Indigenous leaders again left out of first ministers meeting as tensions grow
OTTAWA — The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is warning the provinces and Ottawa it 'may not end well' if they make decisions about major infrastructure projects at the upcoming first ministers meeting without First Nations involvement.
First Nations leaders in Ontario, meanwhile, have a rally planned for Monday at Queen's Park to protest the provincial government's controversial Bill 5, legislation meant to speed up development.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says the lack of First Nations representation at the first ministers' table is 'very disrespectful.'
The Assembly of First Nations has long called for its inclusion at first ministers meetings but has only been able to secure secondary meetings with prime ministers ahead of the official meetings.
Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Vice Chief David Pratt says governments should 'smarten up' and warns that it's 'not good business to offend and disrespect us so that we have to blockade.'
He says governments should view First Nations as 'equal partners around the table,' adding that if First Nations were in decision-making positions and proposed developments in their cities, 'MPs would be up in arms.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
Written by Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
18 minutes ago
- CTV News
After 29 felines rescued from small apartment, Montreal SPCA offering discount on cat adoptions
The SPCA is offering adult cat adoptions for $100 after the Montreal shelter hit capacity. (SPCA) The Montreal SPCA is offering adult cat adoptions at half price as the local animal shelter is full after 29 felines were rescued from a small apartment. SPCA director of animal advocacy Sophie Gaillard said the Montreal police (SPVM) contacted the SPCA on July 22 after tenants had lost control of the situation in an apartment. Surrendered kittens at the SPCA The SPCA is looking for homes for over 160 cats and kittens after a wave of surrenders. (SPCA) 'There were issues related to the cleanliness of the premises, and the guardians were ready to surrender the cats, so we dispatched our teams urgently to go to the scene and take in the animals,' she said. SPCA staff went to the apartment and transported the 29 cats and kittens back to the shelter. Now, the question is how to house the animals at a time when the shelter is at its highest vacancy point of the year, after July 1 moving day. 'We, as we always do, manage to figure it out, and the cats are now receiving all the care that they require, and they'll be available for adoption shortly,' said Gaillard. The population in the apartment exploded when the animals' guardians didn't sterilize their animals, she added. 'Very quickly that type of situation can get out of control,' said Gaillard. 'There were a number of mother cats with kittens that we took in, so definitely it was one of those situations where the breeding has just gotten out of control.' Abandoned kitten The SPCA took in 29 cats and kittens from a small apartment after the situation got out of control and the police were called. (SPCA) Gaillard added that it was not a case of animal neglect or cruelty, but that the City of Montreal could issue fines because animals are required to be licensed and sterilized and that uncontrolled breeding is prohibited. All the felines were being fed and had water and were surrendered willfully. Cats at the SPCA The SPCA is offering adult cat adoptions for $100 after the Montreal shelter hit capacity. (SPCA) The SPCA said this week that there are now 162 felines at the shelter looking for a forever home. Adult cat (one year old or older) adoptions, as a result, are $100 until Aug. 3. All cats at the SPCA are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. 'As everyone knows, this time of year is a particularly difficult time for us, moving season, kitten season,' said Gaillard, adding that there are also over 50 dogs at the shelter. 'We're hopeful that this community will step up, come into the shelter, adopt some animals, and if that's not possible, perhaps consider taking some into foster care, and, of course, giving us a donation, because this is really a difficult time for us.'
CTV News
20 minutes ago
- CTV News
City fines Montreal church for hosting MAGA-affiliated singer Sean Feucht concert
Christian musician Sean Feucht of California preaches to the crowd during a rally at the National Mall in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (Jose Luis Magana/The Associated Press) The City of Montreal has fined a local church $2,500 for hosting a concert Friday night by the U.S.-based Christian musician Sean Feucht. The city says the church did not have a permit to organize the concert, which it says ran counter to Montreal's values of inclusion, solidarity and respect. Officials have cancelled Feucht's scheduled concerts in several Canadian cities in recent days, including Halifax, Charlottetown and Quebec City. Feucht has spoken out against 'gender ideology,' abortion and the LGBTQ+ community and his religious and political views have grabbed the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Montreal police arrested a 38-year-old man during a protest Friday night outside the church. They also say a smoke bomb was set off inside the church during Feucht's performance. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2025. The Canadian Press
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Majority of Canadians see progress a decade after Truth and Reconciliation report: poll
Article content The survey also suggests respondents who said they are proud of Canada's history are more likely to report Canada is making good progress on reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, at 68 per cent. Of those who reported they're not proud of Canada's history, just 39.3 per cent said they believe Canada is making good progress. Article content Pride in Canada's history seems to be strongly correlated with the age of respondents. Just 36 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 24 reported feeling proud of that history, while 78 per cent of those 65 and older said the same. Article content Francophone youth reported being more proud of Canada's history (59 per cent) than anglophones (35 per cent) — a finding Jedwab said he was surprised by, given the persistence of the province's separatist movement. Article content Jedwab said while the poll found most Indigenous respondents reported feeling pride in Canadian history, it can't be taken at face value because the sample size was so small. Article content 'There's a need to actually pursue further research in this area to get a better idea of how Indigenous Peoples feel,' he said. Article content 'We need to be more attentive to that diversity in terms of drawing conclusions about the views of Indigenous Peoples … We do need to better understand what the nature of the relationship is right now, how people feel about whether progress is being achieved or not and how we go forward together.' Article content
