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Tuesday July 23, 2019

Tuesday July 23, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday July 23, 2019

Silent protest draws attention to Attawapiskat at Trudeau talk

As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to the Canadian Teachers’ Federation at its annual general meeting in Ottawa on Thursday, a row of teachers silently held up letters spelling “Attawapiskat.”

April 2, 2019

The demonstration comes just days after the local band council declared a state of emergency in the Indigenous community amid issues with water quality.

The group was sitting at the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario table.

The state of emergency was declared on July 9 in the northern Ontario First Nations community after potentially harmful levels of byproducts from a water disinfection process were found in its drinking water. Residents were told to limit their exposure to the water and avoid showering and washing food with tap water.

April 13, 2016

While Trudeau did not directly acknowledge the protesters, he did touch on boil water advisories during the discussion.

“We’ve done a lot,” Trudeau said on the subject of reconciliation. “We’ve eliminated close to 85 different boil-water advisories, [and] are on track to eliminate all of them on time by 2021.”

He acknowledged, however, that there is more to do.

“It’s very tempting in politics to focus on the negative, and certainly I’m more than willing to admit that like any good teacher I’ve made mistakes and I’ve learned a lot through this process, but we’re on a path of making Canada better for everyone,” said Trudeau.

June 3, 2015

His government came under fire when, on July 4 – just days before the state of emergency was declared in Attawapiskat – Environment Minister Catherine McKenna tweeted about Ottawa’s high-quality tap water.

“There’s a lot to love about Ottawa — including our tap water! Did you know it’s rated among the best in the world?” she wrote on Twitter.

The tweet prompted a swift response on social media, including a tweet from Attawapiskat resident Adrian Sutherland.

“Must be nice to have clean drinking water – thousands of indigenous people don’t even have clean water to bathe in never-mind drink. I don’t think is something to be proud of!” he wrote.

The government says it is working to bring the levels of the contaminant down in the community’s water.

“The community is concerned, and when the community is concerned we are concerned too,” said Indigenous Services Minister Seamus O’Regan in an interview with CTV News Channel on Wednesday.

“We’re working with the community right now.”

The state of emergency, in the meantime, is ongoing. (CTV) 

 

Thursday August 16, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 16, 2018

Ottawa to declare federal holiday to mark legacy of residential school system

June 3, 2015

The Liberal government will declare a federal statutory holiday to mark the tragic legacy of the residential school system, fulfilling a recommendation made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

In a statement, a spokesperson for Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said the department is working with Indigenous peoples to determine the best date for this sort of commemoration.

July 13, 2017

“We have committed to fulfilling all of the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Call to Action 80 asks the government of Canada to establish a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour the survivors of residential schools,” said Simon Ross, the minister’s press secretary.

“That’s exactly what we will do, and we will do that in partnership with Indigenous Peoples.”

Canada Day 2017

Two days are currently under consideration: June 21, which is National Indigenous Peoples Day, and September 30, which is named “Orange Shirt Day.” It is named for the bright orange shirt given to six-year-old Phyllis Webstad by her grandmother in 1973; it was taken from her by administrators when she attended the St. Joseph Mission School in Williams Lake, B.C. The date was chosen because it’s around the time Indigenous children were taken from their homes and sent to residential schools. 

It’s not yet clear when the new federal statutory holiday will be implemented, but the official said conversations with Indigenous peoples are well underway.

June 12, 2008

Constitutionally, it’s up to the provinces and territories to determine which statutory holidays exist in their jurisdictions.

Nothing in any federal legislation would force them to follow suit and implement a day to mark the horrors of the residential school system.

So a new federal holiday would apply only to workers in federally regulated industries — like the federal public service, banks, interprovincial and international transportation companies, TV/radio, telecommunications, fisheries and Crown corporations, among others — unless the provinces took action on their own. (Source: CBC) 

 

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Tuesday May 16, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday May 16, 2017

Cultural appropriation: at its base, it’s all about money

The debate over cultural appropriation is complicated. At one level it is about the legitimacy of telling the stories of others. At base, it is about money.

It became front-page recently when the editor of a little-known literary magazine created a firestorm by daring to support the idea.

“Anyone anywhere should be encouraged to imagine other peoples, other cultures, other identities,” Hal Niedzviecki said in Write, the journal of the Writers’ Union of Canada. He went on to suggest, tongue-in-cheek, that an “appropriation prize” be created for writers who managed to accomplish this task.

For that, he was denounced by his employer and a number of authors. He quickly resigned.

Those living happily outside the hothouse of Canadian literature might be surprised that this is even an issue. By definition, fiction writers write fiction. In that sense, everything is borrowed. (Continued: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Thursday December 1, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday December 1, 2016 Liberals face flood of outrage in B.C. after approval of Trans Mountain pipeline The federal cabinetÕs decision to approve Kinder Morgan CanadaÕs Trans Mountain pipeline expansion has prompted a flood of outrage and promises of protests, court challenges and civil disobedience in British Columbia. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said he was Òprofoundly disappointed,Ó calling the decision a Òbig step backwardsÓ for CanadaÕs environment and economy. ÒI Ñ along with the tens of thousands of residents, local First Nations, and other Metro Vancouver cities who told the federal government a resounding ÔnoÕ to this project Ñ will keep speaking out against this pipeline expansion that doesnÕt make sense for our economic or environmental future.Ó The $6.8-billion project would triple the capacity of the Trans Mountain pipeline, from 300,000 to 890,000 barrels a day, and would add 980 kilometres of new pipe along the route from near Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C. It would also increase the number of tankers leaving Vancouver-area waters seven-fold, from five to 34 per month, prompting fierce opposition from local mayors and First Nations who say any risk of a diluted-bitumen spill is unacceptable. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the project would be approved with 157 conditionsÊat a news conference Tuesday. He said he expects the decision to be Òbitterly disputedÓ by a number of people across the country, but said the project is in CanadaÕs best interests. (Source: Toronto Star)Êhttps://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/11/30/liberals-face-flood-of-outrage-in-bc-after-approval-of-trans-mountain-pipeline.html Kinder Morgan, Trans Mountain, pipeline, Justin Trudeau, energy, oil, BC, natives, first nations, environment, Elizabeth May, David Suzuki

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday December 1, 2016

Liberals face flood of outrage in B.C. after approval of Trans Mountain pipeline

The federal cabinet’s decision to approve Kinder Morgan Canada’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion has prompted a flood of outrage and promises of protests, court challenges and civil disobedience in British Columbia.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday October 13, 2016 Federal Liberals signal desire for Ômeaningful investmentÕ in Bombardier The federal government investing in aerospace giant Bombardier is not a matter of if but how, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains said Tuesday. ÒWe want to be a partner,Ó Bains said after announcing up to $54 million in funds for a Bombardier-led aerospace-research consortium. ÒWe want to find a solution and we want to continue to make meaningful investments. We want to be a partner, we are at the table, we want to find a solution. ItÕs not a matter of if but how we want to make the investment.Ó His comments are the clearest the Liberals have been to date regarding whether theyÕll accept the Montreal-based companyÕs request for $1 billion in federal funding. In early September, Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) received the second of two instalments of US$500 million from the Quebec government. Quebec now owns 49.5 per cent of a new limited partnership of the CSeries aircraft program, including larger versions of the plane beyond the CS100 and CS300 should they be developed. Bains wouldnÕt give details as to exactly how much Ottawa will invest or where the money will be targeted. He did reiterate the conditions his government will place on any future funding. Ottawa wants Bombardier to keep its head office and the jobs connected to its research and development activities in the country, he said. (Source: Financial Post) http://business.financialpost.com/news/transportation/federal-liberals-signal-desire-to-invest-in-bombardier-but-dont-indicate-dollar-amount Canada, Ottawa, Parliament, Bombardier, aerospace, subsidy, corporate, welfare, Quebec, pipeline, Justin Trudeau, Navdeep Bains, philippe couillard

October 13, 2016

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said he was “profoundly disappointed,” calling the decision a “big step backwards” for Canada’s environment and economy.

“I — along with the tens of thousands of residents, local First Nations, and other Metro Vancouver cities who told the federal government a resounding ‘no’ to this project — will keep speaking out against this pipeline expansion that doesn’t make sense for our economic or environmental future.”

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist - Saturday September 26, 2015 During a testy phone call, Justin Trudeau dismissed David SuzukiÕs views on the Liberal climate change policy as Òsanctimonious crap,Ó according to Suzuki. Suzuki revealed the contents of the conversation during an interview on SiriusXMÕs Everything is Political with Evan Solomon. Suzuki says he fired back, calling Trudeau a Òtwerp.Ó The renowned scientist, broadcaster and activist says Trudeau called him personally June 28, 2015 to talk about the Liberal platform on climate change that was to be revealed the next day. ÒI didnÕt call Justin, he called me,Ó Suzuki said. ÒHe wanted an endorsement and he wanted to tell me exactly what his program was.Ó For the record: Justin TrudeauÕs speech on the environment: June 29, 2015 The program includes support for the Keystone XL pipeline, a rejection of the Northern Gateway pipeline and a commitment to work with the provinces to establish a cap-and-trade system. ÒI said, ÔJustin, stop it, youÕre just being political, you just want to make headway in Alberta,ÕÓ Suzuki says he told Trudeau. ÒYouÕre for the development of the tar sands, youÕre for the Keystone pipeline, but youÕre against the Northern Gateway, youÕre all over the damn map!Ó MacleanÕs explains: Where the leaders stand on the environment Suzuki went on to advise Trudeau that taking the target of a 2 degree rise in temperature seriously means 80 per cent of the oil sands has to stay in the ground. Suzuki believes stopping oil sands development will mean Òno debate about pipelines or expanding railways or shipping stuff offshoreÑnone of that comes into it.Ó Suzuki says this is when the exchange turned nasty. ÒHe said, ÔI donÕt have to listen to this sanctimonious crap. I proceeded to call him a twerp.Ó (Source: MacLean's) http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/why-david-suzuki-called-justin-trudeau-a-twerp/ Canada, Justin Trudeau, environment, climate change, Liberal, Mother Nature, Davi

September 26, 2015

The $6.8-billion project would triple the capacity of the Trans Mountain pipeline, from 300,000 to 890,000 barrels a day, and would add 980 kilometres of new pipe along the route from near Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C.

It would also increase the number of tankers leaving Vancouver-area waters seven-fold, from five to 34 per month, prompting fierce opposition from local mayors and First Nations who say any risk of a diluted-bitumen spill is unacceptable.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the project would be approved with 157 conditions at a news conference Tuesday. He said he expects the decision to be “bitterly disputed” by a number of people across the country, but said the project is in Canada’s best interests. (Source: Toronto Star)

 

Thursday August 4, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday August 4, 2016 Inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women 'I donÕt know if I am ready to embrace this inquiry,' says violence survivor Many First Nations leaders and advocates in B.C. distrust the framework for an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Canada Ñ and demand the body been given enough scope to look at how policing has played into deaths. The long-awaited Canada-wide look at issues that led to so many tragedies was questioned, especially by family members who lost loved ones. Lorelei Williams held a feather as she talked about her aunts and cousins. Two were lost to serial killers. One family member was raped and survived. Another was pushed out a Downtown Eastside window. There is a litany of pain and trauma that makes Williams suspicious of the inquiry, despite promises that it will offer change. "I have more questions than answers. I don't know if I am ready to embrace this inquiry," said Williams. She wants the inquiry to look at policing and police accountability because she believes racism and indifference to Indigenous women by some officers has made it difficult to get anybody to take the search for missing family members seriously. She says she too was left to walk alone along a highway when she was 17 years old, stranded after being dismissed by 911 when she called for help. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs said the framework for the inquiry is flawed, and needs more funding or protections in writing that ensure recommendations will be acted on, instead of ignored. He wants the inquiry's scope to include a hard look at the issues of racism and sexism in the RCMP, saying racist attitudes on police forces have contributed to Indigenous deaths for decades. "This is about accountability. Full stop. We need to ensure we do not blow this opportunity," said Phillip. "The issue ...is an indelible black mark on

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 4, 2016

Inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women

‘I don’t know if I am ready to embrace this inquiry,’ says violence survivor

Many First Nations leaders and advocates in B.C. distrust the framework for an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Canada — and demand the body been given enough scope to look at how policing has played into deaths.

The long-awaited Canada-wide look at issues that led to so many tragedies was questioned, especially by family members who lost loved ones.

Lorelei Williams held a feather as she talked about her aunts and cousins. Two were lost to serial killers. One family member was raped and survived. Another was pushed out a Downtown Eastside window.

There is a litany of pain and trauma that makes Williams suspicious of the inquiry, despite promises that it will offer change.

“I have more questions than answers. I don’t know if I am ready to embrace this inquiry,” said Williams.

She wants the inquiry to look at policing and police accountability because she believes racism and indifference to Indigenous women by some officers has made it difficult to get anybody to take the search for missing family members seriously. She says she too was left to walk alone along a highway when she was 17 years old, stranded after being dismissed by 911 when she called for help.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs said the framework for the inquiry is flawed, and needs more funding or protections in writing that ensure recommendations will be acted on, instead of ignored.

He wants the inquiry’s scope to include a hard look at the issues of racism and sexism in the RCMP, saying racist attitudes on police forces have contributed to Indigenous deaths for decades.

“This is about accountability. Full stop. We need to ensure we do not blow this opportunity,” said Phillip.

“The issue …is an indelible black mark on the human rights record of Canada. We are not sitting here cheerleading.” (Source: CBC News)