Latest news with #Rath
National Observer
7 days ago
- Politics
- National Observer
Judge reserves decision on whether to strike review of Alberta's separation question
A judge has reserved his decision on whether to review a proposed Alberta separation referendum question. Court of King's Bench Justice Colin Feasby is expected to give his ruling Aug. 14. The matter stems from Alberta chief electoral officer Gordon McClure referring the proposed question to the Edmonton court last week. He has asked the judge to determine whether the question violates the Constitution, including treaty rights. The question asks Albertans: "Do you agree that the Province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?" At the start of a hearing Thursday, Mitch Sylvestre, an executive with the group that proposed the question — the Alberta Prosperity Project —applied to the court to strike the referral. Sylvestre's lawyer, Jeffrey Rath, argued judicial scrutiny is premature, as there's no guarantee enough signatures would be gathered to put the question on a ballot or that a referendum would even pass. Rath also said the act of simply asking a question doesn't violate the Constitution, because it would only come into play if the referendum passed and negotiations began on Alberta separating from Canada. Feasby asked whether Rath agreed Albertans should have more information about the consequences of what they're being asked to vote on. Rath told the judge that many outstanding questions of separation are political and not ones the court needs to answer. "The court has no supervisory role over the political aspects of the constitutional negotiations," Rath said. "All of the issues around ... First Nations' rights, whether it's minority rights, all of those things are part of the referendum campaign for people to argue and educate one another on without interference in the court." The judge questioned that argument, saying it can be implied through the referendum process that Albertans have a right to know what they're voting on and having answers that might determine their vote. "Sometimes the only way to educate the public on that is to have a discussion, and perhaps to have a court decision," Feasby said. Rath was also critical of McClure, saying the chief electoral officer was abusing the process by sending the question to court for a review without taking a position or defending the referral in court. Premier Danielle Smith and Amery have also criticized McClure, saying the question should be approved and only face a judicial review if it receives a majority vote. McClure said in a statement last week that he was merely following procedure and the gravity of a possible referendum invites judicial oversight. He called the question "serious and significant," with "the potential to have profound impact on all Albertans." If the review proceeds, the judge said he would like to make a decision on the question by the end of the year. Multiple groups, including the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in northern Alberta, have said they're hoping to make submissions as interveners. A letter sent this week to the judge by government lawyer Nicholas Trofimuk says Amery intends to make submissions as well. It repeats that the minister believes the question is constitutional and should be approved. "It is settled law that the government of any province of Canada is entitled to consult its population by referendum on any issue, and that the result on a referendum on the secession of a province, if sufficiently clear, is to be taken as an expression of democratic will," the letter reads. If the review is struck and the question approved, Sylvestre and the Alberta Prosperity Project would need to collect 177,000 signatures in four months to get it put on a ballot. McClure recently approved a competing question, which seeks to have Alberta declare an official policy that it will remain in Canada forever. It was put forward by former Progressive Conservative deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, who is also looking to make submissions in the court review. Outside court Thursday, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam signed Lukaszuk's petition. Adam told reporters he's hoping the judge dismisses the application to squash the review so his community can weigh in. "It's ludicrous," Adam said. "I think there are better ways of dealing with economic prosperity, instead of separation, because that's what it's all about. "It has nothing to do with you, me or the general public. It's just certain individuals that are going to prosper and the rest of us are going to pay the price." Lukaszuk's proposal needs 300,000 signatures in 90 days in order to get on a ballot, as it was approved before new provincial rules with lower signature thresholds took effect. Lukaszuk, who started collecting signatures last week, said it's too soon to say how many there are, but teams of volunteers across the province are working on it. "I want a million signatures to send a strong signal to this premier, to this justice minister, and to the rest of Canada (that) yes, there is a segment of Albertans that are sort of fantasizing about separating. But the fact is that the vast majority of us want nothing to do with it."
Time of India
03-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
Utkal univ seminar throws light on Gangua river's pollution
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Utkal University has raised concern about the deteriorating condition of Gangua river. At a seminar organised by the history department on Saturday, experts and activists came together to discuss the river's alarming pollution levels and chart a roadmap for action. The university decided to host a three-day exhibition featuring maps, photographs, historical records and documentary videos to deepen public understanding of the river's heritage and current crisis. "Gangua river was once a sacred waterway flowing through Bhubaneswar, but now it has become a highly polluted waterway. The university's history department has resolved to take a leading role in research, documentation and awareness," said Sanjay Acharya, in-charge head of the history department at Utkal University. F by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo ormer vice-chancellor Binayak Rath presented his extensive research on the river and made an urgent call to address its ecological and public health crisis. Rath recounted his discovery of a neglected lake near the university entrance, which turned out to be a feeder stream to Gangua. "I traced 21 such streams, originating from areas like Bharatpur sanctuary and Ekamra Kanan lake, feeding the river," Rath said. He compiled his recent book, "Gangua: The Heritage River of Ekamrakhetra," based on the findings of his research. "We are planning to host a three-day exhibition on the Gangua river with the help of the university. The event will feature detailed maps, photographs, historical references and documentary videos to provide a comprehensive understanding of the river's past, present, and endangered future," said Rath. The seminar concluded with an urgent need for collaboration among BMC, water management organisations, corporates and academic institutions to restore the river. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Calgary Herald
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Calgary-area separatist lawyer reprimanded, ordered to pay $10K in costs
The Law Society of Alberta has reprimanded one of the leaders of the Albert separatist movement after finding he twice broke professional standards. Article content In a June 25 hearing report that was published online Tuesday, a three-person law society committee imposed the reprimand on Jeffrey Rath and also ordered that he pay $10,000 in costs by June 30. Article content Article content 'You have a responsibility to the members of the public and to the law society to represent their best interest. You failed in this case,' the report reads. Article content Article content 'This failure represents the type of thing that the law society strives to avoid, and the confidence we need to instill in the public is that we have to ensure that they believe and know that they will be treated, by our members, conscientiously and honestly. You failed in this case. You must do better.' Article content Article content The report notes Rath admitted guilt to two citations, the first of which states he was fired by Thunderchild First Nation (TFN) but failed to cooperate in transferring legal records to its new lawyer, taking six months to eventually transfer the documents. Article content The second citation states he misrepresented to the court that he remained TFN's lawyer in November of 2019 when in fact TFN had effectively sacked him as their representative two months earlier. Article content 'As a member of this law society, you will be expected to look at what you have done to determine whether or not you can improve on what has happened, learn from this particular matter, and, of course, to move forward,' the report reads. Article content Article content The report states Rath's lawyers noted his cooperation, health issues, and completion of coursework regarding the law society's code of conduct. Article content Rath is based in Foothills outside of Calgary and specializes in environmental law as well as treaty and Indigenous rights. Article content He has emerged a leading figure in the Alberta separatist movement through the Alberta Prosperity Project. Article content In March, he made a two-minute appearance on Fox News where he touted Alberta as potentially joining the United States as its 51st state. Article content On air, he claimed 'hundreds' of Albertans were seeking 'to explore the benefits of either Alberta becoming an independent sovereign nation with economic union to the United States, becoming a U.S. territory, or pursuing full statehood.'
Edmonton Journal
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Alberta separatist lawyer reprimanded, ordered to pay $10K in costs
Article content The Law Society of Alberta has reprimanded one of the leaders of the Albert separatist movement after finding he twice broke professional standards. Article content In a June 25 hearing report that was published online Tuesday, a three-person law society committee imposed the reprimand on Jeffrey Rath and also ordered that he pay $10,000 in costs by June 30. Article content Article content 'You have a responsibility to the members of the public and to the law society to represent their best interest. You failed in this case,' the report reads. Article content Article content 'This failure represents the type of thing that the law society strives to avoid, and the confidence we need to instill in the public is that we have to ensure that they believe and know that they will be treated, by our members, conscientiously and honestly. You failed in this case. You must do better.' Article content Article content The report notes Rath admitted guilt to two citations, the first of which states he was fired by Thunderchild First Nation (TFN) but failed to cooperate in transferring legal records to its new lawyer, taking six months to eventually transfer the documents. Article content The second citation states he misrepresented to the court that he remained TFN's lawyer in November of 2019 when in fact TFN had effectively sacked him as their representative two months earlier. Article content 'As a member of this law society, you will be expected to look at what you have done to determine whether or not you can improve on what has happened, learn from this particular matter, and, of course, to move forward,' the report reads. Article content Article content The report states Rath's lawyers noted his cooperation, health issues, and completion of coursework regarding the law society's code of conduct. Article content Rath is based in Foothills outside of Calgary and specializes in environmental law as well as treaty and Indigenous rights. Article content He has emerged a leading figure in the Alberta separatist movement through the Alberta Prosperity Project. Article content In March, he made a two-minute appearance on Fox News where he touted Alberta as potentially joining the United States as its 51st state. Article content On air, he claimed 'hundreds' of Albertans were seeking 'to explore the benefits of either Alberta becoming an independent sovereign nation with economic union to the United States, becoming a U.S. territory, or pursuing full statehood.'
Calgary Herald
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Alberta separatist lawyer reprimanded, ordered to pay $10K in costs
The Law Society of Alberta has reprimanded one of the leaders of the Albert separatist movement after finding he twice broke professional standards. Article content In a June 25 hearing report that was published online Tuesday, a three-person law society committee imposed the reprimand on Jeffrey Rath and also ordered that he pay $10,000 in costs by June 30. Article content Article content 'You have a responsibility to the members of the public and to the law society to represent their best interest. You failed in this case,' the report reads. Article content Article content 'This failure represents the type of thing that the law society strives to avoid, and the confidence we need to instill in the public is that we have to ensure that they believe and know that they will be treated, by our members, conscientiously and honestly. You failed in this case. You must do better.' Article content Article content The report notes Rath admitted guilt to two citations, the first of which states he was fired by Thunderchild First Nation (TFN) but failed to cooperate in transferring legal records to its new lawyer, taking six months to eventually transfer the documents. Article content The second citation states he misrepresented to the court that he remained TFN's lawyer in November of 2019 when in fact TFN had effectively sacked him as their representative two months earlier. Article content 'As a member of this law society, you will be expected to look at what you have done to determine whether or not you can improve on what has happened, learn from this particular matter, and, of course, to move forward,' the report reads. Article content Article content The report states Rath's lawyers noted his cooperation, health issues, and completion of coursework regarding the law society's code of conduct. Article content Rath is based in Foothills outside of Calgary and specializes in environmental law as well as treaty and Indigenous rights. Article content He has emerged a leading figure in the Alberta separatist movement through the Alberta Prosperity Project. Article content In March, he made a two-minute appearance on Fox News where he touted Alberta as potentially joining the United States as its 51st state. Article content On air, he claimed 'hundreds' of Albertans were seeking 'to explore the benefits of either Alberta becoming an independent sovereign nation with economic union to the United States, becoming a U.S. territory, or pursuing full statehood.'
