nationalobserver--2020-08-19--Growing number of First Nations raise concerns about Doug Ford’s omnibus bill

A growing number of northern Ontario First Nations are raising concerns about Premier Doug Ford ’ s controversial economic recovery bill .
Bill 197 , an omnibus piece of legislation that was passed last month without public consultation , included a rewrite of environmental rules that critics said weakened key protections .
Both the Fort Albany and Attawapiskat First Nations denounced the law in late July .
In an open letter dated Aug. 7 , the grand chief of the Mushkegowuk Council — which represents Fort Albany , Attawapiskat and five other nations near James Bay — called on Ford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to consult Indigenous people on matters affecting their traditional territories .
“ There was no due process , ” Grand Chief Jonathan Solomon said in a phone interview , referring to the Ford government .
“ That ’ s quite important , because how they approached it was quite disturbing .
They had no regard for consultation with the Indigenous First Nations.
” • Speaking out comes at a cost in Alberta .
Just look at the former CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce • Trudeau set to move Freeland to Finance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill 197 , which altered 20 pieces of existing legislation , is aimed at speeding up key infrastructure projects that the government says will help Ontario recover from the economic hit caused by COVID-19 .
It was passed despite concerns from Ontario auditor general Bonnie Lysyk , who said the legislation was “ not compliant ” with Ontario ’ s Environmental Bill of Rights , which requires the government to consult the public on changes affecting the environment .
A coalition of green non-profits is taking the government to court over the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rule that it was “ unlawful ” for the province to pass it .
Lindsay Davidson , a spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of the Environment , Conservation and Parks , said in a statement that Bill 197 included provisions that protect treaty rights .
The new environmental assessment process also includes measures to require consultation with Indigenous communities , he said .
“ We advised communities that there will be additional opportunities for consultation in the future and have asked for their thoughts on how we can work together so their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modernized environmental assessment program , ” he said .
“ Now that the legislation is passed , the ministry will continue to consult with Indigenous communities as part of our efforts to modernize the environmental assessment program.
” Davidson also said the government held six webinars with First Nations to explain the ramifications of the bill .
Five of them were held before the legislation passed , and the sixth was only held the day after because the community wasn ’ t able to participate on any other dates , Davidson added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Ring of Fire region .
The Progressive Conservative government has announced intentions to develop the area into a mining hub , despite local opposition .
Ontario 's Bill 197 included a major rewrite of environmental assessment rules , which critics said watered down key protections .
A council of First Nations is now sounding alarms about the legislation .
# onpoli Solomon said despite the measures aimed at preserving treaty rights , communities are concerned Bill 197 will be used to push through projects they have argued against .
He called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” that would undermine decades of environmental progress .
“ Sadly , they ’ re using COVID-19 as a decoy to restart the economy at the cost of the environment , the waters , the animals , our livelihood , ” Solomon said , adding that he understands the importance of the economy , but remains concerned about the impact on the environment .
“ That 's significant because we still practise our hunting and our trapping in our area .
That ’ s a part of our subsistence , and being stewards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Letter to Premier Ford by Emma McIntosh on Scribd In his letter to Ford , Solomon outlined the obligations provincial and federal governments agreed to when Treaty 9 — which covers a wide section of land west of James Bay — was negotiated in 1905 .
Ontario ’ s representative during those discussions , Daniel MacMartin , kept detailed notes in his personal diary of verbal promises made to the Mushkegowuk nations .
Though the written agreement , outlined in a language First Nations leaders didn ’ t understand , outlined that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the verbal promises recorded by MacMartin guaranteed the nations the right to use their homelands as they always had .
The nations agreed to the verbal promises , not the written ones , Solomon wrote in the letter .
“ Premier , you can read those promises yourself , in the handwriting of the official Ontario government representative , who was writing down what he saw and heard , ” the letter reads .
“ Premier , we believe that promises made should be promises kept .
We hope that you agree.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed the fact that the government must consult the Mushkegowuk nations about projects in their territories .
“ If your government wishes to obtain Omushkego/Ininiwuk peoples ’ consent to resource projects , forestry projects , mining projects , and other development in our Aski/lands , you will need to consult with us from the beginning , ” he wrote .
“ You will need to show how these projects respect the integrity of our environment .
Further , you will need to demonstrate how these projects will benefit the Omushkego/Ininiwuk.
” Solomon said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he hopes the premier will be “ genuine ” in addressing council ’ s concerns .
The council is looking at filing a court application of its own to contest Bill 197 , he added .
“ For me and other leaders this is illegal , ” Solomon said in the interview .
“ It ’ s not right .
”

A growing number of northern Ontario First Nations are raising concerns about Premier Doug Ford’s controversial economic recovery bill. Bill 197, an omnibus piece of legislation that was passed last month without public consultation, included a rewrite of environmental rules that critics said weakened key protections. Both the Fort Albany and Attawapiskat First Nations denounced the law in late July. In an open letter dated Aug. 7, the grand chief of the Mushkegowuk Council — which represents Fort Albany, Attawapiskat and five other nations near James Bay — called on Ford to honour Ontario’s treaty obligations to consult Indigenous people on matters affecting their traditional territories. “There was no due process,” Grand Chief Jonathan Solomon said in a phone interview, referring to the Ford government. “That’s quite important, because how they approached it was quite disturbing. They had no regard for consultation with the Indigenous First Nations.”
Ford has said Bill 197, which altered 20 pieces of existing legislation, is aimed at speeding up key infrastructure projects that the government says will help Ontario recover from the economic hit caused by COVID-19. It was passed despite concerns from Ontario auditor general Bonnie Lysyk, who said the legislation was “not compliant” with Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights, which requires the government to consult the public on changes affecting the environment. A coalition of green non-profits is taking the government to court over the bill, asking Ontario’s Divisional Court to rule that it was “unlawful” for the province to pass it. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Lindsay Davidson, a spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, said in a statement that Bill 197 included provisions that protect treaty rights. The new environmental assessment process also includes measures to require consultation with Indigenous communities, he said.
“We advised communities that there will be additional opportunities for consultation in the future and have asked for their thoughts on how we can work together so their interests and perspectives can help inform the modernized environmental assessment program,” he said.
“Now that the legislation is passed, the ministry will continue to consult with Indigenous communities as part of our efforts to modernize the environmental assessment program.” Ontario's Bill 197 included a major rewrite of environmental assessment rules, which critics said watered down key protections. A council of First Nations is now sounding alarms about the legislation. #onpoli Davidson also said the government held six webinars with First Nations to explain the ramifications of the bill. Five of them were held before the legislation passed, and the sixth was only held the day after because the community wasn’t able to participate on any other dates, Davidson added. Nations in the Mushkegowuk Council are downstream of the Ring of Fire region. The Progressive Conservative government has announced intentions to develop the area into a mining hub, despite local opposition. Solomon said despite the measures aimed at preserving treaty rights, communities are concerned Bill 197 will be used to push through projects they have argued against. He called the bill a “major step back” that would undermine decades of environmental progress. “Sadly, they’re using COVID-19 as a decoy to restart the economy at the cost of the environment, the waters, the animals, our livelihood,” Solomon said, adding that he understands the importance of the economy, but remains concerned about the impact on the environment.
“That's significant because we still practise our hunting and our trapping in our area. That’s a part of our subsistence, and being stewards of the land.” Mushkegowuk Council Open Letter to Premier Ford by Emma McIntosh on Scribd


nationalobserver--2020-08-19--Alberta press gallery has a duty and a right to determine access: CAJ

This past Sunday , the national board of the Canadian Association of Journalists ( CAJ ) gathered for a regular meeting .
One of our main agenda items was to discuss the recent news of the Alberta Legislative Press Gallery ’ s refusal to issue memberships to employees of Rebel News .
Late last week , Postmedia announced its extraordinary decision to pull its newspapers from the press gallery .
While the CAJ respects their prerogative to operate their newsrooms as they see fit , we are concerned this decision could place its journalists in a difficult position to adequately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent self-regulatory bodies that have long been part of Canadian legislatures .
They are recognized by the speaker to oversee the press accreditation process and other rules for legislative journalists .
Press galleries have a right and responsibility to admit as members only those who meet their standards and definitions for journalism , so long as the process is transparent and fair .
In 2016 , the Alberta government requested a review in the wake of the controversial decision by the then NDP-led government to block access to the legislature to members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Western Canadian bureau chief for The Canadian Press , was hired to study the issue .
Her subsequent report clearly outlined how individual reporters were the most appropriate arbitrators of who should ( and should not ) be accredited as members of the legislative press gallery .
It is worth noting that Rebel News has , by its own admission , previously been denied press credentials by the Parliamentary Press Gallery .
Much of this is openly posted on their campaigns page .
The CAJ has previously noted this is inconsistent with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the following points : • We do not allow our own biases to impede fair and accurate reporting .
• We carefully consider our political activities and community involvements—including those online—and refrain from taking part in demonstrations , signing petitions , doing public relations work , fundraising or making financial contributions if there is a chance we will be covering the campaign , activity or group involved .
This places Rebel News outside the definition the CAJ uses to distinguish our membership .
This distinction was similarly reinforced by Justice Derek Green , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a journalist in the context of the Justin Brake case .
In his decision , issued on March 28 , 2019 , Justice Green stated that one condition for constitutional protection was that , “ he or she [ the journalist ] is not actively assisting , participating with or advocating for the protesters about whom the reports are being made.
” `` Much like a press gallery , the CAJ restricts our Class A membership to professional journalists and we draw upon transparent guidelines to make those decisions .
The employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criteria . ''
The CAJ has supported Rebel News in the past because other issues that could impact journalists were at play .
In 2016 , the Alberta government attempted to block Rebel News ’ access to the provincial legislature in Edmonton .
The CAJ objected to government officials ’ attempt to control who can hold them to account .
We maintain it is not for governments to define who is a journalist .
We further stated that we disagreed with the arguments the government used to define journalism .
At the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still news organizations when their owners aren ’ t journalists ” and that many online-only news operations are legitimate sources of news .
We stand by those statements .
The CAJ also supported Rebel News ’ access to the federal Leadership Debates in 2019 because the Leaders ' Debate Commission was not transparent in its accreditation process and waited until the last business day to issue its decision , and had no appeal process .
Further , we objected to a government body using the Canadian Association of Journalists ' ethics guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalist .
Indeed , journalism in Canada is not a licensed profession .
There is no industry accrediting body , such as a college of physicians , or a law society , as is the case for lawyers .
Nevertheless , in Canada , the Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides a constitutional guarantee for the freedom of expression , which ensures the ability to express ideas freely .
There is no dispute that this provision is a cornerstone of our democratic society .
At the same time , however , the act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high ethical standards , which demands that information gathered during the reporting process be presented accurately , fairly and transparently for public consideration .
Editor 's note : In the spirit of transparency , National Observer managing editor Laurie Few is a Canadian Association of Journalists board member .
Because she was involved in the discussion that led to the CAJ 's position , she recused herself from posting and editing this declaration , a task that was carried out by deputy managing editor David McKie .
National Observer is posting this story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussion about journalism that should be shared with as many people as possible .

This past Sunday, the national board of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) gathered for a regular meeting. One of our main agenda items was to discuss the recent news of the Alberta Legislative Press Gallery’s refusal to issue memberships to employees of Rebel News. Late last week, Postmedia announced its extraordinary decision to pull its newspapers from the press gallery. While the CAJ respects their prerogative to operate their newsrooms as they see fit, we are concerned this decision could place its journalists in a difficult position to adequately serve the public. Press galleries are independent self-regulatory bodies that have long been part of Canadian legislatures. They are recognized by the speaker to oversee the press accreditation process and other rules for legislative journalists. Press galleries have a right and responsibility to admit as members only those who meet their standards and definitions for journalism, so long as the process is transparent and fair. In 2016, the Alberta government requested a review in the wake of the controversial decision by the then NDP-led government to block access to the legislature to members of Rebel News. Heather Boyd, a former Western Canadian bureau chief for The Canadian Press, was hired to study the issue. Her subsequent report clearly outlined how individual reporters were the most appropriate arbitrators of who should (and should not) be accredited as members of the legislative press gallery. It is worth noting that Rebel News has, by its own admission, previously been denied press credentials by the Parliamentary Press Gallery. The internet and widespread access to technology have opened the field to new players in the field of journalism, including: independent news sites, podcasters, citizen journalists, bloggers, YouTubers, and others. We’ve also seen the rise of sites and organizations that mimic journalism, including: government propaganda sites, such as Ontario News Now, or Alberta’s Canadian Energy Centre; newsletters, websites, and video content produced by corporate, lobby and advocacy groups such as Progress Alberta, the Broadbent Institute’s PressProgress; and disinformation sites, such as the now defunct YellowVestGroup.com. Press galleries may exclude lobbyists, protestors, government and corporate communications staff. They may also decide to exclude bloggers and citizen journalists, who do not engage in journalism frequently, professionally or whose actions violate a code of ethics. It’s important to vet applicants for security reasons, as they will have access to government buildings and officials.
Much of this is openly posted on their campaigns page. The CAJ has previously noted this is inconsistent with our suggested code of ethics, particularly the following points: "Much like a press gallery, the CAJ restricts our Class A membership to professional journalists and we draw upon transparent guidelines to make those decisions. The employees of Rebel News would not meet our criteria." We do not allow our own biases to impede fair and accurate reporting.
We carefully consider our political activities and community involvements—including those online—and refrain from taking part in demonstrations, signing petitions, doing public relations work, fundraising or making financial contributions if there is a chance we will be covering the campaign, activity or group involved. This places Rebel News outside the definition the CAJ uses to distinguish our membership. This distinction was similarly reinforced by Justice Derek Green, as he considered who has constitutional protection as a journalist in the context of the Justin Brake case. In his decision, issued on March 28, 2019, Justice Green stated that one condition for constitutional protection was that, “he or she [the journalist] is not actively assisting, participating with or advocating for the protesters about whom the reports are being made.” The CAJ has supported Rebel News in the past because other issues that could impact journalists were at play. In 2016, the Alberta government attempted to block Rebel News’ access to the provincial legislature in Edmonton. The CAJ objected to government officials’ attempt to control who can hold them to account. We maintain it is not for governments to define who is a journalist. We further stated that we disagreed with the arguments the government used to define journalism. At the time we argued that: “news organizations are still news organizations when their owners aren’t journalists” and that many online-only news operations are legitimate sources of news. We stand by those statements. The CAJ also supported Rebel News’ access to the federal Leadership Debates in 2019 because the Leaders' Debate Commission was not transparent in its accreditation process and waited until the last business day to issue its decision, and had no appeal process. Further, we objected to a government body using the Canadian Association of Journalists' ethics guidelines to try to define who is a journalist.


nationalobserver--2020-08-19--Andrew Furey to be sworn in as Newfoundland and Labrador's premier today

Andrew Furey will be sworn in as premier of Newfoundland and Labrador today .
The surgeon and charity CEO from @ @ @ @ @ Liberal leader Aug. 3 and will replace Dwight Ball to become the 14th premier of @ @ @ @ @ the son of Senate Speaker George Furey , will be sworn in during a ceremony @ @ @ @ @ John 's .

Andrew Furey will be sworn in as premier of Newfoundland and Labrador today.
The surgeon and charity CEO from a political family was elected Liberal leader Aug. 3 and will replace Dwight Ball to become the 14th premier of the province.
Furey, the son of Senate Speaker George Furey, will be sworn in during a ceremony at Government House in St. John's.
The new premier, who has never held public office and does not have a seat in the provincial legislature, will take questions at a news conference this afternoon.
Furey will inherit a troubling financial situation in Newfoundland and Labrador, with officials attributing a $2.1-billion deficit to falling oil prices and pandemic-related spending.


nationalobserver--2020-08-19--First Nations groups call for closure of all Fraser River sockeye fisheries

First Nations groups in British Columbia are calling on the federal fisheries minister to issue an emergency order to close all sockeye fisheries on the Fraser River .
A joint news release three groups that make up the First Nations Leadership Council says Bernadette Jordan should also declare the stock collapsed while their groups come together to create a strategy to save the fish .
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has estimated returning sockeye would hit a record low this year , with about 283,000 fish or fewer making it from the ocean to their Fraser River spawning grounds .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sockeye would return , though it noted salmon forecasts were highly uncertain , in part because of a lack of understanding of the effects of warming ocean waters .
The council , made up of the B.C .
Assembly of First Nations , the First Nations Summit and Union of B.C .
Indian chiefs , says Indigenous communities that rely on the salmon for food face the greatest impacts , but the department has consistently prioritized commercial fishing .
• Speaking out comes at a cost in Alberta .
Just look at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commerce Representatives with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans were not immediately available for comment .
First Nations fishing rights are protected by the Constitution and the council says the federal government has failed in its duty to ensure they have priority access to salmon .
Robert Phillips with the First Nations Summit says Indigenous leaders have been calling on Ottawa to save the salmon for decades and it 's time for full jurisdiction over salmon stocks to be transferred back to First Nations .
Five Nuu-Chah-Nulth First Nations on Vancouver Island have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism after the government decided to exclude them in the allocation of 15,000 extra salmon this year — a surplus that arose because fewer people were fishing recreationally during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Salmon returning to the Fraser River also face the added hurdle of making it over a massive landslide along a remote stretch of the river north of Lillooet .
A pneumatic pump and tube system and the construction of a fish ladder have been installed to help salmon over the five-metre waterfall created by the slide .
First Nations groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal fisheries minister to issue an emergency order to close all sockeye fisheries on the Fraser River .
In an update last week , Fisheries and Oceans said water levels have dropped sufficiently in recent days to allow fish to pass over the slide on their own steam .
A Department of Fisheries document from 2017 says total adult returns of Fraser River sockeye are highly variable ranging from 2 to 28 million , with an average of 9.6 million , between 1980 and 2014 .
This report by The Canadian Press was @ @ @ @ @ @ @

First Nations groups in British Columbia are calling on the federal fisheries minister to issue an emergency order to close all sockeye fisheries on the Fraser River.
A joint news release three groups that make up the First Nations Leadership Council says Bernadette Jordan should also declare the stock collapsed while their groups come together to create a strategy to save the fish.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has estimated returning sockeye would hit a record low this year, with about 283,000 fish or fewer making it from the ocean to their Fraser River spawning grounds.
Just last month, the department estimated 941,000 sockeye would return, though it noted salmon forecasts were highly uncertain, in part because of a lack of understanding of the effects of warming ocean waters.
The council, made up of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, the First Nations Summit and Union of B.C. Indian chiefs, says Indigenous communities that rely on the salmon for food face the greatest impacts, but the department has consistently prioritized commercial fishing.


nationalobserver--2020-08-19--Lawyer seeking review after Crown land removed from list of pending protected areas

The lawyer for a retired biologist and an environmental group is seeking judicial review of Nova Scotia 's decision to remove a section of Crown land along the province 's Eastern Shore from a list of pending protected areas .
Jamie Simpson said today his clients will make an initial appearance in Nova Scotia Supreme Court Sept. 23 .
Earlier this month , the court granted Bob Bancroft and the Eastern Shore Forest Watch Association more time to proceed with their legal action .
Justice Kevin Coady ruled the group could still seek judicial review even though their filing came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 quietly removed the Owls Head coastal headlands from a list of land awaiting legal protection .
United States-based developers Beckwith and Kitty Gilbert have proposed to build as many as three golf courses in the area .
• Speaking out comes at a cost in Alberta .
Just look at the former CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce The 285 hectares of land contains rare coastal ecosystems and a habitat for species at risk such as the piping plover .
In his Aug. 5 decision , Justice Kevin Coady said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no way for the applicants to know about the government 's decision before it was revealed in a CBC media report based on an access to information request .
`` The secrecy of the decision precluded any member of the public from legally responding within the six-month window , '' Coady wrote .
`` There is nothing in the evidence to suggest the applicants were dragging their feet . ''
Simpson says his clients hope to get the court to agree that the process used by the Department of Lands and Forests was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good decision to make , maybe not , but we think the public should have been given the opportunity to know this was happening and to provide comment , '' he said .
Simpson says the case is important because roughly 100 other properties known as provincial parks are awaiting official protection and are `` essentially open to government sale to developers . ''
The lawyer for a retired biologist and an environmental group is seeking judicial review of Nova Scotia 's decision to remove a section of Crown land along the province @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pending protected areas .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18 , 2020 .

The lawyer for a retired biologist and an environmental group is seeking judicial review of Nova Scotia's decision to remove a section of Crown land along the province's Eastern Shore from a list of pending protected areas.
Jamie Simpson said today his clients will make an initial appearance in Nova Scotia Supreme Court Sept. 23.
Earlier this month, the court granted Bob Bancroft and the Eastern Shore Forest Watch Association more time to proceed with their legal action.
Justice Kevin Coady ruled the group could still seek judicial review even though their filing came more than six months after the government in 2019 quietly removed the Owls Head coastal headlands from a list of land awaiting legal protection.
United States-based developers Beckwith and Kitty Gilbert have proposed to build as many as three golf courses in the area.


nationalobserver--2020-08-19--Parliament prorogued, Trudeau promising throne speech next month

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shut down Parliament and is promising to come back with a new throne speech next month to reset his Liberal government 's agenda in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Trudeau said Tuesday he had asked Gov .
Gen. Julie Payette to prorogue Parliament , saying it will return Sept. 23 .
That is two days after the House of Commons was scheduled to resume sitting after reducing operations this spring .
The move will reset the legislative agenda , shutting down committees — along with their probes of the WE Charity controversy — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A long-term plan for recovery from the pandemic and economic crisis is needed , Trudeau said , promising a throne speech that will be a roadmap to rebuilding the economy and addressing societal inequities the pandemic and shutdown laid bare .
`` This is our chance to build a more resilient Canada , a Canada that is healthier and safer , greener and more competitive , a Canada that is more welcoming and more fair , '' he said at a news conference on Parliament Hill .
• Speaking out comes at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce `` This is our moment to change our future for the better .
We ca n't afford to miss it , because this window of opportunity wo n't be open for long . ''
The throne speech delivered last December had no inkling that a pandemic would cause a global economic crisis , Trudeau added , saying a new one is needed to offer a long-term plan for rebuilding .
A new speech will also prompt a confidence vote , which will offer an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given a mandate for their post-pandemic recovery plans , Trudeau said .
`` We do not want an election , but it is obvious that the throne speech we gave eight months ago is no longer relevant for the reality that Canadians are living and that our government is facing , '' he said .
`` That 's what we will be laying out in our ambitious vision for this country in the throne speech and I think it 's important that Parliament gets a chance to weigh in on it . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to fight the next election as Liberal leader .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shut down Parliament and is promising to come back with a new throne speech next month to reset his Liberal government 's agenda in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The prorogation came less than 24 hours after Bill Morneau announced his resignation as finance minister and as Liberal MP for Toronto Centre in a hastily called press conference Monday evening .
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was appointed to replace him as finance minister in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She is the first woman named to the high-profile post .
Freeland will continue serving as deputy prime minister in addition to taking on finance , but New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc will take over from her in the intergovernmental affairs portfolio — a job he held previously but had to relinquish to go through treatment for cancer .
LeBlanc also remains as president of the Queen 's Privy Council for Canada .
As minister of finance , Freeland will help shepherd the government through the biggest economic recovery since the Great Depression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 343.2 billion .
The government has not yet tabled a 2020 budget , because plans to do so in March were upended by the pandemic .
A fall economic statement or a budget is now being promised for this fall .
Freeland told reporters Canada 's restart needs to be green , as well as equitable , inclusive and focused on jobs and growth .
`` I 'm absolutely confident that working together , we can get through this and we can build back a country even better than the one we had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
Earlier Tuesday , Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre said Morneau is taking the fall for a government mired in controversy and called for Trudeau to resign .
He sidestepped questions about whether the Tories would try to trigger an election in the fall , saying they want to uncover the full story of the WE controversy so Canadians know all the details before they go to the polls again .
A heated controversy has been simmering for months over the Liberal government 's decision to select WE Charity to administer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WE backed out of the deal in early July , citing the controversy .
Both Morneau and Trudeau are facing investigations by the federal ethics commissioner for not recusing themselves in the WE Charity deal , given their close family ties to the organization .
They have apologized .
Morneau compounded the controversy by revealing WE Charity had paid over $ 41,000 in expenses for family trips to see its humanitarian projects in Ecuador and Kenya in 2017 .
Morneau repaid the charity just hours before disclosing the trips during testimony before a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet last week said he would bring a non-confidence vote himself if Trudeau , Morneau and Trudeau 's chief of staff Katie Telford do not all resign .
He said Tuesday a throne speech could just make doing so easier , though he also left the door open to supporting it .
The New Democrats have been using their position in the minority Parliament to help Trudeau 's Liberals pass emergency aid legislation , while negotiating changes .
The NDP are now asking for a $ 12-billion investment in child care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investment so parents — particularly mothers — can go back to work .
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says this will remain the NDP 's focus — for now .
`` If the Liberal government continues to focus on helping their close friends instead of helping people ... then we 'll have to look at all options , '' he said Tuesday in Vancouver .
Meanwhile , the Liberals are releasing thousands of pages of documents related to the WE affair that were turned over to the House of Commons finance committee over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal information and cabinet secrets .
That committee had demanded the documents as part of its investigation into the WE Charity deal , which is now being shut down due to prorogation .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18 , 2020 .

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shut down Parliament and is promising to come back with a new throne speech next month to reset his Liberal government's agenda in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trudeau said Tuesday he had asked Gov. Gen. Julie Payette to prorogue Parliament, saying it will return Sept. 23. That is two days after the House of Commons was scheduled to resume sitting after reducing operations this spring. The move will reset the legislative agenda, shutting down committees — along with their probes of the WE Charity controversy — and clearing away any unfinished work. A long-term plan for recovery from the pandemic and economic crisis is needed, Trudeau said, promising a throne speech that will be a roadmap to rebuilding the economy and addressing societal inequities the pandemic and shutdown laid bare. "This is our chance to build a more resilient Canada, a Canada that is healthier and safer, greener and more competitive, a Canada that is more welcoming and more fair," he said at a news conference on Parliament Hill.
"This is our moment to change our future for the better. We can't afford to miss it, because this window of opportunity won't be open for long." The throne speech delivered last December had no inkling that a pandemic would cause a global economic crisis, Trudeau added, saying a new one is needed to offer a long-term plan for rebuilding. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions A new speech will also prompt a confidence vote, which will offer an opportunity for the Liberal minority to be given a mandate for their post-pandemic recovery plans, Trudeau said.
"We do not want an election, but it is obvious that the throne speech we gave eight months ago is no longer relevant for the reality that Canadians are living and that our government is facing," he said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shut down Parliament and is promising to come back with a new throne speech next month to reset his Liberal government's agenda in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. "That's what we will be laying out in our ambitious vision for this country in the throne speech and I think it's important that Parliament gets a chance to weigh in on it." Trudeau added that he "absolutely" plans to fight the next election as Liberal leader. The prorogation came less than 24 hours after Bill Morneau announced his resignation as finance minister and as Liberal MP for Toronto Centre in a hastily called press conference Monday evening. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was appointed to replace him as finance minister in a mini-cabinet shuffle Tuesday at Rideau Hall. She is the first woman named to the high-profile post.
Freeland will continue serving as deputy prime minister in addition to taking on finance, but New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc will take over from her in the intergovernmental affairs portfolio — a job he held previously but had to relinquish to go through treatment for cancer. LeBlanc also remains as president of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada. As minister of finance, Freeland will help shepherd the government through the biggest economic recovery since the Great Depression, with an expected deficit of $343.2 billion. The government has not yet tabled a 2020 budget, because plans to do so in March were upended by the pandemic. A fall economic statement or a budget is now being promised for this fall.


nationalobserver--2020-08-20--University students building peer support to battle isolation

University can be a daunting and anxiety-inducing experience at the best of times , and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated that stress for students .
So students involved with global non-profit Enactus chapters at the University of Toronto and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay are building tools to help their peers deal with the isolation of remote learning and reduce the stigma related to poor mental health .
“ I think some students could be afraid to reach out for help , or they do n't want to admit to themselves that they need help , ” said Stephanie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of T chapter , which is developing a support network called Connect-Us it plans to launch in time for the start of the new school year in September .
Dai , who has previously been a “ residence don , ” someone tasked with ensuring the well-being of students in campus accommodation , said the experience taught her that a lot of students do n't know what resources are available .
“ No one really knows one place to find it so it becomes really overwhelming , and they just do n't seek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dai ( left ) and Stephanie Lee , the co-presidents of the Enactus chapter at the University of Toronto , speak about their project via a video conference call on Aug. 18 , 2020 .
Dai and Lee , who are both going into fourth year at U of T ’ s Rotman business school , say they ’ d consider the project a success if it can attract 50 students by the end of December , and could look to expand the project into a mobile app .
University students involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided by @ MHCC_ to help develop projects to improve the mental health of peers as the isolation created by the COVID-19 pandemic creates additional stress Enactus chapters work on projects to help vulnerable groups in a business incubator-style program .
Successful projects can be spun off after graduation , with a biodegradable plastic project from the U of T chapter recently raising $ 4.3 million .
The pair both took part in a virtual course launched earlier this month by the Mental Health Commission of Canada ’ s ( MHCC ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been working to reduce the stigma attached to mental health issues since 2007 .
The MHCC team overhauled the training typically delivered face-to-face so it could get where it needed to go during the pandemic .
Insurance company The Co-operators is providing financial support and mentors .
The four hours of training were attended by more than 70 students ( split into smaller groups ) who were looking to learn how to provide better peer support .
“ We ’ re aiming to achieve a more fluent bridging between international students coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comfortable and thriving in Thunder Bay , ” he said .
The project will aim to pair incoming students with students and other mentors from similar geographical locations or who speak the same language .
“ They have different kinds of stress , ” said Young , who will be starting his third year of an accounting course come September .
“ There ’ s culture shock and language barriers .
Also just the usual stress of going to university for the first time and living in residence ( and ) there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher tuition than domestic students , and they don ’ t have as many scholarship opportunities.
” He said the current predicament has only exacerbated worries about student mental health .
“ It ’ s become much more important right now , ” he said .
“ People are feeling socially isolated with everything being online .
People are struggling to access these resources.
” InterGLO was the brainchild of Ashiana Ismail , an international master ’ s student Young met when both were volunteering at orientation events last year .
She graduated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reins over to new project managers .
Young said the virtual training he and the other members of his team received will help them develop more welcoming language to describe the struggles many young people face .
They are hoping that the project can bridge a gap in the provision of mental health services .
“ It ’ s very hard for people to get access to formal mental health resources like counsellors or therapists , not to mention some of it can be costly , ” he said .
“ So we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and stable resource for students to draw upon without also feeling like they ’ re being stigmatized because they are pursuing mental health help .
”

University can be a daunting and anxiety-inducing experience at the best of times, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated that stress for students. So students involved with global non-profit Enactus chapters at the University of Toronto and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay are building tools to help their peers deal with the isolation of remote learning and reduce the stigma related to poor mental health. “I think some students could be afraid to reach out for help, or they don't want to admit to themselves that they need help,” said Stephanie Lee, a co-president of the U of T chapter, which is developing a support network called Connect-Us it plans to launch in time for the start of the new school year in September. The platform will launch initially on Discord, an invite-only text, video and voice program popular with younger people, and aims to help students connect with and befriend others, join gaming tournaments and point them to existing mental wellness resources on or near campus. Using Discord will allow participants to join channels that are, for example, related specifically to their program of study.
The issue of mental health has come into sharp relief during the pandemic, which has led to a jump in calls to crisis lines and mental health professionals. Online resources are seen as particularly useful for younger people, who are often more comfortable using technology to access services. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions While initially restricted to University of Toronto students, Lee and fellow chapter co-president Sarah Dai say if Connect-Us proves popular, they would look to expand to other universities.
Dai, who has previously been a “residence don,” someone tasked with ensuring the well-being of students in campus accommodation, said the experience taught her that a lot of students don't know what resources are available. University students involved in @Enactus_Canada chapters are drawing on training provided by @MHCC_ to help develop projects to improve the mental health of peers as the isolation created by the COVID-19 pandemic creates additional stress “No one really knows one place to find it so it becomes really overwhelming, and they just don't seek it,” Dai said. Sarah Dai (left) and Stephanie Lee, the co-presidents of the Enactus chapter at the University of Toronto, speak about their project via a video conference call on Aug. 18, 2020. Dai and Lee, who are both going into fourth year at U of T’s Rotman business school, say they’d consider the project a success if it can attract 50 students by the end of December, and could look to expand the project into a mobile app. Enactus chapters work on projects to help vulnerable groups in a business incubator-style program. Successful projects can be spun off after graduation, with a biodegradable plastic project from the U of T chapter recently raising $4.3 million.
The pair both took part in a virtual course launched earlier this month by the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s (MHCC’s) Opening Minds training arm, which has been working to reduce the stigma attached to mental health issues since 2007. The MHCC team overhauled the training typically delivered face-to-face so it could get where it needed to go during the pandemic. Insurance company The Co-operators is providing financial support and mentors. The four hours of training were attended by more than 70 students (split into smaller groups) who were looking to learn how to provide better peer support.


nationalobserver--2020-08-20--Hearing, seeing, living. How one school is focusing on fluency to revitalize Indigenous languages

As a child , Ma̱lidi Sydney Roberts was always learning about the Kwakwaka ’ wakw culture .
But she said a piece of her was missing until she got to university and took some Kwak ’ wala language classes .
“ I got a taste of those classes and it just took hold of me .
I don ’ t know , the only way to describe it is I became obsessed , ” said the 23-year-old student at the University of British Columbia ( UBC ) .
Roberts had participated in dance , potlatch ceremonies and cultural activities growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the deep dive into her ancestral language brought laser-sharp focus to her studies and goals .
“ It was just so important to me that our nation did n't lose this beautiful language we have , ” she said .
Roberts is now completing her bachelor of education with a specialization in Indigenous pedagogy and a focus on Kwak ’ wala language revitalization and research .
• Citizens appalled as boaters defying whale sanctuary get off with warning She 'd learned Kwak ’ wala basics , like colours and numbers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning stalled in the mainstream education system during her middle and high school years .
“ There was just never that language component just because of the history of colonization , ” Roberts said .
“ So when I was able to start taking those classes at UBC , it totally changed my life.
” “ My culture is my strength , ” Roberts said , adding Indigenous language learning is a vehicle to strengthen young people ’ s well-being .
“ I think it is helping our youth rise up over colonization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really powerful tool for us to reclaim as Indigenous people.
” Take me back to # Heiltsuk awinagwis 😩 big house opening 2019 Passing out candy to the kids during the xwi xwi 😌 # 2019highlights # cultureismystrength Aboriginal education facilitator Sara Child is developing an Indigenous language fluency certificate for North Island College ( NIC ) , which has campuses based in Kwakwaka ’ wakw and Nuu-chah-nulth traditional territories .
“ Our languages encode vital aspects of our culture , ways of life and ways of being that depict how we live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educator Sara Child on how language revitalization is key to the wellness of Indigenous people and communities .
The certificate program will build upon both peoples ’ language courses that are already offered at NIC , she said .
The growing number of Indigenous language courses and programs at post-secondary institutions across B.C .
derive from one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission ’ s calls to action , Child said .
The commission called for increased funding and a collective effort to protect and renew Indigenous languages , and ensure the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credit courses .
But certificate programs that go beyond single courses and emphasize fluency in Indigenous languages are crucial , Child said .
There are few elders whose first language is Kwak ’ wala , and many who remain are in their 80s , she added .
Sara Child of North Island College says language revitalization is core to establishing wellness for Indigenous people and communities .
Photo supplied by NIC .
First Nations across Canada face this problem , but particularly those in B.C.
, because of the 60 distinct Indigenous languages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in this province , Child said .
Adult proficiency programs are vital to preserving Indigenous languages , a fundamental right intimately entwined with others denied to First Nations people through colonialism and forced assimilation , Child said .
“ With regard to our Indigenous rights , every one of those rights has been affected by language loss and disconnection from our land and resources , resulting in social instability that ’ s been harming our people for decades and decades.
” Language revitalization is core to establishing wellness for Indigenous people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ languages encode vital aspects of our culture , ways of life and ways of being that depict how we live our lives , ” she said .
Values of love , generosity , humbleness , respect and reciprocity with others and the natural world are the building blocks of Kwak ’ wala that were eroded with colonization , Child said .
The NIC program , delayed by COVID-19 , is slated to begin in fall 2021 .
But the Indigenous fluency certificate program will be taught differently than traditional language programs , Child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be on blackboard learning , but rather land-based experiential learning with mentors or elders to highlight the language ’ s relationship with Indigenous culture , protocol and relationship to their territories , Child said .
“ In the past , we 've primarily used reading and writing to try to teach people , and we really have n't gotten anywhere , ” Child said .
She wants to shift Indigenous language learners ’ focus to encourage fluency , particularly around speaking and listening .
“ Our elders do n't see words .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cultural pictures influenced by the relationship with the land , with the community , and with people in ceremony , ” said Child .
“ When they remember the language , they remember an event , or they remember a speech .
And that 's a different way of seeing.
” Students taking NIC 's Indigenous language courses in the past did so for a variety of reasons , said Child .
Many do so seeking groundedness and balance , and to consolidate their sense of identity , she said , while others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be teachers or work with children .
“ But others are just doggedly determined that revitalizing our language is key to re-establishing our place and centre on this earth , ” Child said .
“ Because they know our languages are vitally important not just to us , but to the world.
” Roberts is one of those determined to share her ancestral language with the wider world .
When she ’ s finished her studies , Roberts plans to return to Vancouver Island to teach Kwak ’ wala in her nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she uses social media to share the language and engage other young learners .
Using the handle @ languageweaver , Roberts frequently posts tidbits about Kwak ’ wala language and Kwakwaka ’ wakw culture on Instagram or TikTok .
“ I started because it helped me with my own language learning , ” she said .
“ And it 's just such a strong language and it 's such a beautiful language .
I 'm confident that our youth are going to pick it up and carry it.
” She also hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ culture will learn from her social media posts .
“ When I see settlers learning Indigenous language in a respectful way , and being able to understand more about the worldview of our people , It ’ s just a really healthy thing , ” Roberts said .
As a result , she thinks it ’ s great NIC is offering Kwak ’ wala in her traditional territories .
“ It will give a lot of people an opportunity to study it when maybe they would n't have had the chance before , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kwak ’ wala in a mainstream education setting is highly symbolic , given Indigenous language was beaten out of kids in schools in the past , Roberts said .
“ It was literally pretty much illegal to speak it.
” “ And just to have that acknowledged , and to come to a point where now we 're offering it in a western academic context , I think it 's a really good thing , ” she said .
“ It shows the strength of our people and the resilience of our language @ @

Roberts is now completing her bachelor of education with a specialization in Indigenous pedagogy and a focus on Kwak’wala language revitalization and research.
“It was just so important to me that our nation didn't lose this beautiful language we have,” she said.
Roberts had participated in dance, potlatch ceremonies and cultural activities growing up in Campbell River on Vancouver Island, but the deep dive into her ancestral language brought laser-sharp focus to her studies and goals.
“I got a taste of those classes and it just took hold of me. I don’t know, the only way to describe it is I became obsessed,” said the 23-year-old student at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
As a child, Ma̱lidi Sydney Roberts was always learning about the Kwakwaka’wakw culture . But she said a piece of her was missing until she got to university and took some Kwak’wala language classes.
“My culture is my strength,” Roberts said, adding Indigenous language learning is a vehicle to strengthen young people’s well-being.
“There was just never that language component just because of the history of colonization,” Roberts said. “So when I was able to start taking those classes at UBC, it totally changed my life.”
She'd learned Kwak’wala basics, like colours and numbers, in elementary school, but her language learning stalled in the mainstream education system during her middle and high school years.
The certificate program will build upon both peoples’ language courses that are already offered at NIC, she said.
Aboriginal education facilitator Sara Child is developing an Indigenous language fluency certificate for North Island College (NIC) , which has campuses based in Kwakwaka’wakw and Nuu-chah-nulth traditional territories.
“I think it is helping our youth rise up over colonization and I think that it is a really powerful tool for us to reclaim as Indigenous people.”
But certificate programs that go beyond single courses and emphasize fluency in Indigenous languages are crucial, Child said.
The commission called for increased funding and a collective effort to protect and renew Indigenous languages, and ensure the right to Aboriginal languages through the teaching of credit courses.
The growing number of Indigenous language courses and programs at post-secondary institutions across B.C. derive from one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action, Child said.
There are few elders whose first language is Kwak’wala, and many who remain are in their 80s, she added.
Sara Child of North Island College says language revitalization is core to establishing wellness for Indigenous people and communities. Photo supplied by NIC.
First Nations across Canada face this problem, but particularly those in B.C., because of the 60 distinct Indigenous languages across the country, more than half are in this province, Child said.
Adult proficiency programs are vital to preserving Indigenous languages, a fundamental right intimately entwined with others denied to First Nations people through colonialism and forced assimilation, Child said.
“With regard to our Indigenous rights, every one of those rights has been affected by language loss and disconnection from our land and resources, resulting in social instability that’s been harming our people for decades and decades.”
Language revitalization is core to establishing wellness for Indigenous people and communities, Child stressed.
“Our languages encode vital aspects of our culture, ways of life and ways of being that depict how we live our lives,” she said.
Values of love, generosity, humbleness, respect and reciprocity with others and the natural world are the building blocks of Kwak’wala that were eroded with colonization, Child said.
The NIC program, delayed by COVID-19, is slated to begin in fall 2021.
But the Indigenous fluency certificate program will be taught differently than traditional language programs, Child said.
The primary focus won’t be on blackboard learning, but rather land-based experiential learning with mentors or elders to highlight the language’s relationship with Indigenous culture, protocol and relationship to their territories, Child said.
“In the past, we've primarily used reading and writing to try to teach people, and we really haven't gotten anywhere,” Child said.
She wants to shift Indigenous language learners’ focus to encourage fluency, particularly around speaking and listening.
“Our elders don't see words. They hear voices, and they see cultural pictures influenced by the relationship with the land, with the community, and with people in ceremony,” said Child. “When they remember the language, they remember an event, or they remember a speech. And that's a different way of seeing.”
Students taking NIC's Indigenous language courses in the past did so for a variety of reasons, said Child.
Many do so seeking groundedness and balance, and to consolidate their sense of identity, she said, while others take the courses because they intend to be teachers or work with children.
“But others are just doggedly determined that revitalizing our language is key to re-establishing our place and centre on this earth,” Child said.
“Because they know our languages are vitally important not just to us, but to the world.”
Roberts is one of those determined to share her ancestral language with the wider world.
When she’s finished her studies, Roberts plans to return to Vancouver Island to teach Kwak’wala in her nation’s territory.
But in the meantime, she uses social media to share the language and engage other young learners.
Using the handle @languageweaver, Roberts frequently posts tidbits about Kwak’wala language and Kwakwaka’wakw culture on Instagram or TikTok.
“I started because it helped me with my own language learning,” she said.
“And it's just such a strong language and it's such a beautiful language. I'm confident that our youth are going to pick it up and carry it.”
She also hopes non-Indigenous people interested in Kwak’wala culture will learn from her social media posts.
“When I see settlers learning Indigenous language in a respectful way, and being able to understand more about the worldview of our people, It’s just a really healthy thing,” Roberts said.
As a result, she thinks it’s great NIC is offering Kwak’wala in her traditional territories.
“It will give a lot of people an opportunity to study it when maybe they wouldn't have had the chance before,” she said.
Plus, learning Kwak’wala in a mainstream education setting is highly symbolic, given Indigenous language was beaten out of kids in schools in the past, Roberts said.
“It was literally pretty much illegal to speak it.”
“And just to have that acknowledged, and to come to a point where now we're offering it in a western academic context, I think it's a really good thing,” she said.
“It shows the strength of our people and the resilience of our language.”
Rochelle Baker/Local Journalism Initiative/Canada's National Observer


nationalobserver--2020-08-20--Greenbelt Council, environmental advocates urge Ford government to reconsider highway plans

A provincial advisory group and environmental advocates are urging the Ford government to reconsider plans to expedite a new Greater Toronto Area highway that could cut through the Greenbelt .
The idea for a highway through the region ’ s West Corridor was floated , then killed , by the previous Liberal government and revived under the Progressive Conservatives .
The government announced its preferred route for the highway on Aug. 7 , and has proposed to fast-track the project ’ s environmental assessment .
The Greenbelt Council , a government-appointed expert panel , said it would be “ ill-advised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the project , chair David Crombie wrote in an Aug. 18 letter to Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark , pointing to “ significant stakeholder concerns.
” “ The Greenbelt Council continues to have strong reservations about new transportation corridors in the Greater Golden Horseshoe in terms of both lack of need and the fact that such large-scale infrastructure compromises the protection of prime agricultural lands and the long-term integrity of natural heritage areas in the Greenbelt , ” Crombie wrote .
( Crombie , a respected former Toronto mayor , also served as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a new report released Thursday , green non-profit Environmental Defence said the project would seriously damage the environment and pave the way for increased carbon emissions .
It would also cut through at least 53 waterways in the protected Greenbelt , which Premier Doug Ford has repeatedly pledged not to develop .
• Citizens appalled as boaters defying whale sanctuary get off with warning “ This highway was cancelled previously for good reasons , ” said Environmental Defence programs director Keith Brooks .
“ At a time like this , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build a new highway ?
” The Ontario government has said it expects the corridor , Highway 413 , will be used for 300,000 vehicle trips per day by 2031 .
It would run through the Halton , Peel and York regions , connecting several major 400-series routes .
“ The GTA West Corridor will help alleviate traffic congestion and improve the movement of people and goods across the province , ” Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney said in an Aug. 7 statement .
Brooks pointed to research showing that building new roads doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to attract more drivers , a concept called “ induced demand ” that was identified by two University of Toronto researchers in 2009 .
It ’ s not yet clear exactly how much that demand could affect Ontario ’ s climate goals , he added .
“ The impacts are significant , ” he said .
“ This highway was cancelled previously for good reasons , ” said Environmental Defence program manager Keith Brooks .
# onpoli A map of the Ontario government 's proposed route for a new highway in the Greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ontario government Previous government found highway would only reduce commutes by one minute In 2017 , an expert panel appointed by the previous Liberal government decided against a highway for the GTA West area .
It would only reduce commuting times by an average of 30 seconds to a minute , the panel found , raising concerns about the impact the proposed highway could have on Ontario ’ s carbon emissions and the Greenbelt .
The route would run through the headwaters of several rivers , including the Humber and the Credit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ causing damage , Brooks said .
The highway would also cut off habitats for some endangered species , he said .
The 2017 panel also found that it wasn ’ t clear a highway was the best option for the area , and suggested a number of alternatives .
For example , the panel said , allowing trucks to use the nearby Highway 407 , a toll road , without paying the fee “ would deliver travel time benefits that are similar ” to those from building a new highway .
In his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the panel ’ s findings , and recommended the government not speed up the environmental assessment process as it pushes forward with the project .
“ In the interests of fair and transparent decision-making that respects the public process , it is council ’ s advice that the ( environmental assessment process for the project ) be neither shortened nor altered , ” he wrote .
Brooks pointed to other alternatives as well .
The government would be better off investing in transportation , cycling infrastructure or walkable neighbourhoods , he added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which this government has pursued from the get-go , ” Brooks said .
“ They want to cut red tape , they want to get development going ...
There are a lot of better ways .
”

A provincial advisory group and environmental advocates are urging the Ford government to reconsider plans to expedite a new Greater Toronto Area highway that could cut through the Greenbelt.
The idea for a highway through the region’s West Corridor was floated, then killed, by the previous Liberal government and revived under the Progressive Conservatives. The government announced its preferred route for the highway on Aug. 7, and has proposed to fast-track the project’s environmental assessment.
The Greenbelt Council, a government-appointed expert panel, said it would be “ill-advised” for the government to speed up the project, chair David Crombie wrote in an Aug. 18 letter to Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark, pointing to “significant stakeholder concerns.”
“The Greenbelt Council continues to have strong reservations about new transportation corridors in the Greater Golden Horseshoe in terms of both lack of need and the fact that such large-scale infrastructure compromises the protection of prime agricultural lands and the long-term integrity of natural heritage areas in the Greenbelt,” Crombie wrote. (Crombie, a respected former Toronto mayor, also served as a Progressive Conservative MP.)
And in a new report released Thursday, green non-profit Environmental Defence said the project would seriously damage the environment and pave the way for increased carbon emissions. It would also cut through at least 53 waterways in the protected Greenbelt, which Premier Doug Ford has repeatedly pledged not to develop.


nationalobserver--2020-08-20--Food banks are working overtime. Is that a good thing?

That volume of food — and the number of people eating it — has ballooned since March .
Adapting the change hasn ’ t always been easy .
They ’ re islands of sustenance , dwarfed in the Greater Vancouver Food Bank ’ s cavernous warehouse — and a fraction of the roughly 40,800 kilograms of food that pass through the distribution center each week , explained the organization ’ s CEO , David Long .
Mounds of mangoes and pallets of peanut butter sit on a monochrome concrete floor .
“ There ’ s 45 full-time employees ( at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have somewhere in the region of 80,000 volunteer hours a year , ” he said .
When the pandemic hit , said Long , most of those distribution locations closed .
Many of the volunteers who keep the food bank running stayed home .
The organization estimates it feeds about 28,000 people a week , providing food through a combination of grocery bag deliveries , pick-up locations , and by supplying charities that offer cooked meals to those in need .
“ I don ’ t think I ’ ll ever forget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when literally everything closed down , ” he said .
“ Overnight , we were distributing out of the back of a truck.
” Fewer volunteers are allowed in the warehouse at once to allow for social distancing , and the space is sanitized every hour .
Clients can ’ t browse — prior to the pandemic , the distribution center was modeled off a supermarket — but instead ask volunteers to fill a box with items they want .
Within a week , the organization had set up a new distribution system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to make some changes.
” It ’ s the kind of increase Long anticipated when the pandemic struck .
Closing the food bank , he said , wasn ’ t an option .
Children are particularly vulnerable : Almost a fifth of Canadian households with kids reported a lack of food in May .
That ’ s about 5.1 million people , or twice the population of Vancouver .
In June , Statistics Canada reported that 14.6 per cent of Canadians lacked food at least once during the previous month , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , the number of people using the food bank soared .
“ It ’ s been quite overwhelming .
People ’ s generosity , not only in the public but from businesses as well , ” said Long .
The pandemic didn ’ t only affect distribution .
Donations of cash and food surged — including a donation of excess food worth over $ 200,000 from Holland America Line — an increase that , so far , has continued he explained .
The changes were essential said Long .
Had any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volunteers became infected , especially in the early days of the pandemic , the whole team would have been quarantined .
The federal government has also provided $ 150 million to support food banks across the country and connect them with surplus Canadian food .
“ We absolutely have the food — this pandemic proved it .
Even with people hoarding at the start , there ’ s so much food out there.
” That excess isn ’ t unique to the pandemic .
A 2019 report by Second Harvest , an organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 35.5 million tonnes of food produced in Canada is wasted each year .
Thirty-two per cent of it was perfectly edible food — but only about 0.1 per cent of it makes it to food banks .
“ Corporations should be forced to figure out what to do with their food waste , ” said Paul Taylor , the executive director of FoodShare Toronto and anti-poverty activist .
“ They should not be dumping it on charity .
The volunteer hours that have been diverted to sort through corporate waste is appalling.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the majority of hungry Canadians .
“ Only about one in four of people who are food insecure in this country actually access food banks , ” said Taylor , citing a study co-written by FoodShare Toronto and a research team at the University of Toronto .
Going to the food bank is an “ act of desperation , ” the report noted .
Families using them are “ likely behind on bill payments , rent , and other basic necessities…showing it takes substantial improvements to a household ’ s financial circumstances to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The burden doesn ’ t fall evenly .
Black households are almost three times more likely to be food insecure than white ones , while 36.6 per cent of black children live without enough food .
The pandemic has exacerbated this discrepancy .
Not only is it visible in people ’ s direct access to food , Taylor said , but also in the economic , social , and physical forces that determine if they can afford food — and purchase it safely .
For instance , he noted that many of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the height of lockdowns were women of colour .
Many were not able to socially distance on the job or on transit , or eligible for adequate paid sick leave .
That left them and their families exposed them to the virus — and food insecurity , should they lose their jobs .
“ We need to be thinking about food apartheid , ” he said .
“ There are largely racialized neighbourhoods with little to no fresh food options , which means that folks have to get on transit , spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All this just to get food for their families in the midst of this crisis.
” Data from Ontario shows that the rate of COVID-19 in the province ’ s most racially diverse neighbourhoods is about three times higher than in its least .
People living in these areas are also more likely to experience severe outcomes : hospitalization rates and ICU admission rates were four times higher , while death rates were twice as high .
B.C .
doesn ’ t keep similar data , but about half the infected workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colour .
That ’ s on top of the health challenges facing people without enough food .
Researchers at the University of Toronto note that adults in food insecure households are more likely to suffered from chronic conditions like diabetes , hypertension , and anxiety disorders .
Children who don ’ t have enough to eat are also more likely to develop chronic health conditions .
For Taylor , this points towards a need for deeper reforms .
People need to have enough money to buy their own food — and that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective .
“ The pandemic has really inspired something quite interesting because the government was acknowledging that it was income people need .
We did n't send loaves of bread .
We did n't send bags of potatoes .
We said people need money.
” It ’ s a sentiment echoed by Graham Riches , a professor emeritus of social work at UBC whose research focused on hunger .
“ Food insecurity is an income problem .
It ’ s not a food problem , ” he said .
And even with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work during the pandemic were almost three times more likely to lack food than those who had remained on the job .
That should be a warning , said Taylor .
Canada was ill-prepared and scrambled to protect Canadians .
In the next decades , the effects of climate change could be even more catastrophic , with droughts , hurricanes , forest fires , floods , heat waves , and pandemics all predicted to become more common and virulent .
“ We ’ ve got to get our house in order .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every system so people can flourish and so that we are better prepared to tackle climate change , ” he said .

The organization estimates it feeds about 28,000 people a week, providing food through a combination of grocery bag deliveries, pick-up locations, and by supplying charities that offer cooked meals to those in need.
“I don’t think I’ll ever forget March 16 th , March 17 th when literally everything closed down,” he said. “Overnight, we were distributing out of the back of a truck.”
That volume of food — and the number of people eating it — has ballooned since March. Adapting the change hasn’t always been easy.
They’re islands of sustenance, dwarfed in the Greater Vancouver Food Bank ’s cavernous warehouse — and a fraction of the roughly 40,800 kilograms of food that pass through the distribution center each week, explained the organization’s CEO, David Long.
“There’s 45 full-time employees (at the food bank). And then we have somewhere in the region of 80,000 volunteer hours a year,” he said.
When the pandemic hit, said Long, most of those distribution locations closed. Many of the volunteers who keep the food bank running stayed home.
It’s the kind of increase Long anticipated when the pandemic struck. Closing the food bank, he said, wasn’t an option.
Children are particularly vulnerable: Almost a fifth of Canadian households with kids reported a lack of food in May.
That’s about 5.1 million people, or twice the population of Vancouver.
In June, Statistics Canada reported that 14.6 per cent of Canadians lacked food at least once during the previous month, a four per cent increase compared to 2018.
Meanwhile, the number of people using the food bank soared.
Within a week, the organization had set up a new distribution system.
Fewer volunteers are allowed in the warehouse at once to allow for social distancing, and the space is sanitized every hour. Clients can’t browse — prior to the pandemic, the distribution center was modeled off a supermarket — but instead ask volunteers to fill a box with items they want.
The changes were essential said Long. Had any of the organization’s staff or volunteers became infected, especially in the early days of the pandemic, the whole team would have been quarantined.
The pandemic didn’t only affect distribution. Donations of cash and food surged — including a donation of excess food worth over $200,000 from Holland America Line — an increase that, so far, has continued he explained.
“It’s been quite overwhelming. People’s generosity, not only in the public but from businesses as well,” said Long.
Donations have been pouring in to the Greater Vancouver Foob Bank since the pandemic struck. Long is grateful for the support, and hopes it translates into continued political awareness regarding hunger in B.C. Photo by Marc Fawcett-Atkinson.
The federal government has also provided $150 million to support food banks across the country and connect them with surplus Canadian food.
“We absolutely have the food — this pandemic proved it. Even with people hoarding at the start, there’s so much food out there.”
That excess isn’t unique to the pandemic.
A 2019 report by Second Harvest, an organization that redistributes excess food, noted that about 35.5 million tonnes of food produced in Canada is wasted each year. Thirty-two per cent of it was perfectly edible food — but only about 0.1 per cent of it makes it to food banks.
“Corporations should be forced to figure out what to do with their food waste,” said Paul Taylor, the executive director of FoodShare Toronto and anti-poverty activist.
Paul Taylor is the executive director of FoodShare Toronto, an Ontario-based organization supporting multiple food access and food sovereignty initiatives in the city. Hunger is a major problem in Canada, he said, and addressing it will require tackling inequality in the country. Photo by Daniel Neuhaus.
“They should not be dumping it on charity. The volunteer hours that have been diverted to sort through corporate waste is appalling.”
Nor does this excess food help the majority of hungry Canadians.
“Only about one in four of people who are food insecure in this country actually access food banks,” said Taylor, citing a study co-written by FoodShare Toronto and a research team at the University of Toronto.
Going to the food bank is an “act of desperation,” the report noted. Families using them are “likely behind on bill payments, rent, and other basic necessities…showing it takes substantial improvements to a household’s financial circumstances to shift them out of food insecurity.”
The burden doesn’t fall evenly. Black households are almost three times more likely to be food insecure than white ones, while 36.6 per cent of black children live without enough food.
Research by FoodShare Toronto and scholars at UofT found that Black households in Canada are almost three times more likely to be food insecure than white households. It's a stark division Taylor attributes to systemic racism in employment, housing, and access to food. Photo by PROOF/FoodShare Toronto.
The pandemic has exacerbated this discrepancy. Not only is it visible in people’s direct access to food, Taylor said, but also in the economic, social, and physical forces that determine if they can afford food — and purchase it safely.
For instance, he noted that many of the essential workers who needed to keep working at the height of lockdowns were women of colour. Many were not able to socially distance on the job or on transit, or eligible for adequate paid sick leave. That left them and their families exposed them to the virus — and food insecurity, should they lose their jobs.
“We need to be thinking about food apartheid,” he said.
“There are largely racialized neighbourhoods with little to no fresh food options, which means that folks have to get on transit, spend money, travel far distances to work. All this just to get food for their families in the midst of this crisis.”
Data from Ontario shows that the rate of COVID-19 in the province’s most racially diverse neighbourhoods is about three times higher than in its least.
People living in these areas are also more likely to experience severe outcomes: hospitalization rates and ICU admission rates were four times higher, while death rates were twice as high.
B.C. doesn’t keep similar data, but about half the infected workers in long-term care facilities are people of colour.
That’s on top of the health challenges facing people without enough food.
Researchers at the University of Toronto note that adults in food insecure households are more likely to suffered from chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and anxiety disorders. Children who don’t have enough to eat are also more likely to develop chronic health conditions.
Food banks rely on corporate donations explained Taylor and Riches. That means that, while they help people meet their immediate needs, they don't really address the root inequities at the heart of hunger. Photo by Marc Fawcett-Atkinson
For Taylor, this points towards a need for deeper reforms. People need to have enough money to buy their own food — and that’s where government support will be most effective.
“The pandemic has really inspired something quite interesting because the government was acknowledging that it was income people need. We didn't send loaves of bread. We didn't send bags of potatoes. We said people need money.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by Graham Riches, a professor emeritus of social work at UBC whose research focused on hunger.
“Food insecurity is an income problem. It’s not a food problem,” he said.
And even with the CERB, Canadians who couldn’t work during the pandemic were almost three times more likely to lack food than those who had remained on the job.
That should be a warning, said Taylor.
Canada was ill-prepared and scrambled to protect Canadians.
In the next decades, the effects of climate change could be even more catastrophic, with droughts, hurricanes, forest fires, floods, heat waves, and pandemics all predicted to become more common and virulent.
“We’ve got to get our house in order. We’ve got to challenge inequities in every system so people can flourish and so that we are better prepared to tackle climate change,” he said.


nationalobserver--2020-08-20--'Cautious optimism:' Canada's uranium major set to reopen

Cameco is planning to restart its Cigar Lake mine in northern Saskatchewan in early September , a move greeted with anticipation by employees who have been off work since March .
The Canadian uranium major put Cigar Lake mine , about an eight-hour drive north of La Ronge , into temporary shutdown in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Its partner Orano Canada Inc. , simultaneously shuttered its McClean Lake mill , where ore from Cigar Lake is processed .
As a result , no uranium was mined in Canada during this time , driving supply down and prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ met with “ cautious optimism ” by Brooke Dobni , professor of strategy at the University of Saskatchewan ’ s Edwards School of Business .
“ I don ’ t think they ’ re jumping the gun .
I think they ’ re very cautious .
They ’ re more optimistic than they have been in the past .
So this is a good sign for the industry and for Cameco , ” Dobni said .
Cameco CEO Tim Gitzel announced the reopening plan for Cigar Lake along with second quarter results at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appalled as boaters defying whale sanctuary get off with warning “ While health and safety are the primary considerations for the timing of our Cigar Lake mine restart decision , there were also commercial considerations , including market-related factors and the impact on our cost structure , ” Gitzel said .
Dobni told Canada ’ s National Observer at the time of the mine closures that the price of uranium would likely increase following the shutdown due to decreased supply .
Those predictions came true .
“ When you ’ re dealing with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feast or famine , ” Dobni said Wednesday .
“ Their stock price has gone up because the price of uranium has gone up and their revenues have gone up .
I still don ’ t think they ’ re profitable .
They just had their earnings report not long ago and they ’ ve lost money , ” Dobni said .
Reopening of the mine and mill mean big changes for northern residents who work there , as well as surrounding communities .
“ When you ’ re dealing with a market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ famine , ” Brooke Dobni .
Cameco spokesperson Jeff Hryhoriw told Canada ’ s National Observer that roughly 50 per cent of the company ’ s 320 employees and another 240 contractors at Cigar Lake are from communities in northern Saskatchewan .
The number of employees dropped to 75 during care and maintenance .
The workforce at Orano ’ s McClean Lake mill was reduced from 160 to 50 .
McClean Lake mill is where ore from Cigar Lake mine is processed .
Photo courtesy of Orano Canada Inc. Orano president and CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to `` shift gears to efficiently move back into production '' and that safety measures have been put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
“ I ’ m excited to get back to work .
We ’ ve been off since March so September 16 is our call back date , ” Christopher Merasty , who works on the production team at Cigar Lake , told Canada ’ s National Observer on Wednesday .
Merasty and his full-time colleagues have been getting 75 per cent of their pay since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uranium mine .
Opened in 1975 , Rabbit Lake was the longest operating uranium mine in North America .
Photo courtesy of Cameco Corp. “ We ’ re getting by , but just barely .
So it will be nice to get back to work .
To get back up to one 100 per cent ( pay ) and start feeling a bit of normality , ” Merasty said .
Merasty said he believes Cameco will have appropriate protection measures in place to guard against the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diligent and continue with the proper protocols from the Saskatchewan Health Authority I ’ m sure that we ’ ll be able to overcome the situation and eventually get back to normal.
” All the uranium mines in Canada are in Saskatchewan while processing , refining , conversion , fuel fabrication , research and waste management happen on a national scale with nuclear power stations in Ontario and New Brunswick .
Source : Natural Resources Canada .
Dobni said that for Cameco to announce a reopening plan , the company would have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open up something again , they don ’ t open it up with the intention of closing it down in a year .
That ’ s far too expensive , it does n't look good .
So I think what you ’ re going to see is a nice slow , steady move in terms of production and I think they ’ re going to try to maintain part of the supply and demand equilibrium to the extent that they can , ” Dobni said .
“ What it shows is that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal operations .
They ’ re still a long ways away from being at capacity but it ’ s a move in the right direction.
” Dobni said that supply of weapons grade uranium for fuel , repurposed from decommissioned nuclear weapons , has started to dry up , meaning a more stable international uranium market .
Uranium deposits in northern Saskatchewan are the highest grade in the world , with a 20 per cent uranium per unit of ore extracted as opposed to the average of 1-2 per cent .
“ Cameco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the concentration of uranium in the ore , so they ’ re going to be around for some time , ” Dobni said .

Cameco is planning to restart its Cigar Lake mine in northern Saskatchewan early September, a move greeted with anticipation by employees who have been off work since March. The Canadian uranium major put Cigar Lake mine, about an eight-hour drive north of La Ronge, into temporary shutdown in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its partner Orano Canada Inc., simultaneously shuttered its McClean Lake mill, where ore from Cigar Lake is processed. As a result, no uranium was mined in Canada during this time, driving supply down and prices up. Plans to restart operations were met with “cautious optimism” by Brooke Dobni, professor of strategy at the University of Saskatchewan’s Edwards School of Business. “I don’t think they’re jumping the gun. I think they’re very cautious. They’re more optimistic than they have been in the past. So this is a good sign for the industry and for Cameco,” Dobni said. Cameco president and CEO Tim Gitzel. Photo courtesy of Cameco Corp.
Cameco president and CEO Tim Gitzel announced the reopening plan for Cigar Lake along with second quarter results at the end of July. “While health and safety are the primary considerations for the timing of our Cigar Lake mine restart decision, there were also commercial considerations, including market-related factors and the impact on our cost structure,” Gitzel said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Dobni told Canada’s National Observer at the time of the mine closures that the price of uranium would likely increase following the shutdown due to decreased supply. Those predictions came true.
“When you’re dealing with a market like uranium, it's feast or famine,” Dobni said Wednesday. “When you’re dealing with a market like uranium, it's feast or famine,” Brooke Dobni. “Their stock price has gone up because the price of uranium has gone up and their revenues have gone up. I still don’t think they’re profitable. They just had their earnings report not long ago and they’ve lost money,” Dobni said. Reopening of the mine and mill mean big changes for northern residents who work there, as well as surrounding communities. Cameco spokesperson Jeff Hryhoriw told Canada’s National Observer that roughly 50 per cent of the company’s 320 employees and another 240 contractors at Cigar Lake are from communities in northern Saskatchewan. The number of employees dropped to 75 during care and maintenance. The workforce at Orano’s McClean Lake mill was reduced from 160 to 50.
McClean Lake mill is where ore from Cigar Lake mine is processed. Photo courtesy of Orano Canada Inc. Orano president and CEO Jim Corman said McClean Lake mill is ready to "shift gears to efficiently move back into production" and that safety measures have been put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “I’m excited to get back to work. We’ve been off since March so September 16 is our call back date,” Christopher Merasty, who works on the production team at Cigar Lake, told Canada’s National Observer on Wednesday.


Interiority complex

After graduating high school , he built homes at Canim Lake for $ 5 an hour .
In 1986 , when he was 26 , he enrolled in a community college in Vancouver , where he planned to become a P.E .
teacher .
But the campus closest to his apartment didn ’ t offer the proper courses , so administrators put him in a bunch of art classes instead .
He showed promise in lithography , a printmaking process that involves etching an image onto a smooth limestone plate , and transferred to Emily Carr University of Art and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bachelor of fine arts .
But in truth , dad probably learned more about art from the crew of carvers he ran with outside school — guys like Frank Charlie from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and the late Russell Smith of the Kwakiutl , both on Vancouver Island .
They spent a lot of time at the Indian bars on Hastings Street .
Russell and Frank played punk rockabilly at open mics and when their drummer was out , my dad would sit in .
But they spent even more time in studios @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masters : guys like Joe David , who is also Tla-o-qui-aht , and Robert and Reggie Davidson , brothers who are Haida , and the late Art Thompson , who was Ditidaht , and the late Beau Dick , who was Kwakiutl .
Joe David even introduced my dad to Bill Reid .
In Reid ’ s studio on Granville Island , dad got to watch the late Haida master carve and plaster together the model for the Spirit of Haida Gwaii , which was on the $ 20 bill from 2004 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vancouver International Airport .
“ I studied them as I would Leonardo da Vinci ’ s work , ” dad said .
“ I ’ ve looked at it and I ’ ve realized my influences were the really incredible northern styles that came out of Haida Gwaii and other people that hung out with those guys , such as Beau Dick and Russell Smith and you know the Kwakwaka'wakw down to Nuu-chah-nulth .
Art Thompson was an incredible designer and so was Joe David , and just immaculate carvers as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ my own work .
That ’ s what I strove to be.
” But my dad has always felt less than these coastal artists , almost all of whom descended from long lines of carvers and many of whom had inherited hereditary chief titles .
Even though my dad is full-blooded Salish , he comes from the Interior .
“ In the coastal art world , you kind of have to have a pedigree and some crests and symbols and totems to represent your lineage and your family and all of that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
His buddies , even guys like Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun , a painter who is Cowichan from the coast and Syilx from the Interior , would tease him .
He developed an inferiority complex — or maybe , more accurately , an “ interiority ” complex .
“ There was no St ’ at ’ imc artists that they knew of , there was no Shuswap artists that people knew of , ” he said .
“ I always felt like I was that poor Indian kid who just didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When dad went to work in New York for Kenneth Tyler , who printed greats like Frank Stella , Helen Frankenthaler and Roy Lichtenstein , he left with a chip on his shoulder and a handful of carving knives , a gift from Frank Charlie , in his suitcase .
He took the techniques he learned watching other carvers and started making his own work .
His stuff was good — good enough that when he moved in with my mom and realized he wasn ’ t cut out for the kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he could start making art full time .
But in the Native art world , where many talented artists have to compete for tiny slices of an already tiny pie controlled by predominantly white collectors who have narrow anthropological views of what “ Indian art ” should be , my dad still felt less than .
In 1995 , he was invited to the first International Indigenous Arts Gathering in Rotorua , New Zealand .
When the Maori invited the Indigenous artists from across the Pacific onto the marae , their traditional meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my dad had nothing from his culture to offer in return .
He stood behind Joe David and the late Rick Bartow , a Wiyot artist , who shared songs from their own people .
His art had , by then , become noteworthy .
In 1998 , he won just about every prize at Indian Art Northwest , a Native art show that used to be held in Portland , Ore. , taking home best of show , best of class , best of category and a bunch of other ribbons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blew everybody away .
Just like Bruce Lee .
Just like ‘ Waaaah !
’ Running around and kicking and screaming at everybody , ” he recalled , with a chuckle .
Major museums started taking interest , like the Smithsonian , which opened its National Museum of the American Indian in 2001 with one of his pieces in its collection .

After graduating high school, he built homes at Canim Lake for $5 an hour. In 1986, when he was 26, he enrolled in a community college in Vancouver, where he planned to become a P.E. teacher. But the campus closest to his apartment didn’t offer the proper courses, so administrators put him in a bunch of art classes instead. He showed promise in lithography, a printmaking process that involves etching an image onto a smooth limestone plate, and transferred to Emily Carr University of Art and Design, where he studied for a bachelor of fine arts.
But in truth, dad probably learned more about art from the crew of carvers he ran with outside school — guys like Frank Charlie from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and the late Russell Smith of the Kwakiutl, both on Vancouver Island. They spent a lot of time at the Indian bars on Hastings Street. Russell and Frank played punk rockabilly at open mics and when their drummer was out, my dad would sit in. But they spent even more time in studios, hanging out with some of the masters: guys like Joe David, who is also Tla-o-qui-aht, and Robert and Reggie Davidson, brothers who are Haida, and the late Art Thompson, who was Ditidaht, and the late Beau Dick, who was Kwakiutl. Joe David even introduced my dad to Bill Reid. In Reid’s studio on Granville Island, dad got to watch the late Haida master carve and plaster together the model for the Spirit of Haida Gwaii, which was on the $20 bill from 2004 to 2012 and is still on display in Vancouver International Airport.
“I studied them as I would Leonardo da Vinci’s work,” dad said. “I’ve looked at it and I’ve realized my influences were the really incredible northern styles that came out of Haida Gwaii and other people that hung out with those guys, such as Beau Dick and Russell Smith and you know the Kwakwaka'wakw down to Nuu-chah-nulth. Art Thompson was an incredible designer and so was Joe David, and just immaculate carvers as well. Those were the benchmarks I had for my own work. That’s what I strove to be.”
But my dad has always felt less than these coastal artists, almost all of whom descended from long lines of carvers and many of whom had inherited hereditary chief titles. Even though my dad is full-blooded Salish, he comes from the Interior.
“In the coastal art world, you kind of have to have a pedigree and some crests and symbols and totems to represent your lineage and your family and all of that, and I had nothing,” he said. His buddies, even guys like Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, a painter who is Cowichan from the coast and Syilx from the Interior, would tease him. He developed an inferiority complex — or maybe, more accurately, an “interiority” complex. “There was no St’at’imc artists that they knew of, there was no Shuswap artists that people knew of,” he said. “I always felt like I was that poor Indian kid who just didn’t have anything that anyone else brought.”
When dad went to work in New York for Kenneth Tyler, who printed greats like Frank Stella, Helen Frankenthaler and Roy Lichtenstein, he left with a chip on his shoulder and a handful of carving knives, a gift from Frank Charlie, in his suitcase. He took the techniques he learned watching other carvers and started making his own work. His stuff was good — good enough that when he moved in with my mom and realized he wasn’t cut out for the kind of job that came with a boss, he could start making art full time.
In 1995, Ed NoiseCat carved this portrait of Sir Derek Lardelli, which he called Rua Nuku. Photo taken from NoiseCat's instagram
But in the Native art world, where many talented artists have to compete for tiny slices of an already tiny pie controlled by predominantly white collectors who have narrow anthropological views of what “Indian art” should be, my dad still felt less than. In 1995, he was invited to the first International Indigenous Arts Gathering in Rotorua, New Zealand. When the Maori invited the Indigenous artists from across the Pacific onto the marae, their traditional meeting house, with a song and dance, my dad had nothing from his culture to offer in return. He stood behind Joe David and the late Rick Bartow, a Wiyot artist, who shared songs from their own people.
His art had, by then, become noteworthy. In 1998, he won just about every prize at Indian Art Northwest, a Native art show that used to be held in Portland, Ore., taking home best of show, best of class, best of category and a bunch of other ribbons.
“I went in there and blew everybody away. Just like Bruce Lee. Just like ‘Waaaah!’ Running around and kicking and screaming at everybody,” he recalled, with a chuckle. Major museums started taking interest, like the Smithsonian, which opened its National Museum of the American Indian in 2001 with one of his pieces in its collection.