My boyz, Ipod and Gameboy enjoying a quiet moment.
February 22, 2007
February 16, 2007
Minister Prentice and Anishinabek Nation Sign Governance Agreement-in-Principle
Minister Jim Prentice and Grand Council Chief John Beaucage sign the Agreement-in-Principle respecting Governance. Witnesses, standing behind the leaders were Minister Tony Clement and Chief Patrick Madahbee.
NIPISSING FIRST NATION (February 16, 2007) – The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, and Anishinabek Nation Grand
Council Chief John Beaucage, today signed a Governance Agreement-in-Principle (AIP). The AIP establishes a framework for the Anishinabek Nation, represented in the negotiations by the Union of Ontario Indians, to assume greater control over its own institutions of government.
“Canada’s New Government is committed to working with First Nations to support stronger First Nation governments as a key step in improving the lives of First Nation people,” said Minister Prentice. “This important agreement sets the groundwork for participating First Nations to adopt new governance institutions and structures that are more responsive and more accountable to their communities.”
“The AIP on Governance is one step toward eliminating the Indian Act, re-asserting our jurisdiction, and re-establishing our own Anishinaabe forms of government,” said Grand Council Chief Beaucage, who represents the forty-plus member First Nations of the Anishinabek Nation. “We look forward to completing these negotiations and forging new relationships with Canada that provide practical and effective ways to implement our inherent right to self-government and improve living conditions for our people.”
The Agreement provides the framework for the establishment of the Anishinabek Nation government and for the recognition of First Nation governments with law-making authority in four core governance areas: leadership selection, citizenship, culture and language, and management and operations of government.
The Agreement also reflects the Government of Canada’s support for replacing outdated provisions of the Indian Act with a modern legislative framework for First Nations governance. It provides a practical approach for supporting First Nations to strengthen their internal governance and solidify the political and financial accountability of First Nation governments to their citizens, while operating within the Canadian Constitutional framework.
The Agreement-in-Principle concludes the second of a three-stage negotiation process, and is not legally binding. A Final Agreement becomes legally binding on the parties only once it has been approved by the participating First Nations’ citizens and brought into force through federal legislation. An Anishinabek Nation Framework Agreement on Governance was signed by the parties on November 26, 1998. As negotiations proceeded, the Province of Ontario has been kept apprised of developments.
The Anishinabek Nation and the Government of Canada have also been negotiating toward a “Final Agreement with Respect to the Exercise of Education Jurisdiction.” An Agreement-in-Principal on education was signed by
the parties in 2002.
The UOI is the oldest First Nation political organization in Ontario. It was incorporated as the secretariat arm of the Anishinabek Nation in 1949 and traces its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires which existed long before European contact. The Anishinabek Nation has a population of approximately 50,000 citizens, and comprises one-third of all First Nation communities in Ontario.
February 6, 2007
Opposition unites to pass pro-Kyoto motion Canadian Press
OTTAWA – The three opposition parties have joined forces to pass a motion calling on the Conservative government to confirm Canada’s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol. The Liberal motion, which passed 161-115 in the House of Commons Monday, is not binding, but it could embarrass the Tories and put more public pressure on them. “I think the government is feeling the heat,” said Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, who introduced the motion. “The key question is whether the government is going to accept strong measures and get moving,” said NDP Leader Jack Layton. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who wasn’t present for the vote, has said the Kyoto targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions are unachievable. The fact that the NDP and Bloc Quebecois supported the Liberal motion could spell trouble for the government down the road. That’s because the Liberals have introduced a bill with similar wording that would be binding if passed. Also, the unanimity of the opposition parties on the Kyoto targets could make it very difficult for the government to salvage its centrepiece environmental legislation, the Clean Air Act. “My hope is that what we’ll be able to achieve at the end of the day is a recognition that these Kyoto obligations are ones that we have to honour,” said Layton. The Clean Air Act contains no reference to Kyoto, and it would be difficult for the Tories to accept the Kyoto targets now, having ridiculed them so often. NDP environment critic Nathan Cullen made it clear the party’s support for the Liberal bill was not the result of affection for the Liberals or Dion. “Unfortunately, the mover Mr. Dion has very little credibility on climate change. He was unable to deliver as environment minister and now he’s trying from the opposition benches.” Under the Kyoto accord, negotiated and ratified by the Liberals over Tory opposition, Canada is committed to a six per cent cut in greenhouse emissions from 1990 levels by 2012. Experts say the target is likely not achievable through domestic action alone, but could be met through purchasing credits in UN-approved emissions-cutting projects abroad. By some estimates this could cost about $10 billion by 2012. Harper has rejected the idea of international emissions trading, suggesting the money sent abroad would be wasted. Most governments have approved international trading because cuts can be achieved more cheaply in developing countries, and the promise of technology transfer is seen as a vital incentive for poor countries to support Kyoto. The motion passed Monday says climate change is “the most serious ecological threat of our time” and calls on the government to honour “the principles and targets of the Kyoto Protocol in their entirety.” It calls on the government to publish a credible plan to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions including a ‘cap and trade’ emission reductions system and regulations for industry. So far the government has rejected a cap and trade system, preferring intensity targets, which would require industry to reduce emissions in per unit of production, but not limit them in absolute terms. The motion takes an indirect swipe at the Clean Air Act, saying the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), already on the books, is available immediately to launch the necessary action.
February 5, 2007
Province launches first ever awareness campaign to reduce smoking among Aboriginal peoples
“What You Do Matters” Is First Aboriginal-Specific Quit Smoking Campaign
TORONTO, Jan. 25 /CNW/ – The government of Ontario is launching “What You Do Matters,” a public awareness campaign aimed at encouraging members of the Aboriginal community to quit smoking, Minister of Health Promotion Jim Watson announced today.
“Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and we’re determined to work with Aboriginal communities to make a difference,” said Watson “The “What You Do Matters” campaign is a call to action for each individual, family and community to help improve their health environment and the quality of life for all Aboriginal peoples.”
The campaign consists of 30-second radio announcements, print ads in targeted publications, posters distributed in Band offices, Friendship Centres, Health Centres and other gathering places. Pamphlets and fact sheets are available to Aboriginal communities and the media. Additional information is available at www.ontario.ca/SmokefreeMatters.
The rate of smoking among Aboriginal peoples can be three times the provincial average. Tobacco-related diseases cost the Ontario health care system at least $1.7 billion annually, result in more than $2.6 billion in productivity losses, and account for at least 500,000 hospital days each year.
Anishinabek Nation’s Grand Council Chief John Beaucage supports the public awareness objective of the campaign.
“The Anishinabek Nation is committed to reducing the non-traditional use of tobacco and the health burdens from the misuse of tobacco amongst its citizens, says Chief Beaucage. “Our member communities have signalled this shared commitment by providing us with a mandate to develop an Anishinabek Nation Smoke-Free Strategy to encourage and promote the use of Anishinabek First Nation initiatives aimed at reducing non-traditional tobacco use and creating smoke free environments within Anishinabek territory.”
“We will continue to work with the province where our Strategy and Anishinabek First Nation initiatives share common goals and objectives. This is an issue that affects the health of children, and healthy children are our future.”
Minister Watson also announced that the Ontario government is providing $230,000 to Cancer Care Ontario for organizing an Aboriginal Tobacco Strategy Youth Summit in March 2007. The Summit will be the first ever Aboriginal youth-specific smoke-free event sponsored by Ontario. The overall goal of the Summit is to increase awareness of the harm caused by commercial tobacco in Aboriginal communities, and engage youth in developing action plans.
This funding is part of an annual investment of $2 million under the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy to help Aboriginal communities break the cycle of smoking addiction. The Ontario government also invests $8.8 million in programs to prevent youth from using tobacco products.
“The alarmingly high rate of commercial tobacco use by Aboriginal youth compared to national youth demonstrates a need for specific campaigns to raise awareness about the difference between traditional tobacco and commercial tobacco use,” said Dr. John McLaughlin, vice president, preventive oncology, Cancer Care Ontario. “The government’s investment in the Aboriginal Tobacco Strategy Youth Summit is a critical step to reaching Aboriginal youth about the harms of smoking and taking action to prevent or stop Aboriginal youth from smoking commercial tobacco.”
Ontarians can learn about the dangers of tobacco and get tips on how to quit smoking from January 21-27, which is National Non-Smoking Week in Canada.
This week is a great chance for all Ontarians to quit smoking or to support friends, family members and colleagues who are making the important decision to quit.