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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
It doesn't have to be politics as usual
Opinion It usually takes a while for a new administration to slide into political gamesmanship. At first, it's all hearts and flowers and fair play — such as Prime Minister Mark Carney's pledge to call a byelection as quickly as possible to let Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre try to win his way back into Parliament. The byelection in question hasn't been called yet, primarily because there are rules and timelines that have to be followed for a newly elected Conservative to resign to create a space for a byelection. Battle River-Crowfoot MP Damien Kurek officially resigned on Tuesday. Kurek had to wait 30 days after his election was posted in the Canada Gazette before he could resign, the Speaker of the House of Commons has to inform Elections Canada of the vacancy and the earliest a byelection call could come is 11 days after that. JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESs fileS Premier Wab Kinew The Governor General sets the byelection day chosen by Carney, who can pick a date as far as 180 days after Kurek's resignation. If Carney lives up to his word, Poilievre can quickly either be back in Parliament after a win, or leave the Opposition leader's official Ottawa residence and no longer be the Stornoway stowaway. But byelections don't always move that quickly — and a case in point is happening here in Manitoba. Back in late March, Progressive Conservative MLA Grant Jackson resigned his Spruce Woods seat to run in the federal election under the Conservative banner. Ever since then, his seat has sat vacant — meaning that, for 88 days now, his former constituents haven't had a representative in the Legislature. That's a point that's been made directly to Premier Wab Kinew in a letter from PC Leader Obby Khan: 'Summer is an important time in rural constituencies full of fairs, festivals and events and whomever should be elected to represent Spruce Woods deserves this opportunity to engage with their constituents,' Khan wrote. Likewise, constituents deserve the opportunity to make their concerns known to their elected representative. There's not much drama involved with a byelection in Spruce Woods. It's a reliably PC seat — since its creation in 2011, it has always elected Progressive Conservatives — and the governing NDP is comfortably in a majority position and doesn't have to pull out all the stops to try to win there. Kinew has moved more quickly on two other byelections — to fill the seats left vacant by the resignation of former PC premier Heather Stefanson and the death of NDP cabinet member Nello Altomare. Both of those seats — Tuxedo and Transcona and were seen as likely to elect NDP candidates and both did. And that brings the political gamesmanship back into play. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Kinew could choose to delay the Spruce Woods byelection until as late as Sept. 24 — and it's entirely within his purview to do exactly that. But just because you can do something, doesn't always mean that you should. The only real questions are who benefits by delaying the byelection, and who loses out? If, in any way, it's voters who are losing out, the answer is a simple one. Set a byelection date as quickly as possible and leave the political strategy by the wayside. A significant portion of the public already believes that politicians don't have their best interests at heart and petty politics just strengthens the impression that politicians put their parties and their own futures ahead of the public good. Why fuel voter apathy and mistrust — especially in the case of Spruce Woods, where the prospective gains seem so small — when there's a chance to take the high road instead?
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Doug Ford accused of ‘racist' comments ahead of meeting with First Nations chiefs
Premier Doug Ford is being accused of making 'deeply offensive and racist' remarks about First Nations on the eve of a key meeting with Indigenous chiefs. Amid controversy about fast-tracked mining projects, Ford is sitting down with dozens of Anishinabek Nation chiefs Thursday at Queen's Park to address their concerns over Bill 5. But on Wednesday in St. Catharines, his off-the-cuff comments about how the law would help improve economic opportunities for remote First Nations communities sparked a firestorm. 'There's an opportunity of a lifetime for them. We're giving them $3 billion with a B … to be equity partners, to make their communities more prosperous and wealthier and have services they've never had before,' said Ford, adding 'there's going to be a point that you can't just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government. 'You've got to be able to take care of yourselves — and when you literally have gold mines, nickel mines, every type of critical mineral that the world wants, and you're saying, 'No, no, I don't want to touch that, by the way, give me money.' Not going to happen. It's simple,' he said. NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong) said those comments 'prove that the premier has a fundamental lack of understanding of Ontario's treaty relationship with First Nations.' 'The premier's remarks today were deeply offensive and racist. He is trying to create divisions in our province and is taking us back,' said Mamakwa, whose riding near Kenora includes the Ring of Fire mining project that Bill 5 is meant to expedite. While the ' Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act ,' was passed last week , the Progressive Conservatives are scrambling to tackle some of its outstanding problems in regulation. Opponents warn the legislation infringes upon First Nation treaty rights and undermines protections for the environment and endangered species because of new 'special economic zones' designed to rush project approvals. Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations in northern Ontario, said Ford's 'remarks are offensive, rooted in racism and colonial violence.' 'We are coming from generations of unresolved treaty rights, stolen lands and broken promises,' Fiddler, an outspoken critic of Bill 5 who won't be at Thursday's confab, wrote on social media. 'Our Nations have taken care of ourselves long before your government existed. You are the one begging for our resources.' Ford's meeting will take place just steps from an Indigenous encampment protest against his contentious new law in city-run Queen's Park behind the legislature. The Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 First Nations across Ontario, also opposed the legislation, noting it 'undermines the principles of lawful consultation, environmental due process, Inherent Rights, Aboriginal Title, and Aboriginal Treaty (protected) Rights — all of which are foundational to a stable and predictable investment environment.' 'While this bill may promise short-term regulatory shortcuts, it will almost certainly result in long-term delays, legal battles, and reputational damage for companies involved,' the group said in a statement two weeks ago. The New Democrats, Liberals and Greens all voted against Bill 5 last Wednesday. But the Tories insist the law, which is similar to the federal Bill C-5 being rammed through by Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals , is required to get projects approved within in two years instead of 15. Both Carney and Ford argue the trade war launched against Canada by U.S. President Donald Trump has necessitated the need for speeding up approvals to boost the domestic economy.
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Manitoba declined to follow through on urgent plans to review wildfire preparedness after NDP took power
Manitoba declined to follow through on urgent plans outlined in provincial documents to conduct an external review of wildfire preparedness after the NDP took power in 2023. The minister in charge said the province conducted internal assessments of the wildfire service instead. In a note prepared for the incoming government marked as an "urgent issue" in the fall of 2023, Manitoba's wildfire service said it wanted to review how prepared it was to respond to the next wildfire season, detect wildfires and make tactical decisions. That note was part of a government-transition binder prepared for NDP officials following the provincial election in October 2023, in which the previous Progressive Conservative government was defeated. That binder was later published, with some redactions. The service said in the note that it was "exploring opportunities" to hire a consultant to conduct a forensic examination of the 2023 wildfire season and assess the preparedness of the wildfire service for the next wildfire season. "The focus of the study would be on identifying opportunities for improvement and addressing gaps," read the note, which listed assistant deputy minister Kristin Hayward as the official responsible. The study would have examined how decisions were made both before and during the wildfire season, whether staff requested, collected and examined the right information to prepare for and manage wildfires, and whether the service had the right systems in in place to to support "safe, efficient and effective decision-making and operations," according to the note. The study also would have looked at "whether the right information got to the people that needed it, both on a daily operational basis and during incidents," and whether existing policies and practices were followed, according to the note. In addition, the study would have looked at whether key wildfire service personnel had the appropriate training and experience, the note said. 'Reviewed the options': province Since the 2023 note, the government has not hired a consultant to assess Manitoba's wildfire preparedness, according to a statement from the province, which was not attributed to any official. "The province reviewed the options but ultimately did not proceed with using an external consultant at that time," the statement said. Ian Bushie, Manitoba's minister of natural resources and Indigenous futures, said in a statement the province conducted internal assessments of response times, protection and wildfire forecasting in 2024 and 2025. Those assessments were led by the wildfire service, in collaboration with other departments and agencies, he said, with a focus on "building capacity within our public service" rather than outsourcing. "Their deep knowledge and expertise provide strong internal capacity to identify what worked and where improvements are needed," Bushie said. In an interview late Wednesday, Bushie said he could not say whether the internal assessments conducted over the past two years replicated the external review envisioned in 2023. "Those things are a work in progress," the minister said. "As we go forward in each season, we learn from each season, we learn in real time to be able to assess. "So I couldn't actually go back and refer to old documents and say, yes, we've checked this box." Bushie also said he is not aware what transpired in 2023, when a PC government was in power, to warrant a forensic examination of wildfire preparedness. Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Lisa Naylor said during a Monday news conference that wildfire officials were prepared for everything that has transpired during the 2025 wildfire season, the worst in recent memory. A total of 9,022 square kilometres of the province have burned so far this year, displacing roughly 22,000 people. The burned area works out to 1.6 per cent of Manitoba's land mass. Manitoba Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan questioned whether the province was in fact prepared for a wildfire season of this magnitude. "The question becomes, was this government completely caught off guard by this?" Khan asked during an interview from Ottawa. He questioned why Manitoba did not hire an external consultant to review wildfire preparedness. "This recommendation was made to the NDP. The NDP chose not to take action," he said.
Global News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Global News
On eve of summit with chiefs, Ford says First Nations ‘keep coming hat in hand'
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is facing backlash from First Nations leaders after claiming they 'can't just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government' on the eve of a summit with several chiefs at Queen's Park. On Thursday, Ford plans to host leaders of the Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 municipalities in Ontario, to discuss his controversial recent mining law and critical minerals in northern Ontario. Discussing the upcoming meeting at an unrelated news conference Wednesday, Ford listed a series of funding commitments his government had made to First Nations and said he was 'bending over backwards to take care of them,' adding he has treated them 'like gold.' The funding Ford listed included the province's $3 billion Indigenous financing program and $70 million in training money. 'Treat them well, give them whatever they want for them to prosper,' Ford said, describing instructions he said he had given to his Indigenous affairs minister. Story continues below advertisement 'But there's going to be a point where you can't just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government. You've got to be able to take care of yourselves.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The comments sparked an intense backlash from First Nations leaders. 'Doug Ford alleges that First Nations 'come hat in hand.' We don't. That we have to be 'able to take care of' ourselves. We do,' the Chiefs of Ontario said in a statement. 'It is Indigenous History Month — we should not need to teach elected officials about their own colonial government.' Ontario NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa, the only Indigenous member of the legislature, called the premier's comments 'offensive and racist' in a statement. 'Today's remarks prove that the premier has a fundamental lack of understanding of Ontario's treaty relationship with First Nations,' he wrote. 'He is trying to create divisions in our province and is taking us back. This premier has made it clear that he won't bring people together, uphold the honour of the crown, and obtain free, prior, and informed consent.' The comments come as backlash over the government's controversial mining legislation continues. At the beginning of June, the Progressive Conservatives passed Bill 5 into law. It is mining legislation which gives the government the power to create Special Economic Zones where laws can be sidestepped. Story continues below advertisement The new zones, plus the new omnibus law, are something the Ford government says is designed to speed up the construction of large infrastructure projects, particularly mines. Ford has said the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region in northern Ontario will be declared the first such zone. The passage of the bill drew fury from labour leaders and environmental advocates. It was the reaction of First Nations groups, however, that the government has paid the most attention to. They fear the law will threaten their treaty rights and be used to launch mining and other projects without proper consultation. Some have promised blockades and other disruptive protests if the government doesn't change course. The government has promised to consult on the legislation, but only once it has been passed. At the news conference on Wednesday, Ford said he wanted First Nations groups to support his mining aspirations. 'When you literally have gold mines, nickel mines, every type of critical mineral that the world wants, and you're saying, 'No, no, I don't want to touch that, by the way, give me money' — not going to happen,' he said. 'But we'll help them develop the mines and become very prosperous in their communities, something they've never had, ever in their entire lives.' Story continues below advertisement — With files from The Canadian Press
Global News
3 days ago
- Health
- Global News
As Canada's only ‘sugar tax' ends, a study suggests it may have been effective
A new study suggests Newfoundland and Labrador's tax on sugar-sweetened drinks may have dissuaded people from buying and drinking the beverages. The study tracked beverage sales in the province before and after the so-called 'sugar tax' was implemented in September 2022. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada sponsored the study. It says per-capita sales of sugar-sweetened drinks declined by 11.6 per cent in Newfoundland and Labrador after the tax came into effect, compared with a 6.7 per cent drop in the Maritimes, where there was no levy. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The researchers also surveyed more than 1,200 people before the tax and more than 2,000 people after and found 24 per cent of respondents said they were less likely to buy sugary drinks. The sugar tax became a frequent sticking point in the provincial legislature, with the Opposition Progressive Conservatives calling repeatedly for its repeal. Story continues below advertisement Liberal premier John Hogan announced last month the government would repeal the tax on July 1. Study co-author Rachel Prowse says she'd like the province to reconsider that decision. 'I think that it was premature to remove the tax based on public opinion, because I haven't seen any information that an evaluation was done,' the assistant professor at Memorial University in St. John's, N.L., said in an interview. 'They could really be sitting as a leader for health in Canada at this time.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 18, 2025.
