In 2011, Calgary council voted 10-3 to discontinue fluoridation of the city’s water, which had begun 20 years earlier pursuant to a referendum. Now the consequences are becoming visible. A study by Alberta medical researchers shows that the incidence of cavities...
Tom Flanagan
Child-welfare ruling raises questions about role of rights tribunal
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled this week that federal financing of First Nations’ child-welfare services is inadequate and discriminatory, and thus violates the Human Rights Act. Recognizing that it lacks the expertise to reform child welfare, the...
We can’t ignore the warning signs on U.S. campuses
In 2014, University of Tennessee law professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds published a provocative book about U.S. universities, The Education Apocalypse: How It Happened and How to Survive It. In view of recent events at Yale, Princeton, Missouri and other campuses, maybe...
Evidence based, open government: That should apply to First Nations finances, too
In his speech to the Assembly of First Nations, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that his government will review the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, which requires First Nations to publish audited annual financial statements plus information about the...
Featured News
Weaponizing the Law
The indictment of former U.S. president Donald Trump for crimes invented by his political opponents is the most egregious example yet seen of the weaponizing of the law. The United States is now full of examples. However, in Canada, we also see the law being...
“Looking At” Seizing Control Over Western Canada’s Natural Resources
OTTAWA, REGINA - Last week, two things happened that could have profound impacts on natural resources development in Saskatchewan. One is a hint the federal government might want to take control of natural resources away from the provinces, and the other is the...
Ms. Smith Leaves Edmonton
The Wildrose supporters who gathered to choose a new leader Saturday night broke into raucous cheers when they heard that former leader Danielle Smith had been defeated for the Conservative nomination in High River. Ms. Smith had made herself infamous in Wildrose...
Aboriginal Employment: The Power of Self-Help
"The best social program is a good job." - Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. Unemployment is notoriously higher among Canadian Aboriginal people than among the general population. Some observers emphasize the need for better government programs of education, job...
Dr. Tom Flanagan, Professor of Political Science, University of Calgary and Co-Author of Beyond the Indian Act: Restoring Aboriginal Property Rights
Conversation with the co-author of Beyond the Indian Act: Restoring Aboriginal Property Rights which proposes a legislation to make it possible for First Nations, on a voluntary basis, to take collective ownership of their land reserves and also to create ownership in fee simple for individuals.
Beyond the Indian Act – With Tom Flanagan
Tom Flanagan discusses his book: Beyond the Indian Act, Restoring Aboriginal Property Rights with John Gormley on NewsTalk 980. April 5, 2010. (16 minutes) Listen here.