Why is Ontario Premier Doug Ford apologising to First Nation Ministers? Watch
Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued an apology for his controversial remarks after meeting with First Nations chiefs on Bill 5.He had warned that First Nations cannot 'keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government' if they oppose mining or other resource projects – comments Indigenous leaders condemned as racist.The Premier met on June 19 with chiefs from the Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 of Ontario's 133 First Nations chiefs, to discuss his government's contentious legislation to speed up resource projects, known as Bill 5.But the previously scheduled meeting at Queen's Park was overshadowed by comments the Premier had made a day earlier.
Show more
Show less
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Why is Ontario Premier Doug Ford apologising to First Nation Ministers? Watch
Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued an apology for his controversial remarks after meeting with First Nations chiefs on Bill had warned that First Nations cannot 'keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government' if they oppose mining or other resource projects – comments Indigenous leaders condemned as Premier met on June 19 with chiefs from the Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 of Ontario's 133 First Nations chiefs, to discuss his government's contentious legislation to speed up resource projects, known as Bill the previously scheduled meeting at Queen's Park was overshadowed by comments the Premier had made a day earlier. Show more Show less
Mint
2 days ago
- Mint
Brazil auctions off several Amazon oil sites despite environmentalists, Indigenous protests
Brasilandia (Brazil) Jun 18 (AP) Brazil auctioned off several land and offshore potential oil sites near the Amazon River on Tuesday as it aims to expand production in untapped regions despite protests from environmental and Indigenous groups. The event came months before Brazil is to host the UN's first climate talks held in the Amazon. The protesters outside Tuesday's venue warned of potential risks that oil drilling poses to sensitive ecosystems and Indigenous communities in the Amazon. A luxury Rio de Janeiro hotel hosted the auction conducted by the National Oil Agency. Most of the 172 oil blocks for sale are located in areas with no current production, such as 47 offshore locations close to the mouth of the Amazon River and two sites inland in the Amazon near Indigenous territories. Nineteen offshore blocks were awarded to Chevron, ExxonMobil, Petrobras and CNPC. The oil companies see the area as highly promising because it shares geological characteristics with Guyana, where some of the largest offshore oil discoveries of the 21st century have been made. This region is considered to have high potential risk due to strong currents and the proximity to the Amazon seashore. Under public pressure from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, known as IBAMA, approved an emergency plan allowing state-run Petrobras to conduct exploratory drilling in a block near the mouth of the Amazon River, the last step to grant an environmental license. 'It's regrettable and concerning that blocks are being acquired in a basin that has not yet received environmental licensing,' Nicole Oliveira, executive director of the environmental nonprofit Arayara, which tried to block the auction in court. 'This is an irresponsible move by the National Oil Agency and a very risky one for the companies involved," Oliveira told The Associated Press. "We will continue litigating to prevent the contracts from being signed and the blocks from being explored.' The auction wrapped up with only 34 oil blocks awarded. Brazil´s oil agency noted that the signing bonuses — one-time payments made by the winning companies — totaled USD 180 million, a record for auctions of this kind. An agency representative said the highest premium was for a block located near the mouth of the Amazon River, which drew a nearly 3,000 per cent markup. Oliveira took part in a peaceful protest that gathered about 200 people outside the auction site, from environmentalists to Indigenous leaders. 'We came to Rio to repudiate the auction,' said Giovane Tapura of the Manoki, an Amazon tribe. 'We would have liked to be consulted and to see studies on how the oil drilling could affect us. None of this has been done.' In a recorded opening statement at the start of the event, Brazil's National Oil Agency said the auctions are part of the country's energy diversification strategy aimed at transitioning to a low-carbon economy and that contracts signed with the winning companies include measures to reduce carbon intensity in production activities, as well as mandatory investments in energy transition projects. Brazil has increased crude oil production, which became the country's top export for the first time last year, surpassing soybeans. The auction is part of the federal government's goal to maintain and even expand output beyond 2030, when production from current oil blocks under exploration is expected to decline. Brazil gets most of its electricity from hydropower and other green energies. The UN climate talks will be held in the city of Belem, close to the mouth of the Amazon. Critics say it's a contradiction that Brazil's president is pushing for increased fossil fuel production while trying to cast himself as an environmental champion. Claudio Angelo, head of international policy at Climate Observatory, a coalition of 133 environmental, civil society and academic organisations, told reporters ahead of the auction that Brazil is both undermining its own standing ahead of the climate talks and undermining climate protection efforts.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Steven Crowchild, Canada's indigenous leader calls US President Trump ‘just another person', says ‘ I stood taller than him' at G7
As world leaders descended on Calgary for the G7 summit, the mood on the runway was charged - none more so than for Steven Crowchild , a council member of the Tsuut'ina First Nation. Crowchild, who was tasked with welcoming the international dignitaries, revealed he was 'filled with rage' and considered leaving before U.S. President Donald Trump 's arrival, citing the pain and distress Trump's policies have caused globally. Steven Crowchild is a prominent Indigenous leader and elected Minor Chief (Councillor) of the Tsuut'ina Nation , located near Calgary, Alberta, Canada . With over five years of leadership experience on the Tsuut'ina Nation's Chief and Council, Crowchild has become a key advocate for his community, focusing on issues of sovereignty , environmental protection, and Indigenous rights. He has been vocal about the historic and ongoing injustices faced by First Nations peoples, including the legacy of residential schools and ongoing challenges around land, water, and treaty rights. Instead of walking away, Crowchild chose to remain after prayer and consultation with other Indigenous leaders. 'It was truly intense, to say the least,' Crowchild said, recalling the unexpected encounter on Father's Day. 'When I woke up, I never expected to be meeting world leaders - especially one individual who has caused so much pain and suffering in the world'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Elegant New Scooters For Seniors In 2024: The Prices May Surprise You Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Learn More Undo During their extended conversation, Crowchild spoke to Trump in his people's traditional language, wore feathered regalia that empowered him, and presented the former president with treaty medals - symbols that, as he pointed out, predate the founding of Canada itself. The moment was deeply symbolic: Trump, donning his signature white 'Make America Great Again' cap, appeared to listen attentively, though both men declined to share the specifics of their exchange. Reflecting on the encounter, Crowchild said about the US president that, 'He's just another person,' and that 'I stood taller than him as a proud Tsuut'ina.' He explained that, instead of responding with hostility, he chose to embody love and humanity, standing firm in his identity and heritage. Live Events Crowchild's decision to stay was rooted in a desire to spotlight issues critical to First Nations communities, including the protection of clean water, the promotion of peace, and the honoring of treaties. 'I hope this meeting will call more attention to promoting peace, protecting clean water, and other issues key to Canada's First Nation peoples,' he explained. In Canada, 'First Nations' refers to one of three major legally recognized groups of Indigenous peoples . Crowchild, who identifies as Tsu'inasgiya and serves on the Tsuut'ina Nation's Chief and Council, said the encounter was not just about personal anger but about channeling that emotion into advocacy for his people and their enduring rights. The meeting, though brief in the context of global diplomacy, underscored the emotional and political complexities Indigenous leaders face when engaging with world powers - especially those whose policies have far-reaching impacts on their communities.
