Latest news with #MillbrookFirstNation
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Ottawa providing $16 million for Maritimes electricity distribution, solar projects
Power lines are seen in Dartmouth, N.S. on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan HALIFAX — Ottawa has announced details of $16 million it's providing for energy projects in the Maritimes. Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said Friday the funds will go toward improvements to the electricity grid, carbon capture technologies and the expansion of wind and solar power projects. Funding for upgrades to the distribution grids includes $6 million for Nova Scotia Power, $5.3 million for Saint John Energy Inc. in New Brunswick, and $2 million for Maritime Electric in Prince Edward Island. There is also $875,000 for smart metering systems used in conjunction with municipally owned renewable energy production and $704,089 to Dalhousie University for the creation of a 'regulatory road map' for offshore carbon storage. The announcement includes about $1 million for a solar project owned by Millbrook First Nation, located near Truro, N.S., and to be operated at the site of a decommissioned oil refinery in Dartmouth, N.S. --- This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025.
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Federal government spending nearly $16M on clean energy projects in Maritimes
The federal government is spending nearly $16 million on renewable energy, carbon capture and grid modernization projects across the Maritimes. The money will be spread across six projects in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, according to a news release from the federal government. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson announced the influx of cash on Friday. Hodgson, who was in Charlottetown this week to discuss possible initiatives and federal partnerships, told CTV News Atlantic's Todd Battis major projects have taken on an added significance amid the ongoing trade war with the United States. 'We can't control what our friends south of the border do,' Hodgson said. 'Projects of national interest will buttress the country against external instability.' Nova Scotia projects The most expensive single project on the list is the Advanced Distribution Grid Management by Nova Scotia Power. It will cost $6 million and help modernize the utility's electricity network. Millbrook First Nation near Truro will receive $1,011,880 to repurpose vacant tank lots from Imperial Oil to develop a solar farm. Alternative Resource Energy Authority in Antigonish will receive $875,000 to use advanced metering infrastructure for 'intelligent grid management,' which is expected to reduce costs for roughly 3,500 customers. Dalhousie University will get $704,089 to build a policies and regulations roadmap to support a framework for offshore carbon storage. New Brunswick, P.E.I. projects Saint John Energy will take $5,250,000 to modernize electricity distribution in the Port City. The project is anticipated to improve service reliability for approximately 36,000 customers. The Maritime Electric Company will use $2 million to demonstrate the integration of smart-grid technology in the public cellular network in Charlottetown. 'In P.E.I., and in our region, we are all working hard to reduce emissions, make life more affordable for residents and increase the reliability of our energy systems,' said Gilles Arsenault, minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action in P.E.I. 'We need to modernize our electricity distribution system to enhance efficiency and resiliency. This investment in Maritime Electric's grid modernization is a welcome next step in a more reliable and efficient electrical system in our province.'
CTV News
20-06-2025
- CTV News
Millbrook First Nation man charged with drug trafficking, firearms offences: N.S. RCMP
An RCMP vehicle is seen in this file photo. (CTV News Regina) The Nova Scotia RCMP has charged a Millbrook First Nation man with drug trafficking and firearms offences. RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence on Siwk Street in Millbrook First Nation on Thursday. According to police, officers seized: cocaine drug paraphernalia a loaded handgun a shotgun ammunition sword knife cash Jaden Daniel Kennedy, 22, was arrested and charged with: possession for the purpose of trafficking two counts of failure to comply with undertaking possession of property obtained by crime two counts of unauthorized possession of firearm possession of prohibited or restricted weapon with ammunition two counts of careless use of firearm two counts of possession of weapon for dangerous purpose Kennedy appeared in Truro provincial court Friday and was remanded into custody. He is scheduled to next appear in court on Monday. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
21-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Sipekne'katik First Nation fishers say treaty elver fishery is 'a peaceful thing'
While the 2025 commercial elver season is underway in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Mi'kmaw fishers from Sipekne'katik First Nation in Nova Scotia are exercising their treaty rights through a protest fishery. In 2025, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) re-allocated 50 per cent of the harvesting quota for baby eels, or elvers, from commercial harvesters to First Nations in the two provinces but some First Nations communities are not participating under that regulatory framework. Sipekne'katik, Millbrook First Nation and Membertou First Nation are three Mi'kmaw communities in Nova Scotia operating under their own management plans instead of accepting DFO's plan. The protest fishery is a form of resistance, where Mi'kmaw fishers are harvesting under their own management plans rather than those imposed by the federal government, in an effort to affirm treaty rights. The elver fishery on the East Coast is booming due to its low-barrier entry and surging market prices in recent years. The "truckhouse clause" in the Peace and Friendship treaties of 1760 and 1761 affirmed the right of Mi'kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, and Peskotomuhkati to trade goods — including fish, furs and wildlife — at designated truckhouses. In 1999 the Supreme Court affirmed this right, and interpreted it in modern-day terms to say beneficiaries of these treaties have the right to sell these goods to earn a "moderate livelihood." Tabitha Morrison, a Mi'kmaw treaty fisher from Sipekne'katik First Nation, says when fishers from her community attempt to make a moderate livelihood fishing elvers, they are being harassed by DFO. "Threatening, intimidation, arriving in unmarked vehicles, not having business cards, not saying their badge number," said Morrison. "It's another form of institutionalizing our people and it is triggering as a nation." She said when DFO confiscates equipment it isn't being returned, which can make it difficult for fishers who see the fishery as a path to financial independence. "There are socio-economic gaps on reserve, so these are people on social assistance trying to do better and then they're being held back," she said. Harvesting in groups for safety There's been tensions between First Nations and non-Indigenous fishers over the perceived impact of a treaty rights-based fishery on commercial fishing, with notable conflicts arising in Esgenoopetitj in New Brunswick in 2000 and more recently in Sipekne'katik in 2020 over lobster. Amy Maloney, a Mi'kmaw treaty fisher who harvests alongside Morrison, said she sees stories in the media and hears other fishermen talk about her community and feels it is being painted as violent and disorderly. "It's a peaceful thing, it's not violent," said Maloney of the treaty fishery. "We want to do things without violence. We want to teach our kids that you don't have to be violent to exercise your rights. You can do this peacefully." She said the community is taking extra steps to stay safe this year by harvesting in groups and remaining vigilant. "We have to protect each other cause we don't have guns out there and stuff to protect us... and we shouldn't have that because fishing is a peaceful thing," she said. Morrison said fishers from her community head out beyond her community to harvest elvers because the Mi'kmaq traditionally moved based on the seasonal availability of food source. "We're gonna travel to fish, we're gonna travel to hunt," Morrison said. "That's what we have done for years." Morrison said her community's fishing plan is not unlimited, and their data is being tracked and managed by their community's fisheries management. They said they don't feel divided from other Mi'kmaw communities based on their choices to fish or not fish elvers, or to fish them under DFO's quotas. "The people that are here to treaty fish, let them treaty fish," Morrison added. Morrison said her community will continue to fight for their rights protected under the Constitution. "We're not all wrong and we're not all right. We're doing the best of what we know and I don't think the answer is pointing the finger and blaming," said Morrison. Fishery officers patrolling DFO regulates the commercial elver fishery with a maximum allowable catch of 9,960 kilograms. New regulations in March require anyone in possession of elvers — not only fishing them but storing, transporting, or exporting them, to be licensed. In a statement, DFO said "Fishery officers are patrolling rivers, inspecting holding facilities and export points, and working with our law enforcement partners, to enforce the Fisheries Act." "Fishery officers have a range of compliance measures that they can use depending on the particular situation. Any compliance measures taken will be based on numerous factors, including the severity of the offence, and the context in which it was committed." DFO added that if anyone believes "their interaction with a fishery officer was improper or if they believe that a fishery officer behaved in a less than professional manner, this should be reported to their local Conservation and Protection detachment."
CBC
09-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
2 First Nation councillors resign after woman targeted in 'vile' online chat goes public
Two elected councillors on a First Nation in Nova Scotia have resigned after screenshots surfaced of an online chat group they belonged to that included sexually derogatory references to women in the community and remarks relishing non-consensual sex. Screenshots of the Facebook chats were made public last weekend by Tia Googoo, a member of Millbrook First Nation, who said she was given access to them a few weeks ago by a friend who was a member of the group and apologized to her. The chat included derogatory comments about Googoo, other women and her mother, Robin Tomah, who in 2001 was attacked outside her home and severely burned. There were sexually explicit comments referencing her burns. Googoo said the messages were "vile." "I was extremely hurt," Googoo, 27, said in an interview. "My heart broke for my mother, my heart broke for all the other women they're degrading, they're objectifying, sexualizing." Millbrook First Nation confirmed in a statement Tuesday evening that it had accepted the resignations of Garrett Gloade and Pius Knockwood, the two councillors who the band said were members of the chat. The statement said RCMP were investigating. The community has been "shaken," the statement said, and the "activity in the group chat victimized many and has been devastating to read." In all, it appears roughly 20 men were part of the chat group. Googoo said many of them were her longtime friends, or friends of family members. The chat was active for about a year, Googoo said, but she only captured messages from September 2024 to this March. "I rethought the entirety of all our friendships of 20 years," Googoo said. "'What did I do, what did I do to them to deserve this? What did these women do to deserve this?' Ultimately, I couldn't find a reason why." Millbrook Chief Bob Gloade declined to comment to CBC News, but said in an earlier Facebook post the messages were "demeaning and disparaging towards women, men, elders and our 2SLGBTQIA+ population." "I want to assure you that this type of behaviour is not acceptable and it's not a reflection of our leadership or our community as a whole," he said in the post. "This situation is being taken very seriously and there will be formal and swift consequences for the misconduct of those affiliated with the Millbrook Band Council and Administration." Garrett Gloade, who was first elected in 2022 and won re-election this fall, said in a post on social media that he apologized "for my actions and contributions to the most recent events that have been circulating." It's not the first time Gloade has been in trouble while on band council. Two years ago, he was suspended without pay for three months after an internal investigation found he'd sexually harassed a band employee. Gloade subsequently challenged the suspension in court. The case was discontinued last year, but court records do not give a reason. In his post, which appears to have been taken down, he suggested he was the group creator. Screenshots taken by Googoo list Gloade as the creator of the group, which was titled J-Denn Pallbearers. "The intentions started as a place to keep my late brother's memory alive. But, have taken an awful turn and I take responsibility for my part in that," the post said. Neither Gloade nor Knockwood replied to requests for comment from CBC News. Googoo said the chat group included members sharing intimate images of her without her consent. Images of other women were shared as well, she said. In one message in the online chat, Knockwood said, "Pass out sex is the best there passed out," and in another referenced a woman who was "all pilled out." He also made an explicit remark about Tomah's burns. On another occasion, two group members talked about slapping or punching a woman to wake her up. Googoo said there's been an outpouring of support for her since she posted the screenshots to social media. Among those in her corner, she said, have been a number of Millbrook band councillors who she called "amazing." "I just hope that communities, you know, community members will speak up if they hear misconduct and if there's abuse of power," she said. "Use your voice. Don't let that slide because these people are supposed to represent us. They're supposed to represent our community, our families, our children."
