Topic: Today’s News

August 7, 2020 — Ottawa, Traditional Algonquin Territory, Ontario — Indigenous Services Canada

As of August 6, ISC is aware of these confirmed cases of COVID-19 for First Nations on reserve in provinces:

• 422 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19
• 34  hospitalizations
• 381 recovered cases

There is a total of 17 confirmed positive cases in Nunavik, Quebec, and all have recovered.

Unfortunately, there were new cases reported in First Nations on reserve in Quebec. We are closely monitoring these recent cases and will continue to work in close communication with the community to ensure necessary supports are in place.

This week there were also 4 new cases on the island of Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, compared to 20 cases last week. With this curve, public health officials are not expecting a wide community spread; however, ISC continues to monitor the situation closely.

We must all remain vigilant in employing measures to protect ourselves, our families and our communities from the spread of COVID-19. While many provinces and territories are at varying stages of re-opening, we must continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by limiting the size of group gatherings and continue to maintain physical distancing of at least 2 arm-lengths from others (approximately 2 meters or 6 feet).

Additionally, individuals can help by:

• avoiding all non-essential trips in the community;
• limiting contact with people at higher risk, such as Elders, those in poor health, or with underlying health conditions;
• wearing a non-medical mask when physical distancing is not possible;
• following the recommended public health guidelines outlined by your province of residence.

The health and wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples remains a top priority for ISC. ISC continues to work  with Indigenous leadership to flatten the COVID-19 curve in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities as community leaders are working to ensure their members have access to the most up-to-date public health information and services.

In addition to physical health impacts, the Government of Canada recognizes the COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant effect on the mental wellness of Indigenous Peoples. Mental wellness services that support Indigenous communities are essential. These services continue to respect public health measures with many shifting to telehealth or virtual approaches and being innovative in terms of service delivery.

The Hope for Wellness Helpline provides immediate, culturally safe, telephone crisis intervention, 24 hours a day, seven days a week in English and French, and upon request in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut.

• Phone: 1-855-242-3310
• On-line chat: www.hopeforwellness.ca

ISC continues to work in partnership with Indigenous organizations and communities to support the adaptation and evolution of Indigenous-led mental wellness resources and services, during the pandemic and beyond.

To help Indigenous organizations provide support to First Nations off reserve and Inuit and Métis living in urban areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada committed a total of $90 million in funding, between March 18, 2020, and May 21, 2020, through the Indigenous Community Support Fund. Successful recipients of the additional $75 million were informed of the results on June 29, 2020, and the funding will be disbursed to recipients in the coming weeks.  

This week, on behalf of the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, and Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, announced  $13.5 million  for Indigenous organizations in the Greater Toronto Area, which are spearheading local initiatives such as: providing educational and learning supports for children and youth, purchasing protective equipment, providing food services, covering emergency sheltering costs, and providing access to basic communication tools like mobile minutes or access to Internet services.

• New: Although there are no patients admitted who have tested positive for COVID-19, HSN is reminding the public of the need to follow important prevention advice from public health as the virus is still active in the community. Do not become complacent. This is crucial to avoid an increase in cases which will impact our efforts to resume regular operations. 

• New: To prevent the spread of COVID-19 people should wash their hands often and stay home when they are sick. Masks or face coverings must be worn in all indoor public places in Sudbury and should be worn in all other settings where physical distancing of 2 meters cannot be maintained. 

• New: Limiting our contacts and in-person interactions as much as possible is critical in reducing transmission of COVID-19. Close contact is only permitted within “social circles” and among members from the same household. A social circle can only include up to 10 people and must always be with the same people. You can only belong to one social circle. Non-essential in-person gathers of any size should be limited. 

• New: With few exceptions, gatherings are currently maxed at 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors. Unless people are from the same household or social circle, they should keep 2 metres (6 feet) apart and wear a face covering if distancing is not possible. 

• New: All residents who are planning to travel should be aware that COVID-19 is still circulating at different levels around the province. The safest options are to stay in the area of your home community or to stay in the region. 

• New: The virus simply cannot spread easily if we limit our travel, stay within our social circles, keep our distance and wear face coverings outside of our circles, wash our hands, and stay home and call for testing when we don’t feel well. 

• Nouveau : Bien qu’aucun patient admis n’ait reçu un résultat positif à un test de dépistage de la COVID-19, HSN rappelle aux gens qu’il faut suivre les importants conseils de prévention de la santé publique puisque le virus demeure actif dans la communauté. On ne doit pas faire preuve de complaisance. Cela est essentiel pour éviter une augmentation des cas, ce qui aurait des répercussions sur nos efforts visant à reprendre nos activités habituelles. 

• Nouveau : Afin d’éviter la propagation de la COVID-19, les gens doivent se laver les mains souvent et rester chez eux s’ils sont malades. Les masques ou les couvre- visages doivent être portés dans tous les lieux publics fermés à Sudbury. Ils devraient aussi être portés dans tous les autres milieux où la distanciation physique de deux mètres ne peut être maintenue. 

• Nouveau : Il est primordial de limiter nos contacts et nos interactions en personne autant que possible pour réduire la transmission de la COVID-19. Les contacts étroits sont uniquement permis au sein de « cercles sociaux » et du même foyer. Un cercle social ne peut inclure qu’un maximum de 10 personnes et doit toujours être composé des mêmes gens. Vous ne pouvez appartenir qu’à un seul cercle social. Les rassemblements non essentiels de toute taille devraient être restreints. 

• Nouveau : À quelques exceptions près, les rassemblements sont actuellement limités à 50 personnes à l’intérieur et 100 personnes à l’extérieur. À moins que celles-ci proviennent du même foyer ou cercle social, elles doivent rester à 2 mètres les unes des autres (6 pieds) et porter un couvre-visage si le respect de la distanciation est impossible. 

• Nouveau : Toutes les personnes qui prévoient de voyager devraient prendre conscience que la COVID-19 circule toujours à divers degrés dans la province. Le mieux consiste à rester dans les environs de votre localité ou dans la région. 

• Nouveau : Le virus ne peut se propager facilement si les gens limitent leurs déplacements, demeurent dans leur cercle social, pratiquent la distanciation et portent un couvre-visage à l’extérieur de leur cercle, se lavent les mains et enfin, restent chez eux et demandent de passer un test s’ils ne sentent pas bien. 

TORONTO, Aug. 6, 2020 /CNW/ – Today, on behalf of the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for Toronto—St. Paul’s, and Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services and Member of Parliament for Oakville North—Burlington, Ontario, announce $13.5 million in funding to support the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC), Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, and Anduhyaun Inc. The funding provided will help address the urgent needs of Indigenous Peoples during the current COVID-19 pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, community-based organizations and community leadership have been on the front-lines to ensure the safety and well-being of Indigenous Peoples living in urban communities. Their work is paramount in protecting the health of this vulnerable population. They have been advocating and providing supports and services for shelters, distribution of medication and traditional medicines, food delivery and financial assistance to address the immediate COVID-19 coordination of programming. The Government of Canada is providing funding through the Indigenous Community Support Fund’s urban and off-reserve stream to deliver these essential services and programs to First Nations living off-reserve and Indigenous Peoples living in urban areas to address the critical needs during this crisis and ensure no one is left behind.

The Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) received approximately $7 million in funding to develop a TASSC COVID-19 Emergency Community Relief Support to ensure Indigenous Peoples living in the Greater Toronto Area have access to the required resources to limit the spread of the coronavirus. This critical funding will allow TASSC and its 18 member agencies to purchase protective equipment, provide food services, emergency hotel sheltering costs, educational and learning supports for children and youth, and access to basic communication tools like mobile minutes or access to Internet services.

A total of $90 million has been provided, through the Indigenous Community Support Fund, to support Indigenous organizations providing services to First Nations people living off-reserve, and Indigenous Peoples in urban areas. Approximately 260 Indigenous organizations across the country have been supported to date by the urban and off-reserve stream under the Indigenous Community Support Fund.

CHILLIWACK, B.C., August 5, 2020 – The British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) announced today an exciting new partnership to enhance its Economic Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Program.   The partnership with Spring, a global incubator and accelerator that empowers entrepreneurs and entrepreneur ecosystem organizations, will launch the Province-wide Business Resilience Program, an online program created to help businesses recover, adapt, and survive challenging economic conditions.

Spring founder, Keith Ippel, says “as the pandemic hit, it became paramount that entrepreneurs and businesses needed guidance to survive. Our business resilience program goes beyond the short-term monetary relief offered and is designed to scale provincially, nationally, and globally, to provide the crucial framework necessary for increasing levels of tailored support needed to overcome this and future crises.”

This new partnership will allow local, regional and Indigenous governments access an affordable option for them to offer holistic support to entrepreneurs that are facing challenges due to the impacts of COVID19.  Participating communities will have access to the educational content allowing entrepreneurs to work through four core self-paced course modules.  Created by experts in strategic growth and entrepreneurship roles, Spring Activator says the program allows community partners to opt-in and provide their business communities access to the educational content for six months to one year.

“We’re thrilled to have partnered with Spring to offer entrepreneurs and small businesses in British Columbia the Business Resilience Program, a free to business, long-term online solution created to help businesses recover, adapt, and survive challenging economic conditions.  This program compliments our existing Economic Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Program, established in 2012 to assist communities impacted by disasters,” said Dale Wheeldon, President and CEO, BCEDA.  “Once again, BCEDA is showing that it is a leader in Economic Recovery and looks forward to working with our partners and the Province of BC, in leading BC out of the economic challenges resulting from the impacts of COVID19.” 

For more information about the program, visit: https://www.bceda.ca/spring_business_resilience_pro.php

Tungasuvvingat Inuit (TI) is encouraged by the Ontario Government’s plan to redesign the provincial child welfare system. The pillars for reform, announced on July 29, 2020, and overall direction align with what we have heard is needed from urban Inuit families and community members.

Executive Director (Acting) Amanda Kilabuk stated, “It is positive that the government recognizes the current system is not working, specifically for Indigenous children. The over-representation of Indigenous children in the system is staggering, and the outcomes are significantly worse. We are encouraged by the government’s strategy to focus on strengthening families and communities through community-based prevention and early intervention. A system that supports more family-based options over group-care aligns with the priorities identified by TI in consultations with staff and community and is in line with the model that TI is developing.”

TI has been working in partnership with the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services through Ontario’s Indigenous Children and Youth Strategy to transform the provision of child welfare services for Inuit in Ontario. Recent changes to the Child, Youth and Family Services Act in 2017 mean that Inuit are now recognized as a distinct Indigenous group in Ontario. TI is currently working with ITK and other Inuit partner organizations to ensure that the rights afforded to Inuit children, youth and families under the Act are realized.

Julie Hodson, Child & Policy Manager at TI says, “We believe these changes will provide more positive experiences to Inuit children and youth at risk in a system that does not currently support their well-being. Bold and transformative action is needed, and this will require a shift in resources towards community-generated solutions. The importance of honouring and advancing a distinct approach for Inuit cannot be understated. We must build on the solid foundation for change that was co-created through Ontario’s Indigenous Children and Youth Strategy.”

TI is optimistic that part of the transformation will include:

• Dedicated funding for community-based prevention.

• Support for urban Indigenous-led models.

• Openness for legislative and regulatory changes to support the plan.

• A distinct approach that recognizes the unique context of Inuit in Ontario.

We embrace the ministry’s forward-looking vision for the redesign of the Child Welfare System as a priority. A modernized Child Welfare System that advances Indigenous-led approaches and fosters community-based solutions is vital. TI’s vision is that all Inuit children and youth in Ontario will grow up and thrive in the care of their family and community, with a strong sense of cultural identity.

QUEBEC CITY, August 5, 2020 – The Canadian Innu First Nation of Pessamit and the Atikamekw First Nation of Wemotaci (Province of Quebec) are joining forces to put an end to the stranglehold of the Quebec govern- ment and Hydro-Québec on their traditional territories. They mean to obtain compensation for production facilities, reservoirs and transmission lines set up without their consent by threatening to derail a project to run a high-voltage transmission line through Maine to Massachusetts. 

Currently, 36% of the total hydroelectric power installed by Hydro-Québec comes from Innu, Atikamekw and Anishnabeg traditional territories, protected by ancestral and treaty rights that have never been respected. In total, 33 production structures, 130 dams and dikes, 10,400 km² of reservoirs, tens of thousands of kilometres of transmission, distribution and road lines have been illegally installed. These facilities continue to be operated by Hydro-Québec in violation of the rights recognized by the Constitution Act of 1982 and the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court of Canada. 

At the Cost of Others For nearly a century, six Innu, Atikamekw and Anishnabeg communities have borne the brunt of successive hydro electric developments that have allowed Quebec to industrialize and the majority of its citizens to access a better quality of life. Conversely, these successive and massive hydroelectric developments on their traditional territories have never translated into a better quality of life for the members of the communities most directly and negatively impacted. Quite the contrary! All internationally recognized well-being indicators are largely un- favourable for them compared to the entire population of Quebec and are comparable to those of third world countries. 

A Suspended Sentence The most recent legal episode in the Quebec government’s crusade to evade the ancestral rights of the First Nations ended in 1996. The Supreme Court of Canada then definitively put an end to Quebec’s claims that First Nations had no ancestral rights over the territory of the province. The illegitimate position of the government of Quebec nevertheless gave it enough time to de facto dispossess First Nations of their traditional territories. This rejection in the Supreme Court did not, however, convince Quebec to apply the necessary corrective measures. Since then, successive provincial governments have embarked on a strategy of perpetually delaying enforcement of the Supreme Court ruling. In doing so, Quebec scandalously self-awarded itself a suspended sentence. 

Sand in the Gears According to Chiefs René Simon of Pessamit and François Néashit of Wemotaci: “The First Nations directly affected by the odious regime imposed by Quebec with the complicity of the government of Canada, now have an important lever capable of establishing the rule of law, right where state brutality has always prevailed. Now is the time for our two communities to put up a concerted resistance to what is morally, legally and constitutionally indefensible! We intend to come down directly on the revenues that the government and Hydro-Québec expect to generate with their project to run a high-voltage line with a capacity of 1200 MW through the northeast of the United States.“ It should be remembered in this regard that Hydro-Québec has a significant energy surplus that cannot be absorbed by internal consumption. From a business standpoint, then, it’s no wonder that the crown corporation is looking to improve its performance by selling power in the northeastern US. In this context, the weakening of the profit objective imposed by the state-owned company in its five-year 2020 to 2024 plan ($16.1 billion) could have the consequence of encouraging Quebec to review its position regarding First Nations. 

The Route Through Maine Hydro-Québec’s intentions in the United States are far from being unanimously supported there. In 2018, when Hydro-Québec was awarded the contract to deliver 9.45 TWh of energy to Massachusetts via the Northern Pass transmission line that was to cross New Hampshire from North to South, the Innu First Nation of Pessamit close- ly coordinated its action with regulatory bodies and American opponents of this project. Pessamit then assumed a leading role with the American media and various non-Native and Native American political bodies. In July 2019, after having exhausted all its legal options, the promoter saw its project definitively rejected by the Su- preme Court of New Hampshire. Pessamit was instrumental in the termination of Northern Pass. After this re- sounding and still very recent failure, Hydro-Québec is now banking on the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project to honour its contract with Massachusetts. The state-owned company plans to run its electricity through Maine instead of New Hampshire, in order to reach Massachusetts. But history could repeat itself. 

What We Are Demanding Our First Nations cannot allow Hydro-Québec to financially benefit from our heritage without openly taking part in the debate in Maine about NECEC. After a century of denial on the part of the Quebec government, our com- munities have an unexpected opportunity to see our rights on their ancestral territories respected. We will reso- lutely seize this opportunity to force the settlement that has always been denied. The government of Quebec and Hydro-Québec have never had and still do not have the moral and constitutional legitimacy to operate 33 of the 63 hydroelectric production structures since they have never consulted and compensated the First Nations concerned. They have even less right to sell electricity in the United States when 13,200 MW, or 36% of the in- stalled capacity in Quebec out of a total of 36,700 MW, has been usurped from the said First Nations. And if the government turns a deaf ear, Pessamit and Wemotaci will do their utmost to derail the project and ensure a resounding NO to NECEC!

Join us on Thursday, August 6, 2020, from 2:30-4:30 pm PDT, as BC’s Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender hosts an education and engagement session via Zoom with participants from B.C.’s rural and remote regions. 

The two-hour session is an opportunity to hear from people in these regions about the pressing human rights issues impacting their lives and to share information about our rights and responsibilities under law and our human rights system. 

“People in our northern and remote communities face unique human rights challenges,” Commissioner Govender said. “I look forward to connecting directly with people from the area about the issues they are facing. We’ll be sharing information with those who can attend about their rights and responsibilities, as well as how they can seek support and justice when they feel that they have been discriminated against.” 

“As BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner is newly re-established, my office has identified five key priorities for our work and I want to hear whether these priorities resonate with what rural and remote British Columbians are experiencing in their day to day lives,” she continued. 

This session is open to the public. Anyone interested in attending can RSVP on our website at Bchumanrights.ca/events/meet-bcs-human-rights-commissioner/. 

The Commissioner is available for media interviews on Wednesday, August 5 from 2:00-3:00 pm to discuss the sessions and her plans for upholding human rights in our province. Please contact our office to schedule. 

This education and engagement session is one of several the Commissioner has been conducting around the province. Her next virtual session is planned for B.C.’s Northwest region on August 20, 2020, with a Metro Vancouver session to be held on Sept. 17. Learn more and register for the remote/rural virtual engagement event.

GLADU TO SPEARHEAD LAUNCH OF NEW MODEL FOR INDIGENOUS OWNERSHIP IN MAJOR PROJECTS CANADA ACROSS

Calgary, Alberta, August 4, 2020 – Steel River Group Inc. (“SRG” or “the company”) announced today that JP Gladu will join the company as their new Chief Development and Relations Officer and President of Steel River Infrastructure. Gladu will oversee Steel River Infrastructure and will be responsible for implementing the company’s new People-Public-Private Partnership (P4) Model, which has been developed by Steel River to enhance Indigenous ownership opportunities in major projects.

“Having known of JP for years and seeing his exemplary leadership in Indigenous inclusion with regards to business and our national economy, I am thrilled to welcome JP to the Steel River team,” said Steel River Group’s Founder & CEO Trent Fequet. Adding, “at Steel River Group, we believe that building generational wealth for Indigenous and local communities through ownership in major projects is long overdue.  JP is the ideal person to lead Steel River Infrastructure, launch our P4 Model across Canada, and continue to champion prosperity for our people.”

With a career that spans over 25 years, including nearly 8 years as the President and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), JP Gladu has been a force of change in the Canadian landscape for Indigenous communities and businesses. Gladu’s lifelong passion for developing and managing prosperity over poverty directly aligns with Steel River Group’s shared vision of creating opportunities that build long-term capacity and competency within Indigenous communities.

“Joining the Steel River team is a natural continuance of the work I did at the CCAB to promote, and advocate for Indigenous peoples’ involvement in job creation, business, and infrastructure,” said Gladu. “Trent’s vision with regards to the P4 Model is the next step in the evolution of recognizing Indigenous people and communities as fundamental in creating, not only certainty, but strength in sustainable infrastructure.”

Steel River acknowledges that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis all play a critical role in the stewardship of Canada’s economic development and is passionate about proactively seeking and exploring opportunities for Indigenous ownership in major projects at the grass-roots level.  This passion has been materialized in the development of a People-Public-Private Partnership (P4) Model focusing on enhanced ownership opportunities for Indigenous communities. Gladu will soon introduce the P4 Model in a nation-wide campaign to engage Canadians about the importance of Indigenous ownership in major projects, and the need to create generational opportunity and wealth for Indigenous and local communities.

About Steel River Group

Steel River Group is a privately held Indigenous owned and operated company that creates opportunity where Indigenous-led businesses are empowered to create and capture value for our people, strategic alliance partners, and our communities. Steel River Group’s Governing principles are deeply rooted in Indigenous values, beliefs, and culture, grounded by a strong sense of community. Steel River’s operating approach is centered around their inclusive Ecosystem Model, which brings Steel River Owned Companies, Indigenous Communities and Strategic Alliance Partners together over a shared vision to create opportunities for generation wealth.

VICTORIA, B.C. – The B.C. Green Caucus has issued the following statement in response to BC Hydro’s latest reports that reveal the overall health of the Site C project is at risk due to significant cost escalation and delays:

“This project should not be given a blank check to proceed at any cost imaginable – the NDP should seriously consider cancelling Site C,”  said B.C. Green Party interim leader Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich-North and the Islands. “The NDP needs to be clear about the price and make a decision before river diversion takes place and we change the flow of the Peace River forever, which is scheduled for this fall. We will be holding this government accountable for the next moves they make.”

“I’m concerned that the government is saying Site C is past the point of no return, while admitting that they don’t know the current state of the project,” said MLA Olsen. “This leaves B.C. ratepayers at significant risk.”

“The cost escalations at Site C cannot be honestly blamed on COVID-19,” said MLA Sonia Furstenau, MLA for Cowichan Valley. “The overall project health was red as of December 2019, due to significant cost pressures from geotechnical instability and contract disputes. The issue of geotechnical instability has been raised by experts for years, so this risk should come as a surprise to no-one.”

“Despite what the government may claim, Site C was not past the point of no return when the NDP chose to forge ahead in 2017,” said MLA Furstenau. “At the time, the BC Utilities Commission found that cancelling Site C and replacing the electricity with renewables could be done at equal or lower cost to ratepayers.” 

“The BCUC concluded 3 years ago that Site C faced considerable risks that had the potential to lead to further budget overruns, also warning that an in-service date of 2024 was unlikely,” said MLA Furstenau. “If the NDP had heeded those warnings 3 years ago, we would not be in the place we are today. Since their decision to continue forward with Site C, billions of dollars have been added to the price tag.”

The Confidence and Supply Agreement between the B.C. NDP and B.C. Green Caucus committed the government to sending Site C to the BC utilities Commission for review. In their 2017 report, the BCUC found that the government could cancel Site C and fill B.C.’s electricity needs from an alternative portfolio of renewables at equal or lower cost to British Columbians. The B.C. Green Caucus argued for cancelling the project at that point, but the B.C. NDP chose to go ahead.

Background:

November 1, 2017: British Columbia Utilities Commission Inquiry Respecting Site C, Final Report to the Government of British Columbia

• The BCUC panel wrote, “given the nature of this type of project and what has occurred to date, total costs for the project may be in excess of $10 billion and there are significant risks that could lead to further budget overruns”. 
• The Panel found that these remaining risks include unresolved tension cracks and disputes with contractors.
• As such, the Panel found that it is unlikely that Site C will be completed on schedule by 2024, and that construction costs could escalate even further beyond $10 billion.

December 4, 2017: Open letter to Premier John Horgan

December 6, 2017: The Case Against Site C Grows Stronger Every Day