of Fire in northern Ontario will be the first such zone. That law sparked numerous protests at Queen's Park in Toronto. A similar bill introduced by Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal government that recently passed into law strips away many land protections in an effort to quickly build projects deemed in the "national interest." In response, community members from Attawapiskat First Nation and Neskantaga First Nation have begun building permanent encampments along the Attawapiskat River at two proposed bridge crossings for the road to the Ring of Fire. Province's 2nd apology in recent weeks McCarthy's apology was the second by the province to First Nations in recent weeks. Debassige and several dozen First Nation chiefs met with Premier Doug Ford a few weeks ago to discuss Bill 5. Ford had said the day before that First Nations should stop coming to him "hat in hand" if they don't get on board with the bill. He then apologized to Debassige and those chiefs in a private meeting before repeating it at a news conference on live television. Debassige and the chiefs accepted that apology and agreed to move forward with extensive consultations on the new law.
Toronto Sun
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
First Nations call for Ontario environment minister's resignation
Published Jul 09, 2025 • 1 minute read Anishinabek Nation Grand Chief Linda Debassige. Several dozen First Nations in Ontario are calling for the resignation of the province's environment minister after he asked the federal government to not reintroduce a bill that would enshrine clean drinking water rights in law. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Last month, Todd McCarthy and Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz wrote to federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin asking her to move away from legislation that they say would delay project development and undermine competitiveness. They singled out Bill C-61, legislation introduced in the last Parliament that sought to ensure First Nations have access to clean drinking water and can protect fresh water sources on their territories. The bill faced a lengthy committee process but was not passed into law before Parliament was prorogued earlier this year, and Dabrusin said last week that her government plans to reintroduce it. Anishinabek Nation Grand Chief Linda Debassige says she is shocked and disappointed that McCarthy would oppose the codification in law of First Nations' right to clean drinking water. McCarthy's office says the intention of the letter was to make clear that Ottawa needs to ensure a regulatory environment that supports economic growth, adding that Ontario has always supported clean drinking water in all First Nations. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Olympics Toronto Maple Leafs Columnists Basketball Uncategorized
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Doug Ford apologizes over 'hat in hand' comment about First Nations
TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford has apologized for saying First Nations should not keep coming "hat in hand" to the government if they say no to mining projects, a comment many First Nation leaders called racist. Ford delivered that apology in a meeting at Queen's Park Thursday to several dozen chiefs who are part of the Anishinabek Nation. "I get pretty passionate and I just want to sincerely apologize for my words, not only is it for all the chiefs in that room, but for all First Nations," Ford said as he spoke to Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige after the meeting. On Wednesday, Ford said he was willing to give First Nations whatever they wanted for support to develop mines, but that came with a warning. "There's going to be a point that you can't just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government, you've got to be able to take care of yourselves," Ford said. "And when you literally have gold mines, nickel mines, every type of critical mineral that the world wants, and you're saying, 'No, no, I don't want to touch that, by the way, give me money' — not going to happen." Ford's government recently passed into law Bill 5, which gives cabinet the power to suspend municipal and provincial laws for chosen projects through the creation of so-called special economic zones. The premier has said the first such zone would be the Ring of Fire region in northern Ontario, which is said to be rich in critical minerals. The special economic zone law is part of an omnibus bill that the government says is needed to speed up construction of large infrastructure projects, particularly mines. Shortly after the passage of the bill into law, Anishinabek Nation asked for a meeting with the premier and Ford agreed. He was joined Thursday by Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford. All said it was a positive meeting, which came after passionate protests from First Nations at Queen's Park when Bill 5 was first introduced in mid-April. "While there are many other rights holders in this province, our chiefs felt today that the apology was sincere," said Debassige, whose Anishinabek Nation represents 39 First Nations across the province. "We are looking at today as a new day going forward." The vast majority of Ontario's 133 First Nations have spoken out against Bill 5 and see the new law as yet another example of a government trampling their rights and ignoring their concerns. Many First Nations have threatened to blockade roads, railways and mines if the bill is not repealed. "Our First Nations within the Anishinabek Nation remain opposed to Bill 5," Debassige said. "The opposition remains in that of which the speed of Bill 5 was entertained and this has been communicated to the premier and to various ministers. The First Nations have spoken with the premier, have proposed ideas and solutions and the premier has made certain commitments that we're not going to speak to today." Ford did not commit to repealing the law, but he and Rickford are planning a summer of consultations with First Nations, along with Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce. Other First Nation leaders were incredulous about Ford's apology. "Being 'passionate' doesn't give you an excuse to express your racism," said Alvin Fiddler, the Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations in northern Ontario, including those in the Ring of Fire region. "If and when Doug Ford is ready to personally apologize to the people of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, we will consider it. If the premier is sincere with his apology, he needs to show it, not just say it." Ford has said the new law is a tool in the fight against U.S President Donald Trump's ongoing trade war. Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal government has proposed legislation that is similar in many ways to Ontario's law. That, too, has prompted anger from First Nations, who gathered en masse earlier this week in Ottawa to voice their concerns. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025. Liam Casey and Allison Jones, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
