'Much of our history is nothing to be proud of': Dignity Forum premieres new Alberta human-rights documentary
A new documentary highlighting the history of discrimination and prejudice in Alberta is set to premiere this month at Mount Royal University.
Article content
The documentary, titled Human Rights: Fact or Fiction? A History of Human Rights in Alberta, was created by the Dignity Forum, an Alberta organization that advocates for human-rights protections.
Article content
Article content
'It really is an educational piece in the sense that it traces the history of human rights in Alberta right up to the present day,' said Ron Ghitter, chair of the Dignity Forum and former MLA and senator. 'Much of our history is nothing to be proud of.'
Article content
Article content
Ghitter has dedicated 45 years to human-rights policy development and advocacy, which has opened his eyes to the extent of discrimination throughout Alberta's history.
Article content
Article content
'All the major human-rights cases, really, that have gone to the Supreme Court of Canada have gone out of Alberta — from the Vriend case to the Taylor case to the Keegstra case,' he said.
Article content
'These were cases which really set a standard in human rights in the country.'
Article content
Ghitter said the documentary aims to inform and to advocate for change.
Article content
'I think people have never really come to grips with what human rights in Alberta has been all about historically,' he said. 'And it's not all negative.
Article content
'We're trying to look to the future, as well.'
Article content
Business leader and philanthropist Mike Shaikh, who formerly chaired the Calgary police commission, is one of the panellists featured in the documentary. Shaikh said he has high hopes for what the documentary can accomplish.
Article content
Article content
'Diversity and inclusion deserve our attention,' he said. 'I believe this documentary will help create stronger communities and improve lives in Canada.'
Article content
For Shaikh, creating more inclusive communities for newcomers was a major motivation behind his involvement in the project.
Article content
'I've always been a proponent of helping new immigrants, all newcomers to Canada, to see how they can make the Canadian dream come true,' he said.
Article content
Shaikh also found that he gained a lot personally from the experience, particularly from working with the other panellists.
Article content
'I loved listening to Chief Phil Fontaine,' he said. 'He's the one who pioneered the exposure of the residential schools. He was the first one to stand up and speak up — and be heard.'
Article content
The inspiration for the documentary came from a variety of discussions between Ghitter and others in the Dignity Forum community concerning the increasing cases of discrimination they've seen throughout Alberta — and a desire to bring those concerns to light.
Article content
'We can't sit back and just think it'll take care of itself,' Ghitter said. 'You have to respond when you see bigotry, discrimination, stereotyping.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Canada Standard
4 hours ago
- Canada Standard
US terminating trade talks with Canada
The American president has labeled Ottawa's digital services tax an "attack" on the US US President Donald Trump has announced the termination of all trade talks with Canada in light of Ottawa's tax on digital services, which he called a "adirect and blatant attack on our country." Relations between the neighbors began to sour when Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods in February soon after taking office. Ottawa responded with reciprocal tariffs. Trump later temporarily suspended the tariffs, expressing a willingness to negotiate individually favorable terms for US businesses with the countries that he had targeted for tariffs. Trump has long accused Canada of taking unfair advantage of the US and has on several occasions suggested that it should become the 51st US state, arguing that Washington effectively subsidizes Canada's economy. In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump stated that "Canada, a very difficult Country to TRADE with... has just announced that they are putting a Digital Services Tax on our American Technology Companies, which is a direct and blatant attack on our Country." "Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately," the US president proclaimed. He added that his government would notify Ottawa of the "Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period." Later on Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters that his country would "continue to conduct these complex negotiations in the best interests of Canadians." However, he noted that he had yet to speak with Trump about the issue. Canada's digital services tax, enacted in June 2024, requires companies providing digital services in the country and earning more than CAD 20 million ($14.5 million) in revenue from Canadian sources to pay a 3% tax on their profits. The first payments are due on Monday. According to Canadian media, US tech giants such as Amazon, Apple, Airbnb, Google, Meta, and Uber are expected to pay approximately $2 billion by the end of July. The tax is retroactive to January 1, 2022.
Canada Standard
4 hours ago
- Canada Standard
US terminating trade talks with Canada Trump
The American president has labeled Ottawas digital services tax an attack on the US US President Donald Trump has announced the termination of all trade talks with Canada in light of Ottawa's tax on digital services, which he called a "adirect and blatant attack on our country." Relations between the neighbors began to sour when Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods in February soon after taking office. Ottawa responded with reciprocal tariffs. Trump later temporarily suspended the tariffs, expressing a willingness to negotiate individually favorable terms for US businesses with the countries that he had targeted for tariffs. Trump has long accused Canada of taking unfair advantage of the US and has on several occasions suggested that it should become the 51st US state, arguing that Washington effectively subsidizes Canada's economy. In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump stated that "Canada, a very difficult Country to TRADE with... has just announced that they are putting a Digital Services Tax on our American Technology Companies, which is a direct and blatant attack on our Country." "Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately," the US president proclaimed. He added that his government would notify Ottawa of the "Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period." Later on Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters that his country would "continue to conduct these complex negotiations in the best interests of Canadians." However, he noted that he had yet to speak with Trump about the issue. Canada's digital services tax, enacted in June 2024, requires companies providing digital services in the country and earning more than CAD 20 million ($14.5 million) in revenue from Canadian sources to pay a 3% tax on their profits. The first payments are due on Monday. According to Canadian media, US tech giants such as Amazon, Apple, Airbnb, Google, Meta, and Uber are expected to pay approximately $2 billion by the end of July. The tax is retroactive to January 1, 2022. In March, Carney described Trump's tariffs as "unjustified" and stated that "Canada will win" the trade war with the US. He vowed that Canada "will never, ever, in any way, shape, or form, be part of the United States." (
Canada News.Net
4 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
US terminating trade talks with Canada Trump
The American president has labeled Ottawas digital services tax an attack on the US US President Donald Trump has announced the termination of all trade talks with Canada in light of Ottawa's tax on digital services, which he called a "adirect and blatant attack on our country." Relations between the neighbors began to sour when Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods in February soon after taking office. Ottawa responded with reciprocal tariffs. Trump later temporarily suspended the tariffs, expressing a willingness to negotiate individually favorable terms for US businesses with the countries that he had targeted for tariffs. Trump has long accused Canada of taking unfair advantage of the US and has on several occasions suggested that it should become the 51st US state, arguing that Washington effectively subsidizes Canada's economy. In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump stated that "Canada, a very difficult Country to TRADE with... has just announced that they are putting a Digital Services Tax on our American Technology Companies, which is a direct and blatant attack on our Country." "Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately," the US president proclaimed. He added that his government would notify Ottawa of the "Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period." Later on Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters that his country would "continue to conduct these complex negotiations in the best interests of Canadians." However, he noted that he had yet to speak with Trump about the issue. Canada's digital services tax, enacted in June 2024, requires companies providing digital services in the country and earning more than CAD 20 million ($14.5 million) in revenue from Canadian sources to pay a 3% tax on their profits. The first payments are due on Monday. According to Canadian media, US tech giants such as Amazon, Apple, Airbnb, Google, Meta, and Uber are expected to pay approximately $2 billion by the end of July. The tax is retroactive to January 1, 2022. In March, Carney described Trump's tariffs as "unjustified" and stated that "Canada will win" the trade war with the US. He vowed that Canada "will never, ever, in any way, shape, or form, be part of the United States."
