Latest news with #systemicRacism
CBC
18-07-2025
- CBC
Implement countrywide Red Dress Alert to prevent need for landfill searches for women: MMIWG advocate
As one landfill search ends and another is planned to begin, an MMIWG advocate says countrywide implementation of the Red Dress Alert and addressing "systemic racism" could prevent the agony of such searches ever needing to happen again. "We know when someone is missing, time is of an essence to locate them and to find them safely," said Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, a member of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in Manitoba and chair of the National Family and Survivors Circle. Manitoba is in the process of launching the Red Dress Alert pilot project, which will provide a notification to people's mobile phones when an Indigenous woman, girl, two-spirit or gender diverse person goes missing — similar to how an Amber Alert works. "They should be looking at the next phase to, alongside the federal government, fully implement the [alert] … and adequately resource it to ensure that it's long-term and sustainable," Anderson-Pyrz said. "We'll be fighting for those resources, because what the Red Dress Alert means in this country is very powerful for Indigenous women, girls and children." But even that's just the beginning of what needs to be done, said Anderson-Pyrz, who became immersed in the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls when the body of her sister, Dawn Anderson, was found in November 2011 outside her home in the northern Manitoba town of Leaf Rapids. Many people who go missing do so because of systems "that continue to deliver services and supports under colonial policies," Anderson-Pyrz said. It took two years of advocacy by families before a search for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran in the privately owned Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg, started in December 2024. Partial remains were discovered in February, and workers remained at the site in an effort to find more, before the search wrapped up on July 9. Anderson-Pyrz said it shouldn't have taken so long or required so much effort to make a search finally happen. "If we hold these systems to account, we wouldn't be having to fight on the front lines, families wouldn't have to be advocating on the front lines for the dignity of their loved ones, to bring them home, to honour them in ceremony," she said. "We need to look at the systemic racism within policing, [because] this is where it's ultimately stemming from." Police have been criticized by Indigenous groups as being too quick to dismiss their concerns, label missing girls as runaways or conduct inadequate investigations. In Winnipeg, the search focus now shifts to the city-owned Brady Road landfill, where workers will look for the remains of Ashley Shingoose. Shingoose, who was given the name Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, before she was identified, was one of the four First Nations women killed by Jeremy Skibicki in 2022. He was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder last year. The partial remains of Rebecca Contois, the other victim of Skibicki, were located at the Brady Road landfill in 2022. Provincial and municipal governments across the country need to find the political will to drive transformative change, Anderson-Pyrz said. "Look at this crisis from a prevention lens — how to mitigate the risks associated to Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit and gender-diverse people in Canada, and also to ensure there is policy and legislation and accountability mechanisms … how the justice system holds these perpetrators of violence accountable," she said. "There cannot be a two-tier system in Canada — one for Indigenous women, where we're devalued, and one for the rest of society." Anderson-Pyrz said she has "a lot of mixed emotions" when she thinks about the situation that exists for many First Nations people. Progress is being made, but there's "ongoing violence … rooted in systemic and structural racism," she said.
CBC
18-07-2025
- CBC
Implement countrywide Red Dress Alert system to prevent need for landfill searches for women: MMIWG advocate
Social Sharing As one landfill search ends and another is planned to begin, an MMIWG advocate says countrywide implementation of the Red Dress Alert and addressing "systemic racism" could prevent the agony of such searches ever needing to happen again. "We know when someone is missing, time is of an essence to locate them and to find them safely," said Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, a member of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in Manitoba and chair of the National Family and Survivors Circle. Manitoba is in the process of launching the Red Dress Alert pilot project, which will provide a notification to people's mobile phones when an Indigenous woman, girl, two-spirit or gender diverse person goes missing — similar to how an Amber Alert works. "They should be looking at the next phase to, alongside the federal government, fully implement the [alert] … and adequately resource it to ensure that it's long-term and sustainable," Anderson-Pyrz said. "We'll be fighting for those resources, because what the Red Dress Alert means in this country is very powerful for Indigenous women, girls and children." But even that's just the beginning of what needs to be done, said Anderson-Pyrz, who became immersed in the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls when the body of her sister, Dawn Anderson, was found in November 2011 outside her home in the northern Manitoba town of Leaf Rapids. Many people who go missing do so because of systems "that continue to deliver services and supports under colonial policies," Anderson-Pyrz said. It took two years of advocacy by families before a search for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran in the privately owned Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg, started in December 2024. Partial remains were discovered in February, and workers remained at the site in an effort to find more, before the search wrapped up on July 9. Anderson-Pyrz said it shouldn't have taken so long or required so much effort to make a search finally happen. "If we hold these systems to account, we wouldn't be having to fight on the front lines, families wouldn't have to be advocating on the front lines for the dignity of their loved ones, to bring them home, to honour them in ceremony," she said. "We need to look at the systemic racism within policing, [because] this is where it's ultimately stemming from." Police have been criticized by Indigenous groups as being too quick to dismiss their concerns, label missing girls as runaways or conduct inadequate investigations. In Winnipeg, the search focus now shifts to the city-owned Brady Road landfill, where workers will look for the remains of Ashley Shingoose. Shingoose, who was given the name Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, before she was identified, was one of the four First Nations women killed by Jeremy Skibicki in 2022. He was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder last year. The remains of Rebecca Contois, the other victim of Skibicki, were located at the Brady Road landfill in 2022. Provincial and municipal governments across the country need to find the political will to drive transformative change, Anderson-Pyrz said. "Look at this crisis from a prevention lens — how to mitigate the risks associated to Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit and gender diverse people in Canada, and also to ensure there is policy and legislation and accountability mechanisms … how the justice system holds these perpetrators of violence accountable," she said. "There cannot be a two-tier system in Canada, one for Indigenous women where we're devalued, and one for the rest of society."
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
N.S. opposition call government out over withholding environmental racism report
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's provincial opposition parties are criticizing the government for continuing to keep a year-old report on environmental racism out of the public eye. Their comments came after Becky Druhan, minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives, told reporters Thursday that government has requested a meeting with the environmental racism panel that created the report to 'discuss with them before sharing any additional information.' The report was completed by an eight-member panel appointed in June 2023 to look at how racism affects a community's natural environment in Nova Scotia. Environmental racism is a form of systemic racism where environmentally hazardous activities like landfills, trash incinerators, coal plants and toxic waste facilities are set up near Black and racialized communities or Indigenous territories. The report was delivered to the province about a year ago. 'In this instance, the (panel's) mandate didn't include a public report. The mandate was advice to government. So we want to respect the parameters of that,' Druhan said after a cabinet meeting when asked if she will release the report. The panel members included community leaders with expertise in subjects such as Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian history, law, health and environmental sciences. 'We do know that Nova Scotians want to hear more, and we want to respect the panel and have a conversation with them before we do that,' Druhan said. Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender and Liberal member Derek Mombourquette both said Thursday it's puzzling the province is choosing to withhold this critical information about environmental racism. 'I think they probably don't like what it (the report) says,' Chender said of the provincial government. 'We're talking about a legacy of wrongdoing and harm that this government is now complicit in, because they will not address what it was that came forward' from this panel's work, she added. The idea for the panel came from the NDP, who proposed it in an amendment to climate change legislation that was passed in the fall of 2023. Chender said it 'was no one's understanding' that this panel's work would be kept from the public. 'That report came from an amendment that was put forward by our caucus that specifically called for the establishment of a panel that would provide recommendations to the province for redress,' Chender said. 'It didn't say that it would privately provide some things that the government might consider, and then not tell anyone about it. That doesn't make any sense.' Mombourquette agreed, saying it's 'really shameful' that the report has not yet been made public to Nova Scotians, adding that he represents a constituency that has faced environmental racism in the form of the Sydney tar ponds and coke oven sites in Cape Breton. 'I think that the government should release it immediately. I don't buy this argument that there needs to be a meeting with the panel beforehand. Release the report, let Nova Scotians see what's in it,' he said. When asked if he thinks the report ought to be made public, Premier Tim Houston did not directly answer. 'We're using that to formulate public policy. It's having a positive impact. There is a meeting being organized with a number of ministers and the panellists to talk about… the ways forward,' he said after Thursday's cabinet meeting. When pressed on if he is of the opinion that it should be public, he said 'we'll have a discussion with the panels. I think the most important thing is that the work is actually used.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025. By Lyndsay Armstrong
News24
08-07-2025
- Health
- News24
Medical scheme racism report may ‘undermine' anti-fraud efforts, Discovery claims
Discovery has said that the recommendations of a report into systemic racism by medical schemes could undermine anti-fraud efforts. Be among those who shape the future with knowledge. Uncover exclusive stories that captivate your mind and heart with our FREE 14-day subscription trial. Dive into a world of inspiration, learning, and empowerment. You can only trial once. Show Comments ()
SBS Australia
08-07-2025
- Business
- SBS Australia
Evening News Bulletin 8 July 2025
In this bulletin; The Reserve Bank holds interest rates steady despite expected cuts; NT Police acknowledge institutional racism and pledge to reform; And in rugby league, New South Wales carry an experience advantage into the State of Origin decider tomorrow. The Reserve Bank has kept interest rates on hold in a move that will disappoint borrowers hoping for further mortgage relief. The surprise decision went against expectations of most traders and economists, who were leaning towards a 25 basis point cash rate cut to reflect the under-control inflation and sluggish retail spending. The RBA board says maintaining price stability and full employment is their priority and they want to ensure inflation rates have stabilised in a sustainable fashion before more cuts. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says, while it's not the decision millions of Australians were hoping for, he trusts independent decisions made by the board. He praises Australia's ability to make progress on inflation without the consequences of a deteriorating economy or high unemployment rates. "Under the life of this government, we've got inflation down. We've got real wages growing. Unemployment is low. Our economy has continued to tick over. Interest rates have come down twice in five months, but we know the job's not finished because people are still under pressure and the global environment is so uncertain." Northern Territory Police have acknowledged systemic racism within their organisation and have promised to stamp out bigotry and reform policies. It comes after the end of the three year coronial inquiry into the fatal police shooting of 19-year-old First Nations man Kumanjayi Walker. Coroner Elizabeth Armitage's report found Mr Walker's death was avoidable, and that the state's police force failed to protect the public through poor supervision and management of constable Zachary Rolfe's use of force. In her statement she says she also found that "Mr Rolfe was racist and that he worked in and was the beneficiary of an organisation with hallmarks of institutional racism." NT Police Deputy Commissioner Martin Dole says they have acknowledged the coroner's 18 recommendations to police and will act to meaningfully reform the organisation. "We also acknowledge the coroners findings that all forms of racism have existed within the Northern Territory police force at various times. That is confronting but it is a truth that we must face. What was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable. We are committed to stamping out racism. That includes seriously re-examining how we return to a meaningful version of community policing, one that reflects the needs and expectations of Aboriginal people and builds trust at a local level." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded to the latest twist in United States President Donald Trump's tariff roll-out, saying Australia will not stop pushing for an exemption. Shares on Wall Street have fallen after President Trump sent letters to 14 countries, including allies Japan and South Korea, unveiling sharply higher tariffs on imports into the United States, while postponing their implementation to August 1. Australian goods to the US have already been subjected to the country's baseline 10 per cent tariffs, the minimum rate imposed on all US trading partners. Mr Albanese says he's not expecting a higher tariff rate as Australia hasn't proposed counter-tariffs on US goods. "No, because we're not increasing tariffs. Australia has a tariff rate of 10 per cent. No country has a better deal than Australia. Now, we'll continue to put our case that tariffs are an act of economic self-harm and we should be entitled to reciprocal tariffs that are zero. But the U-S administration has a view and no country has secured an exemption." New South Wales will carry an advantage into the State of Origin decider, with Penrith's five-year NRL dynasty helping prepare the Blues for rugby league's grandest stage. New South Wales will enter tomorrow night's decider at Sydney's Accor Stadium as firm favourites, despite Queensland's game-two win in Perth keeping the series alive. Origin deciders are considered the second biggest game of each NRL season behind the grand final and it is in that department where the Blues have their biggest advantage. Their players have featured in 64 grand finals and Origin deciders between them with 45 wins, while the Maroons have 46 of those games between them for 26 wins.
