A lone Conservative MP’s voice of dissent scuttled the quick adoption of a motion in the House of Commons Wednesday calling on Pope Francis to apologize for residential schools. The NDP motion was opposed by Conservative MP Garnett Genuis whose voice broke the unanimous consent needed to adopt the motion. It will now go to debate…
Read moreA fine levied against the Big River First Nation for failure to comply with an environmental protection order has been upped to $100,000 from $10,000 after a successful appeal by the Crown. The Crown appealed the decision on July on the grounds that the fine was “unfit” and that judge erred when handing down the sentence. The fine…
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The Blood Tribe in southern Alberta will open up dozens of acres of land for development to businesses — including outsiders — after a referendum passed by a margin of one ballot. The close vote, which attracted less than 10 per cent of eligible voters, allows the First Nation to form a group that will hold 99-year leases…
Read moreA prominent First Nations leader says an organization representing Canadian Catholic bishops misused his words in a mass email to parliamentarians aimed at pushing back against a motion calling on the Pope to apologize for residential schools. Former Assembly of First Nations national chief Phil Fontaine’s words were included in a letter sent to parliamentarians by the Canadian Conference of…
Read moreThe organization representing Catholic bishops in Canada is pushing back against a motion expected to be debated in the House of Commons this week calling on Pope Francis to apologize for residential schools. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) sent a mass email to parliamentarians on Monday afternoon outlining what it believes to be “misunderstandings and…
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Bernice Daigneault is an educator, activist and residential school survivor from Meadow Lake, Sask. She wrote an open letter to Pope Francis on March 30 in response to the Catholic leader’s decision not to apologize for the church’s role in residential schools. Below is that letter in full. Dear Mr. Jorge Mario Bergoglio (aka Pope Francis):…
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