Indigenous

The 2023 TD Ready Challenge awarded $10 million in total to 10 Canadian and American organizations focused on addressing barriers to accessing affordable housing

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 5, 2024

"Boosting access to affordable housing helps strengthen communities and helps them prosper in a way that can lead to sustainable economic growth.

Key Points: 
  • "Boosting access to affordable housing helps strengthen communities and helps them prosper in a way that can lead to sustainable economic growth.
  • For 2023, there were 10 grants available under the TD Ready Challenge across North America.
  • Eligible Canadian-based organizations were able to apply for CDN$1 million and eligible US-based organizations were able to apply for USD$1 million.
  • To learn more about the 2023 TD Ready Challenge grant recipients and the TD Ready Challenge Grant program, visit www.td.com/readychallenge .

Fifty-nine schools will break ground on projects to help nature, seeded by WWF-Canada's Go Wild Grants

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 26, 2024

Valued at $1,500 – $2,000, the grants will support student activities that help to protect or restore nature in schoolyards, campuses and communities.

Key Points: 
  • Valued at $1,500 – $2,000, the grants will support student activities that help to protect or restore nature in schoolyards, campuses and communities.
  • Since 2015, WWF-Canada has funded 529 Go Wild school and campus projects, awarding a total of $412,460.
  • Go Wild Grants help school communities learn about their local ecosystems, including their history and biodiversity, how they work, and what they need to thrive.
  • Elizabeth Hendriks, vice-president of restoration and regeneration at WWF-Canada, says:
    "We're delighted to be funding 59 new Go Wild projects.

James Smith Cree Nation deploys new Indigenous-led emergency alert system

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

James Smith Cree Nation, Feb. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nearly a year and a half after a stabbing massacre at James Smith Cree Nation, Chief Wally Burns announced his community has signed a new partnership that gives First Nations leaders access to a new emergency alert system.

Key Points: 
  • James Smith Cree Nation, Feb. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nearly a year and a half after a stabbing massacre at James Smith Cree Nation, Chief Wally Burns announced his community has signed a new partnership that gives First Nations leaders access to a new emergency alert system.
  • “This is about putting control back into the hands of our people when we’ve felt underserved by the traditional emergency alert system,” says Chief Burns.
  • James Smith Cree Nation is the first First Nations community in Saskatchewan that will be able to send community-based safety alerts directly to their members.
  • He says existing emergency alert systems have often missed the mark in serving the unique needs of First Nations communities.

What is the Truth about Reconciliation? 2023 Year-End Review: Indigenous Watchdog

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

This legislation would enable the National Council to, among other things, collect all the relevant data identified above from all government and other stakeholders across the country.

Key Points: 
  • This legislation would enable the National Council to, among other things, collect all the relevant data identified above from all government and other stakeholders across the country.
  • The most obvious conclusion is that there are far more problems than positive actions and commitments: almost 2.5 x as many.
  • Not surprising since housing is a major national problem for non-Indigenous Canadians as well
    Treaties and Land Claims has the biggest gap.
  • Comprehensive Claims and Treaty Land Entitlements that had the most activity are arguably more defined and easier to implement.

Canada Nickel Company's NetZero Metals Intends to Develop Downstream Nickel & Stainless-Steel Processing Facilities in Timmins Region

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024

Both processing facilities to be designed to be net zero-carbon – utilizing Canada Nickel Company's carbon storage capacity to store CO2 generated by each facility.

Key Points: 
  • Both processing facilities to be designed to be net zero-carbon – utilizing Canada Nickel Company's carbon storage capacity to store CO2 generated by each facility.
  • NetZero Metals led by Mike Cox with 35 years of nickel processing experience and senior leadership positions with Inco Ltd. and Vale SA overseeing a global portfolio of nickel refineries.
  • TIMMINS, ON, Feb. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Canada Nickel Company Inc. ("Canada Nickel") (TSXV: CNC) (OTCQX: CNIKF) announced today its wholly-owned subsidiary, NetZero Metals Inc. ("NetZero Metals" or the "Company"), intends to develop two processing facilities in the Timmins Nickel District: a nickel processing facility and stainless-steel and alloy production facility.
  • "These processing facilities will position the Timmins Nickel District and Canada at the forefront of the global transition to greener energy and materials," said Mark Selby, CEO of Canada Nickel Company.

MÉTIS NATIONAL COUNCIL COMMENDS INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE’S ADOPTION OF BILL C-53

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Ottawa, ON, Feb. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yesterday, the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee (INAN) confirmed adoption of Bill C-53, the Recognition of Certain Métis Governments in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan and Métis Self-Government Act.

Key Points: 
  • Ottawa, ON, Feb. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yesterday, the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee (INAN) confirmed adoption of Bill C-53, the Recognition of Certain Métis Governments in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan and Métis Self-Government Act.
  • The Métis National Council supports this decision and looks forward to swift passage of the bill in the House of Commons.
  • The Métis National Council will continue to support our Métis governments in the passage of this historic piece of legislation.

  • The Métis National Council looks forward to the next steps in this process to ensure that Métis rights of self-determination and self-government, enshrined in Section 35, are upheld.

Mage Networks Signs Memorandum of Understanding for Telesat Lightspeed Services

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Telesat and Mage Networks will collaborate on integrating commercial and technical aspects of Telesat Lightspeed high-throughput and low latency capacity into its services portfolio.

Key Points: 
  • Telesat and Mage Networks will collaborate on integrating commercial and technical aspects of Telesat Lightspeed high-throughput and low latency capacity into its services portfolio.
  • Together they will develop demand and traffic projections and network performance criteria by market segment and define optimal business and operating models, with the objective of contracting Telesat Lightspeed services.
  • “Mage Networks understands the hardships facing people living in remote communities that don't have the same technological access that others do,” said Dr. Sayed-Amr (Sisso) El-Hamamsy, Co-founder, President and CEO, Mage Networks.
  • “By integrating Mage Network’s hybrid solutions with Telesat Lightspeed LEO capacity we will be able to deliver reliable, redundant, affordable service to more people, in less time and at reduced cost.”
    Through this collaboration, Mage Networks will expand broadband internet services to unserved and underserved communities in Canada, leveraging the Telesat Lightspeed Capacity Pool that was established through a partnership between Telesat and the Government of Canada.

Suzano Marks Centenary With US$100 Million Initiative to Advance Global Efforts to Protect and Restore Nature

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 23, 2024

The world’s largest market pulp producer, Suzano, today marks its 100th year by announcing the intention to invest US$100 million to advance global efforts to protect and restore nature.

Key Points: 
  • The world’s largest market pulp producer, Suzano, today marks its 100th year by announcing the intention to invest US$100 million to advance global efforts to protect and restore nature.
  • Suzano has signed separate MoUs with the University of Cambridge, and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability (SDSS) at Stanford University.
  • Suzano will also make its business operations and conservation areas in Brazil available to academics for research purposes.
  • Under the MoU with the SDSS, Suzano will explore opportunities to support research, education, and training at the university.

RALIANCE Awards $300,000 in Grants for Projects to End Sexual Harassment, Misconduct and Abuse

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 18, 2024

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RALIANCE, a trusted adviser for organizations committed to creating equitable, respectful, and safe environments, announced today that it will award a total of $300,000 in grants to six organizations across the United States that are entrenched in their communities working to support survivors and prevent sexual harassment, misconduct, and abuse. In 2022, RALIANCE and the National Football League (NFL) announced the renewal of its grant partnership to expand RALIANCE's efforts to offer more resources and grant funding to organizations at the intersection of sexual misconduct prevention and social justice.

Key Points: 
  • "RALIANCE is honored to welcome these exceptional grantees to our growing roster of organizations making positive impacts in their communities," said Yolanda Edrington, a Managing Partner at RALIANCE.
  • "This year's cohort stands out in the innovative ways many are using the arts and creativity as a transformative tool.
  • Through this latest round of funding, RALIANCE will support initiatives in new communities, spanning various geographic regions across the U.S. and territories.
  • We are excited to partner with RALIANCE in our shared vision of ending sexual violence, which includes child sexual abuse.

Saskatchewan teacher strike: It's about bargaining for the common good

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Both conservative commentators and the premier have argued the bargaining table is not the place for teachers to negotiate concerns about classroom issues.

Key Points: 
  • Both conservative commentators and the premier have argued the bargaining table is not the place for teachers to negotiate concerns about classroom issues.
  • Although bargaining is sometimes interpreted narrowly as a discussion over wages and benefits it is not, by its nature, limited to that.
  • Bargaining can — and has — acted as a democratic tool to expand public resources to areas beyond workplace compensation.

Bargaining classroom size

  • In Ontario, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario has negotiated that the boards and government provide ongoing classroom size data to the union in order to determine future classroom ratios.
  • The court ruled the government’s decision to unilaterally prevent teachers from bargaining classroom size and composition was a violation of their constitutional rights to bargaining collectively.

Cuts to education


The dispute in Saskatchewan did not come out of nowhere. There has been a 10 per cent drop in per-student funding since 2012-2013. In 2017, the Saskatchewan Party government cut funding to public education by $22 million from the previous fiscal year. In the same period, enrolments have risen to record numbers. These issues pushed teachers to a collective bargaining dispute in 2019, but it was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staffing crises

  • Becotte’s comments align with research showing attrition rates have hovered at close to 50 per cent over about the last decade.
  • Squeezed board budgets have meant an increase in fees to some Saskatoon and Regina parents for lunch-time supervision.
  • Numbers have dropped for many educational roles, including for educational assistants, English as an additional language teachers, counsellors, librarians, psychologists and other pathologists.

‘Parents rights’ issues

  • The government said this was an issue of parents’ rights.
  • Yet many others interpreted it as an attack on the ability of teachers to provide necessary support and guidance to kids in a safe and supportive environment.

Bargaining as important tool

  • Trying to prevent teachers from including issues surrounding unmet student needs in bargaining is to effectively leave the public in the dark on the conditions of our schools and render governments largely unaccountable.
  • The most important tool that all unionized workers have at their disposal is their ability to collectively bargain.
  • Many of these campaigns have been waged by teachers’ unions.

Unions driving change

  • CUPW’s success encouraged other unions to take a similar position and today public maternity/paternity leave is a universal public program.
  • Unions and their members have real power when they use the tools available to them to seek real workplace and community change.

Bargaining about trade-offs

  • Prioritizing issues related to what unions identify as key “common good” themes might mean that other issues cannot be highlighted.
  • While salaries and benefits will always be an issue, there is overwhelming teacher support for existing bargaining proposals.


Simon Enoch is a member of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party Charles Smith does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.