Congress of Aboriginal Peoples file UN complaint against Canadian Government

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples file UN complaint against Canadian Government

Canada’s Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) have filed a complaint of discrimination to the United Nations Human Rights Committee against the Canadian Government.

The complaint, filed to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, alleges discrimination against “off-reserve Status and non-Status, Métis, and Inuit Indigenous Peoples based on their Indigeneity”.

According to CAP, the federal government has a “distinctions-based approach” to policy specific to Indigenous Peoples and has selected only three recognised groups of Indigenous Peoples to engage with – The Assembly of First Nations, the Metis National Council and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

None of the three groups currently represent off-reserve or non-Status Indigenous Peoples.

The complaint argues government denies rights to “CAP and its constituents, Canada’s off-reserve Indigenous Peoples” by excluding them from consultations that relate to them – including self-government, land claims, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and natural resources.

“Canada, under the Trudeau government, calls this discrimination ‘a distinctions-based approach’ towards Indigenous policy-making. This has been in place since approximately 2016,” said CAP National Chief Elmer St. Pierre.

“As part of this policy, Canada has chosen only to engage in consultation and negotiation with three ‘recognised’ groups, none of whom represent the interests or voices of all off-reserve Indigenous Peoples.

“Canada has failed to engage with or meet the needs of its urban Indigenous people.”

The organisation alleged discrimination on the government’s “inaccurate and stereotypical assumption” that the nation’s off-reserve Indigenous Peoples are “less Indigenous than their reserve-based counterparts”.

Currently, it’s recognised that over 70 per cent of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples live off-reserve. CAP believes that without their inclusion in government consultations, many of said people will be unrepresented and their needs will not be met by government policy or programs.

CAP National Vice-Chief Kim Beaudin said that off-reserve Status and non-Status Indians, Métis and Inuit peoples have faced a history of disadvantage.

“Indigenous People in Canada still face widespread discrimination and racism in justice, and health care,” said Beaudin.

“All this stems from a lack of recognition that should have followed the Supreme Court ruling on the CAP-Daniels legal battle.

“Prime Minister Trudeau has allowed a discriminatory approach to off-reserve Indigenous peoples that is wrong and is badly hurting grassroots indigenous peoples.”

The organisation saw its national leadership united in the decision to proceed with the complaint against the government.

They did not pursue legal action within Canada as it would be extremely expensive and would take “years to resolve and is unlikely to result in an effective remedy”.

By Rachael Knowles

Emera announces Leadership changes at Peoples Gas

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Scott Balfour, President and Chief Executive Officer of Emera Inc. (TSX: EMA) announces that T.J. Szelistowski will retire as President of Peoples Gas and Helen Wesley, current Chief Operating Officer, will be appointed the next President effective Dec. 1.

“During T.J.’s time as President of Peoples Gas, he has developed an exceptional leadership team focused on driving growth, strong safety performance and outstanding customer service at the utility,” says Balfour. “Helen is a strong energy leader who will build on the momentum and work with the team to advance Peoples Gas’ strategy and continue to deliver for customers in Florida.”

Szelistowski has over 42 years’ experience with Emera’s Florida operations. He has held various leadership roles at both Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas. As President of Peoples Gas since 2016, Szelistowski has led the team responsible for the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas to more than 425,000 customers across Florida.

“Over my career with this organization, I’ve been fortunate to work with so many talented people committed to safety, customer experience and growth,” says Szelistowski. “I’m incredibly proud of what the team at Peoples Gas has accomplished for our customers and community.”

Helen Wesley joined Peoples Gas as Chief Operating Officer in 2020. She currently oversees Engineering and Operations, Marketing and Sales, and Business Development. Over the past year, she has also been deeply involved in developing the next phase of the utility’s growth strategy, focused on residential and commercial customers and investing in emerging energy solutions that continue to position Peoples Gas to play a role in the clean energy transition. Wesley is a senior energy leader with deep corporate experience in the electricity, upstream and downstream oil, and gas and chemicals industries in Canada, the U.S. and internationally.

“It’s an exciting time at Peoples Gas and I’m thrilled to continue to work with our strong team to deliver on our mission to make life better for our communities by delivering safe, resilient, clean, affordable natural gas energy solutions,” says Wesley.

Szelistowski and Wesley will continue to work closely together on a smooth transition. Leadership changes take effect on Dec. 1, 2021.

Peoples Gas System, Florida’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serves more than 425,000 customers across the state. Peoples Gas is a subsidiary of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

About Emera

Emera Inc. is a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with approximately $31 billion in assets and 2020 revenues of more than $5.5 billion. The company primarily invests in regulated electricity generation and electricity and gas transmission and distribution with a strategic focus on transformation from high carbon to low carbon energy sources. Emera has investments in Canada, the United States and in four Caribbean countries. Emera’s common and preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade respectively under the symbol EMA, EMA.PR.A, EMA.PR.B, EMA.PR.C, EMA.PR.E, EMA.PR.F, EMA.PR.H and EMA.PR.J. Depositary receipts representing common shares of Emera are listed on the Barbados Stock Exchange under the symbol EMABDR and on The Bahamas International Securities Exchange under the symbol EMAB. Additional Information can be accessed at www.emera.com or at www.sedar.com.

COCC to recognize, celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Education

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Central Oregon Community College will recognize the second Monday of October each year as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, following a unanimous vote by the college’s board of directors at last week’s monthly meeting.

Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, will officially mark the first Indigenous Peoples’ Day at COCC, and the college will offer a variety of free public programming to celebrate.

In 2020, COCC formally adopted a land acknowledgement to recognize and pay respect to the original stewards of the land on which its campuses reside.

“To continue with this respect and support, COCC recommended that our board of directors formally recognize the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” said Dr. Laurie Chesley, the college’s president.

“In addition to this annual recognition,” added Christy Walker, COCC’s director of diversity and inclusion, “the college’s office of diversity and inclusion, Native American program and the diversity committee will curate educational and social activities and offer public events to create greater awareness and appreciation of Indigenous peoples and their cultures.”

COCC will announce the full programming for the college’s inaugural Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the weeks to come.