The Nova Scotia Liberal Party has chosen a new leader and it is important to think about the policy priorities of the province’s incoming premier. Although an election does not need to be held until spring of 2022 (Nova Scotia …
The Lobster Wars
A dispute and court case from northern Ontario may help us understand ongoing tensions over the lobster fisheries on the East Coast. The war over Indigenous fishing rights has played out before in Canadian history. As we reflect on recent …
Ottawa Must Speak for All Sectors in All Regions
If only Ottawa would put its full force and support behind the energy sector as it does other critical sectors in the economy. In early October, the prime minister announced that he would not back down from the latest American …
Lobster wars Chance to Conserve and Consolidate Gains, not Target Each Other
The new year is an excellent opportunity to resolve ongoing problems surrounding Indigenous access to the lobster fisheries in Atlantic Canada. Near the latter part of last year, rising tensions between Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous commercial lobster fishers in Atlantic …
Biden Bonanza Awaits Manitoba
Manitoba must do a much better job promoting mining activity in the province. The post-pandemic economic recovery will depend on it. More broadly, the eventual shift from gasoline to electric-powered cars across the world will generate huge demand for minerals …
First Nations’ Water
As we enter 2021, Canada and Indigenous communities should finally commit to making the systemic reforms that will ensure First Nations have drinking water standards that are the same as the rest of the country. For starters, Indigenous communities ought …
$1.3B Leave it in the Ground Blunder at Windy Craggy (or N’tsi Tata)
A World Heritage site designation continues to prevent the development of one of the largest cobalt and copper deposits in North America, thereby denying opportunities for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and serving as an example of how environmental activism …
An Act to Modernize Historic Treaty Annuities
The federal government can make a policy change to reflect treaty annuities modernization but it will not likely do this on its own. It would fall on an opposition party to introduce a private member’s public bill, such as this …
Honouring Treaty Promises and Empowering Individuals: A Framework for Modernizing Treaty Annuities
The government just introduced another speech from the throne, outlining new spending and its legislative priorities for the coming session. When it comes to Indigenous policy, the speech included the usual increased funding for specific programs and services, often targeted …