Latest news with #MohawkCouncilofKahnawake
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Kahnawake Mohawk Council changes up portfolios
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) announced that the portfolios of certain Council chiefs have been adjusted following a review - although none were made in terms of changing leads. David Diabo is no longer on the heritage file, Ryan Montour is no longer on sustainable development, Ross Montour was added to lands and development, and grand chief Cody Diabo switched from health to governance. Although he characterized the changes as 'minor,' the review and the changes are still important internally and externally for the Council. 'It's important in terms of not only accountability to the community, to show people what people are working on, but internally as well because you have staff that need direction on things,' said Cody. He said that having this review a little less than a year after this Council was elected was a matter of timeliness. 'I don't want to wait too long, and I know that in the past, just because of by-elections and stuff like that, you're kind of a little bit past halfway through the term. And, really, you're spending a year-and-a-half maybe in a portfolio that you don't need to be there, or just have too many portfolios,' said Cody. He switched from health to governance for those reasons. 'I had jumped on health at the beginning of the term to help out Arnold (Boyer), because nobody else was jumping on it,' said the grand chief. But, his role as grand chief aligned better with the governance portfolio, leading to the switch. Ryan Montour was in a similar position, as a large workload as lead on public safety along with being on four other files than sustainable development led to him dropping the file. 'I have fairly large files; the public safety portfolio has a lot of different files under it,' said Ryan. That includes things like the clean soil policy, the Sanitary Conditions Law, housing, the ongoing efforts to make Route 207 safer, and more. He said that his responsibilities on the file were for things like greenhouses, which organizations in town outside the MCK have been developing on their own. 'I felt that it was definitely a change that I could do to alleviate some of the workload. I wasn't really being a productive member of my portfolio, so I decided to lighten my load to concentrate on other things,' said Ryan. David, for his part, dropped the heritage portfolio in part because of his added workload from his addition on the duty-to-consult file and because of a relative lack of action in the tourism file. 'It was just getting to be too much,' said David. 'Everybody wants to be on stuff, but you can really start seeing your workload and where your attention is needed, or your interest as well,' said Cody. David echoed the grand chief's thoughts. 'It's important, if not critical. Once we get a good feel for the work that we're doing after being elected, it's easy to assess where your efforts are needed most, and where they're having the most impact,' he said. The changes came into effect following the May 26 council meeting. olivier@ Olivier Cadotte, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
30-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Signs installed on Mercier, other bridges urge to seek help if in distress
New signs on the Mercier Bridge to urge individuals in distress to seek help are part of a larger initiative for bridges in the area. The signs, installed in April, are there to let people know about the Suicide Crisis Helpline, which can be reached anywhere in Canada in French or English simply by calling or texting 9-8-8. On the Mercier, the signs are not only in English and French, but also Kanien'kéha, a request made by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) when Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) approached Council about installing the placards on the federal side of the bridge. 'I said this is Kahnawake, how about putting our language on there? They agreed to that. This is our land. It's respect for the community to have this in our language,' said Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) chief Arnold Boyer, who leads the infrastructure, transport, and operations portfolio. 'They had no problem with that. We got it translated and they put it on.' The variations on the message include: 'There is hope. We're here to help you.' (Ká:ien' ne kahrharáhtshera'. Enkwarì:wawa'se'.); 'Need help? We're here to listen.' (Íhsehre ken aiesaié:nawa'se'? Eniakwatahónhsatate'.); 'Going through a hard time? We're here to help you.' (Sa'nikonhro'ktá:'on ken? Enkwaié:nawa'se'.); and 'Feeling distressed? Talk to us.' (Tisa'nikónhrhare' ken? Tetewahthá:ren.) 'There's always somebody there 24/7 to listen to somebody in distress,' said Boyer, casting it as part of a broader effort to raise awareness about mental health and ensure folks who are struggling can be connected with the help they need. 'The message is out there. Somebody's there to listen to you and talk with you,' he said. The Jacques Cartier Bridge and the Champlain Bridge have also received the suicide prevention signs. 'It's a concern on bigger bridges,' said JCCBI spokesperson Nathalie Lessard. 'We want to make sure that we do everything we can to improve the safety or security of all of our users. Signage like that is up on bridges all over the world. It's not something that's prevalent in Quebec. Although we seem to be innovating, we're not actually.' She noted that although JCCBI doesn't manage the Champlain Bridge, the corporation was happy to be able to work with that operator to ensure the messaging around the service is the same across area bridges, and other bridge owners are also invited to reach out, Lessard added. In this province, the hotline is operated by the Quebec Suicide Prevention Association in partnership with the government, with the three-digit federal number redirecting to those services. In addition to the hotline, which is reachable by phone or text at 988, the signs also direct people in crisis to the online resource . marcus@ Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
26-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Rice attends energy summit
Advocating for Indigenous people to have at least 50 percent equity in renewable energy projects was a key message shared by Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) chief Paul Rice at last week's Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) Summit, where he and other Indigenous leaders spoke with major stakeholders in the industry. 'We're independent, sovereign nations, and in discussions of these projects, we need to be treated as such,' said Rice. 'That was really the message underlying the concept of minimum mandatory equity participation.' Rice attended the panel last Thursday in Montreal and spoke on the panel 'Indigenous Communities: Essential Actors in the Energy Transition?' which was moderated by Hydro Quebec's Emilie Senechal. He was joined by Jean Roy of Kruger Energy as well as Jacques Tremblay, grand chief of the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk Nation. Rice said the panel discussion led to productive points about moving forward in renewable energy partnerships while acknowledging the complex history of how major energy players have interacted with First Nations. 'We talked about how these investments need to happen on the renewable energy front, you need to involve nations, you need to fully inform them of the projects and provide financial benefits,' Rice said. 'Historically, these projects were forced on these communities, and it's not until more recently that we're seeing more of those benefits shared with nations.' Elsewhere at the summit, Rice learned from other stakeholders about energy initiatives that could be of benefit to the community. One area he was particularly interested in was Hydro Quebec's plans for investing more in solar energy. 'It was good to hear some information with respect to solar, and that's a natural next step for the community's renewable energy portfolio,' Rice said. 'We're definitely looking at opportunities to do with solar energy.' He said that it's important the MCK is well-versed in various types of renewable energy, as it could play a major role in the push for more financial security within the community. 'For us, our objective is to have a number of these projects so that we have multiple streams of income coming into the territory, and we're able to finance multiple projects to generate significant own-source revenue for the community,' he said. 'That supports our objective of financial independence and financial sovereignty, so that we're less reliant on government funding which comes with restrictions and all kinds of paternalistic processes and protocols.' The MCK has a growing renewable energy portfolio, being the co-owners of the Hertel-New York Transmission Line alongside Hydro Quebec, as well as involvement in the Les Jardins and Des Cultures wind farms. The summit provides opportunities to network with other major players in the renewable energy world to prepare for more growth in the future, Rice said, something that he also did at the eighth annual First Nations Major Projects (FNMP) Coalition Conference in Toronto at the end of last month. At that conference, he also led with a strong message that First Nations should have a minimum 50 per cent equity in projects. 'People were very interested, it's still early days in these types of relationships with nations and governments and the private sector talking about wanting to do something more positive, but at the end of the day we're not doing this so that we can get lip service from the government and private sector,' he said. 'We want to make sure that we're receiving more than our fair share from these projects and I want to see the government and private sector put their money where their mouth is.' eve@ Eve Cable, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Global News
20-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Kahnawake casino owners sue Mohawk council, grand chief for $220 million
Two owners of a casino in a First Nations community southwest of Montreal are suing the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake for more than $200 million. They say the council ignored their right to due process when it abruptly shut down the Magic Palace casino in March 2024, leaving them with little recourse. The closure followed a 2023 news report that alleged the RCMP were investigating an Albanian investor they suspected of using the casino to launder money for a Mexican cartel. The lawsuit alleges the council acted in bad faith by closing the casino without verifying the claims made against it. It also names as a defendant Grand Chief Cody Diabo, who was the Kahnawake chief responsible for gaming at the time, alleging he used the closure to bolster his 2024 election campaign. The decision to shutter Magic Palace was 'as unilateral and disproportionate as it was sudden,' the lawsuit says. 'Without prior notice or warning, the plaintiffs' 15-year-long operations were abruptly forced to a halt within mere hours.' Story continues below advertisement None of the allegations in the lawsuit has been tested in court. The court filing was first reported by the Eastern Door, a community-based newspaper. The two owners, Stanley Myiow and Barry Alfred, are seeking $220 million in damages, including $155 million for a planned expansion project they say has been quashed. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake declined to comment on the lawsuit. In a statement provided to the Eastern Door, the council said it would 'take all necessary steps to protect the community's assets.' The council moved to close Magic Palace in March 2024 by cancelling a royalty agreement that allowed it to operate electronic gaming devices. In a news release at the time, the council said an investigation had revealed there was an 'undisclosed beneficial owner' of the casino who received 'the majority of the benefits' from its operation. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The decision to terminate the royalty agreement with Magic Palace sends a clear message that all gaming operations must uphold the highest ethical and legal standards applicable in the territory,' the council said. The announcement came nearly six months after La Presse reported that an Albanian investor was suspected by police of using the casino to launder money for the powerful Sinaloa cartel, a Mexican drug-trafficking organization. A third-party investigation later ordered by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission found the investor was receiving 58 per cent of the casino's profits. After the casino was closed, a lawyer for the owners told the Eastern Door the investor had no pending charges and no criminal record. Story continues below advertisement Myiow and Alfred cut off their involvement with the investor after the La Presse report was published, according to the lawsuit, and agreed to co-operate with the investigation. At the time, the council issued a statement saying it was 'pleased that the owners of Magic Palace have taken swift actions' on the matter. But the owners allege the council 'remained under significant pressure to do more,' especially with an election scheduled for July 2024. They say half a dozen armed members of the local First Nations police force showed up unannounced at the casino's premises on March 25, 2024, 'ordering them shut before the patrons' bewildered looks.' The lawsuit says the gaming commission was aware of the Albanian investor's involvement in the casino from the outset, and that he was never an owner. Local laws prohibit ownership of gaming establishments by people from outside Kahnawake. Myiow and Alfred claim the Kahnawake council has 'taken every measure' to ensure the casino stays closed, and has resisted their efforts to argue their case. It claims the council's conduct 'rises to the level of bad faith or gross negligence.' The court filing describes Myiow and Alfred as 'hard-working, well-respected' members of their community, and says Magic Palace has made $12 million in royalty payments to the council to date. With a $10-million investment from the investor, the casino expanded in 2019 to include 400 electronic gaming devices, a poker room and a steak house, which together employed more than 100 people. Another planned expansion would have generated $265 million in royalties for the community by 2033, according to the lawsuit. Story continues below advertisement The owners also claim Diabo made 'profoundly damaging and false accusations' about them while he was campaigning to be grand chief, including by stating they had betrayed the community's trust. 'It was prosecution by press release, for electoral gain,' the lawsuit states. Myiow and Alfred are seeking $75,000 in punitive damages against Diabo personally. The court filing also claims that two Mohawk Council of Kahnawake chiefs hold direct financial interests in Magic Palace's main competitor, Playground, a larger casino in the community. It alleges only one of them appears to have recused himself from decisions affecting Magic Palace, despite 'serious conflict of interest concerns.'
Toronto Star
16-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Kahnawake casino owners sue Mohawk council, grand chief for $220 million
MONTREAL - Two owners of a casino in a First Nations community southwest of Montreal are suing the territory's council for more than $200 million. They say the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake ignored their right to due process when it abruptly shut down the Magic Palace casino in March 2024. The closure followed a 2023 news report that alleged the RCMP were investigating an Albanian investor they suspected of using the casino to launder money for a Mexican cartel. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The lawsuit also targets Grand Chief Cody Diabo, who was the Kahnawake chief responsible for gaming at the time. It claims the Mohawk council's actions will lead to the permanent closure of the casino unless the court intervenes. The owners are seeking $220 million in damages, including $155 million for an expansion project they say has been quashed. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake declined to comment on the lawsuit. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025.
