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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Carefully curated
A new series of books from publisher McClelland & Stewart that contemplates life in Canada coincides with the 10th anniversary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Published on July 15, Kanata Classics' first six titles, which are all previously released works of fiction and non-fiction, feature writing by a range of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadian authors and feature new packaging and introductions. The initiative was spearheaded by publisher Stephanie Sinclair, who joined McClelland & Stewart (which is owned by Penguin Random House) in 2022. 'We started to talk about it within six months of my starting … the first conversations were enthusiastic,' she says. 'It felt really important to get it done in 2025 to honour the 10th anniversary of the TRC.' Nishga by Jordan Abel, Halfbreed by Maria Campbell, and Bear by Marian Engel are part of the Kanata Classics lineup. Sinclair worked with Robert Wheaton, Penguin Random House Canada's chief strategy and operations officer, to navigate the bureaucratic details and create an advisory board (which includes McNally Robinson Booksellers co-owner Chris Hall and Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair). 'I could ask them the big questions — not about title selections, but about the framing of the series,' she says. 'It felt really helpful to have this brain trust that I could go to for advice.' Publisher Stephanie Sinclair tapped an advisory panel including McNally Robinson Booksellers co-owner Chris Hall and Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair to curate the first six titles of the Kanata Classics series. One of her first choices was Nisga'a author Jordan Abel's Nishga. (Supplied photo) For Stephanie Sinclair, who identifies as Cree, Ojibwa, and German/Jewish, the first six books — three by Indigenous writers and the other three by non-Indigenous authors — speak to the experience of Canadian life. 'One of the things that was really important to me, as an urban Indigenous person who didn't grow up in ceremony or in community, was that the books speak to all of our relationship with land, and how differently that can be experienced,' she says. 'That's one of the threads through all the books. It's something that is so often overlooked, and that is really, deeply important to our survival on multiple levels.' With the titles selected, Sinclair then turned to finding writers to pen introductions to each of the books (save Maria Campbell's memoir Halfbreed — Campbell wrote her own introduction). 'I had a list of ideal people — I wrote to them, and everyone very enthusiastically and quickly said yes. It was beautiful … it just came together incredibly seamlessly,' she says. (Winnipeg's David A. Robertson wrote the introduction to Richard Wagamese's novel Medicine Walk.) Sinclair then enlisted book designer Kelly Hill to create the look and feel of the Kanata Classics series. 'Kelly really understood my vision for it, and has such an incredibly beautiful esthetic and brought such thoughtful care to all of the choices,' Sinclair says. Edmonton-based author Jordan Abel considers it an honour to have his book, Nishga, included in the Kanata Classics series. (Tenille Campbell photo) One of Sinclair's first choices for the Kanata Classics series was Nisga'a author Jordan Abel's Nishga. Originally published in 2021 by McClelland & Stewart, Nishga sees the Edmonton-based author grappling with the legacy of intergenerational trauma through fragments of memoir, transcriptions of talks as well as visual art and photography. 'I have a difficult relationship with this book — it's about intergenerational trauma and urban indigeneity and the afterlife of residential schools,' Abel says.' When I go to readings and perform parts of the book, there are only four or five pages that I can really even read from.' For Abel, the inclusion of Nishga in the Kanata Classics series was humbling. 'When I wrote Nishga, I had no real understanding of where it would go, or who would pick it up, or if anyone would pick it up, really,' he says. 'It's really an incredible honour for Nishga to be included alongside what I think are some of the best, most canonical texts in Canadian literature and also Indigenous literature,' he adds, calling Maria Campbell's Halfbreed 'maybe the most important book that I've ever read.' Island by Alistair MacLeod, Ru by Kim Thúy, and Medicine Walk, by Richard Wagamese were all previously released works of fiction and non-fiction. As part of Kanata Classics, the books will feature new packaging and introductions. Like Sinclair, Abel sees the books existing in conversation with each other as well as with Canadian readers about the experience of life in Canada. 'The books are all very different — they speak to really specific experiences within this nation … even the ones that resist that category of nation and Canadian nationalism,' he says. 'They attempt to shine a light on certain kinds of experiences that we don't always talk about, or that we don't talk about enough. I think these are underrepresented kinds of experiences of 'Canadian-ness.'' Sinclair hopes the Kanata Classics series is able to continue stimulating conversation and reflections by readers on life in Canada. 'I feel like the scope of how Canadians identify themselves has only gotten smaller over many years,' she says. 'Part of my aim with the series is, of course, to advocate for Indigenous storytelling, which has not been welcomed into the Canadian 'canon.' But I also want to make sure that books like (Vietnamese-Canadian author Kim Thúy's) Ru are there too, because they all speak to an equally important human experience.' Ben SigurdsonLiterary editor, drinks writer Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press's literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben. In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press's editing team before being posted online or published in print. It's part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. 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eNCA
2 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Mbeki, Mbandla seek to join apartheid crimes lawsuit
JOHANNESBURG - Former President Thabo Mbeki and his Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla are heading to court. They seek to intervene in a landmark case involving constitutional damages for apartheid-era crimes. A total of 25 survivors and families of victims who were disappeared or killed during apartheid are suing government. They claim cases referred for prosecution by the TRC were delayed due to political interference. Mbeki and Mabandla want to intervene after former NPA head, Vusi Pikoli, blamed them for the interference. The families, supported by the Foundation for Human Rights, are demanding R167-million in damages.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Substance vs form: All eyes now on Tiger Global case after SC's verdict on global hospitality leader Hyatt International
Mumbai: After the Supreme Court verdict last week on the global hospitality leader Hyatt International, all eyes are on the high-stake Tiger Global case , whose outcome, expected in August, could sway the fortunes of many foreign investors and force them to change the way they run their shops to bet on India. But, can the Hyatt ruling have a rub-off on the verdict on Tiger? With the same bench of judges that ruled on Hyatt to decide on Tiger-the question has cropped up among legal eagles, tax experts, and MNCs as the battle between Tiger, an offshore investor, and India's tax office nears a closure. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo The question stems from the court's observation that "legal form does not override economic substance". This single observation, according to several practitioners, may link the two cases, even though they pertain to different issues. THE COMMON LINK Live Events The Hyatt feud was over whether the foreign firm, acting as a consultant to an Indian hotel group, had a ' permanent establishment ' (PE) in India. The court-while observing that "legal form does not override economic substance" -said it did as Hyatt was not a typical consultant but was deeply involved in running the hotel in India, thanks to the terms of the deal. A 'PE' status means the foreign party would pay tax here on the portion of its global earnings attributable to India - and not just the tax deducted from its fees. The Tiger case, on the other hand, relates to 'capital gains' on sale of stocks - whether a Mauritius entity could escape tax in India merely on the back of the ' tax residency certificate ' (TRC) it obtained from the Mauritian authorities under the treaty the country has with India. Here is how the 'substance versus form' argument comes up: is TRC, a piece of paper, good enough to avoid tax by a shell entity which has no office, hires few or no employees, and has no power to make decisions? While the TRC gives it 'legal form', in reality, it may just be a paper outfit lacking 'substance'. "The Hon'ble SC regarded utmost importance to 'substance over form principle' and in doing so did a deep dive into the documents to ascertain 'control of operations', actual activities of employees and commercial agreements (like revenue linked service fees) in the Hyatt International matter. Substance over form , control and management and commercial substance are important factors that take centre stage even in treaty eligibility cases and a ruling in the case of Tiger Global is expected soon," said Ashish Mehta, partner at the law firm Khaitan & Co. A COURT REMINDS It's widely believed that armed with TRCs, many overseas private equity houses save tax on sale of shares (acquired before 2017) while foreign portfolio investors avoid tax on profits from equity derivatives as their investing arms are incorporated in treaty jurisdictions like Mauritius and Singapore. Many such arrangements would come unstuck, if the SC points at inadequate substance to rule against Tiger. "Recent rulings, from Formula One to Nestle SA to Hyatt International, demonstrate a consistent judicial approach: for any tax structure, the legal framework must align with the actual, factual substance of the arrangement. If not, the court may not grant tax relief in such cases," said Ashish Karundia, founder of the CA firm Ashish Karundia & Co. He feels that post Hyatt, chances are that non-residents may also be required to satisfy a 'substance' test in addition to holding a TRC when seeking treaty benefits. "Considering the greater scrutiny faced nowadays, it is essential to understand that the degree of reliability assigned to TRC is that of sufficient evidence rather than an irrebuttable evidence. It is sufficient, to begin with, but neither sacrosanct nor infallible!," said Karundia. The tax office had questioned Tiger Global's stand of not paying tax when it sold shares of Flipkart Singapore (holding shares of an Indian company) to another foreign investor (linked to Walmart) on the grounds that Tiger's Mauritius arm (the actual seller owning the Singapore entity) was only a vehicle used to avoid tax. Agreeing on the possibility of the court putting matters under the 'substance' lens, Rahul Garg, managing partner of Asire Consulting, which advises MNCs on tax, finance, assurance, and regulatory matters, said, "The court examined the commercial and operational realities to evaluate the degree of control and supervision by the foreign entity. It reiterated that legal form does not override economic substance. Since it's a fundamental requirement that tax treaties need to be availed in good faith, these observations could further support the Revenue's case if it can prove that the parent was an active participant with significant control and supervision in the decision making on investments by the entity which recorded the capital gains." It isn't the first time the court held substance over form. But that it chose to give a subtle reminder in the Hyatt ruling is lending itself to interpretation.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Mbeki and Mabandla seek to intervene in R167 million apartheid damages case
Former President Thabo Mbeki and erstwhile justice minister Brigitte Mabandla's application to intervene in an apartheid-era damages claim will be heard on Monday, July 28 by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. Image: DIRCO Former president Thabo Mbeki and ex-justice minister Brigitte Mabandla will on Monday ask to intervene in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria application for R167 million in constitutional damages by families of victims of apartheid-era atrocities. Mbeki and Mabandla have indicated that they want to intervene in the R167m constitutional damages case brought by survivors and victims of apartheid human rights violations to protect their reputations. Survivors and victims of apartheid-era atrocities and the Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) have asked the high court for R167m constitutional damages, which includes about R115.3m over five years, to enable families and organisations supporting them to advance truth, justice, and closure by assisting in pursuing investigations and research, inquests, private prosecutions, and related litigation. Another R8m over five years will enable families and organisations supporting them to play a monitoring role in respect of the work of the policing and justice authorities charged with investigating and prosecuting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases referred to the National Prosecuting Authority. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading An additional R44m over 10 years is sought to enable families and organisations supporting families to pursue commemoration, memorialisation and public education activities around the TRC cases including the holding of public events, publishing of books, and making of documentaries. In their application, survivors and family members of victims also want the court to declare the failure and/or refusal by the president to establish a commission of inquiry into the suppression of the investigation and prosecution of the TRC cases inconsistent with his constitutional responsibilities under the Constitution and a violation of their rights to equality, dignity and the right to life and bodily integrity of the victims in terms of the Constitution. Responding to Mbeki and Mabandla's application to intervene, Lukhanyo Calata, the son of the late Fort Calata who, along with Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli, and Sparrow Mkonto, became known posthumously as the Cradock Four, said the former president and erstwhile minister have no direct and substantial interest in the main application, given that no relief is sought against them in their personal capacities. President Cyril Ramaphosa has since established a commission to be chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe to inquire into, make findings, report on and make recommendations on unlawful interference and collusion since 2003. The government maintains that there is no concrete allegation of interference in the families' case. Mbeki and Mabandla also state that the families make unfounded, false and damaging allegations of interference and collusion against them in their case. They also indicate that the facts of interference and collusion will be better addressed in the commission. According to Mbeki and Mabandla, they are seeking to intervene because the relief sought by the families and the consequent claim for constitutional damages are founded on serious allegations of unconstitutional, unlawful and criminal conduct by them (Mbeki and Mabandla) during the respective tenures, 1999-2008 and.2004-2008, respectively. "We have a direct and substantial interest in the outcome of the proceedings," maintained Mbeki and Mabandla. They continued: "In the absence of our version, the only evidence before this honourable court is in the Calata applicants' founding affidavit. There is therefore a real risk that should we not be granted leave to intervene, the court will be presented with a one-sided narrative and the Calata applicants may be accepted as uncontested." Mbeki and Mabandla told the court they do not seek to intervene merely to set the record straight or out of concern that the court's findings may affect their reputations. "Rather, we seek leave to intervene because the relief sought by the Calata applicants is expressly predicated on allegations of unlawful conduct purportedly committed by us (and other state officials) during our tenure; allegations which we intend to dispute," they explained. The families oppose the application and argue that it is not possible to intervene simply to rebut adverse allegations and that the relief they seek is not directed against Mbeki or Mabandla but against the state. If Mbeki or Mabandla, the families say, feel they have been defamed they have recourse through normal legal remedies and that the application can be decided without the need to make findings in respect of individual role-players, the task of the commission set up by Ramaphosa, according to the FHR.
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Range Energy Conducts Dynamics Testing of eTrailer System, Demonstrating Improved Safety and Performance Compared to Conventional Semi-Trucks
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Range Energy, a pioneer in trailer electrification technology, today announced the successful completion of vehicle dynamics and stability testing for its eTrailer System at the Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC), North America's most advanced independent mobility testing facility. Following its rigorous winter testing completed in March 2025, Range's testing this summer focused on validating system performance, control, and safety under highly dynamic conditions—particularly on dry pavement surfaces that pose an increased risk of trailer rollover. To safely conduct this testing, Range equipped its trailer with outriggers and anti-jackknife cables—key safety mechanisms that help prevent full tip-over during extreme tests such as J-turns and double lane changes. Range also evaluated traction control of the eAxle in straight-line acceleration and braking. These maneuvers were then repeated on wet test surfaces at TRC's facility. The testing comprised of over 400 dynamic maneuvers—including a wide range of speeds, payloads, and tractor configurations—to ensure Range's system integrates seamlessly with standard truck braking and stability systems while maintaining or improving performance in any real-world scenario. Compared to conventional trailers, the Range system intelligently engaged regenerative braking earlier in critical maneuvers, gently slowing the vehicle and reducing lateral force by up to 25 percent, enabling drivers to complete the same turn at the same speed more safely, avoiding loss of control or rollover. 'Testing under extreme conditions and with aggressive maneuvers is critical to prove the intelligence and reliability of our control systems in real-world conditions,' said Kyle Foley, Head of Engineering, Range Energy. 'From fine-tuning traction control and delivering precise stability interventions through regenerative braking, to ensuring seamless compatibility with today's truck brake systems, every element is designed to perform when it matters most. Testing at TRC goes beyond technical validation—it's about building trust. Because when you're moving freight, you're carrying important goods that drive modern life and society forward.' Range's system is designed to work with a variety of trucks including diesel and electric semi-trucks, requiring no modification to the tow vehicle. The system significantly enhances the efficiency, safety, and vehicle dynamics for fleets, in addition to offering a sustainable pathway for commercial trucking operations at large. Highlights from the testing can be viewed here: About Range Energy Range Energy enables the future of freight through practical trailer electrification technology designed to help fleets without disrupting operations. Its eTrailer System integrates with existing commercial tractor-trailers to deliver fuel savings, lower emissions, and improve safety. The system also provides electric power for auxiliary components like lift gates and refrigerated units. With fast installation and seamless compatibility, Range provides a scalable path toward cleaner, more efficient freight movement that delivers both cost savings and enhanced safety. Founded in 2021, Range Energy is backed by leading investors, including Trousdale Ventures, UP Partners, R7, Yamaha Motor Ventures, and others. For more information, visit
