The pandemic is showing us the consequences of not adequately addressing housing and health care issues on Indigenous communities in Manitoba. Back in April 2020, I wrote an editorial that showed how Indigenous communities – while protected at first from …
A Common-Sense Indigenous Reconciliation Agenda
Premier Heather Stefanson has a chance to set out on an agenda to advance the quality of life for all Indigenous people in the province. Leaders from the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) – representing northern First Nations – and the …
Celebrating Manitoba’s Fisher River First Nation
Indigenous communities in Manitoba face some of the greatest obstacles. Over the years, when the UN Human Development Index was applied to First Nation communities across Canada, Manitoba First Nations often ranked lowest. So, it’s important to highlight some of …
First Nations Need Property Rights to Succeed in Real Economy
An Indigenous band bylaw dispute in nearby Saskatchewan highlights the problems of First Nations lack of property rights under the Indian Act. The dispute arose when a group of protesters occupied the band office at Carry the Kettle First Nation, …
Are There Really Thousands of Missing Indigenous Children?
Canada has always been known throughout the world as a peaceful and thoroughly decent country. Not anymore. Our international reputation is now in tatters. Allegations that bodies of Indian Residential School (IRS) students have been discovered in secret graves have …
Find Backbone and Raise the Flag
Manitobans may have noticed that flags at federal institutions in the province are still flying at half mast. This has been the case since May with the discovery of roughly 200 unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School …
Banning Natural Gas Heating in Cold Manitoba Just a Dumb Idea
Manitoba should not allow an IPCC report to scare our political leaders into alarmist behaviour. Recently, some of Winnipeg’s chattering classes did just that by promoting the preposterous idea that the Pallister government should change zoning rules to prohibit builders …
Clarifying Duty to Consult
How can we achieve Indigenous economic reconciliation when the legal system perpetuates endless legal grievances and challenges? Case in point is a recent court ruling in British Columbia that could have serious negative effects on developments in provinces that signed …
Manitoba Needs to Up its Mining Game
There is some good news for mining in Manitoba, but the province needs to reform its mining policies for the sector to thrive. Despite some progress over the years, this province still has a hostile climate for investment and this …