Current Events

First Nation needs funding for schools, daycare

According to this article, Aboriginals throughout Canada has gone through a baby boom. Young people have different needs compared to the rest of the population. This is the case for the Whitefish Lake Reserve near Sudbury, Ontario. With one-third of the population under the age of 25, meetings these needs can be problematic. The leaders of Whitefish Lake Reserve are currently struggling to construct enough schools, daycares, and other youth programs due to a lack of funding from the federal government. 

This problem is caused by the Indian Act. I can understand why the government does not provide enough money as there is only so much money to go around. However if the Canadian government abandoned the Indian Act altogether and gave more authority to band leaders, the financial could be solved because the reserve would have more control over its affairs and start businesses without costing the government a single dim. The profits can then be forwarded to education and youth programs. Young people are the future of the community and if their needs are not met, the future of their community would not be bright either.

UN says Khadr deserves 'redress'

The United Nations Committee against Torture recently released a document regarding the transfer of Omar Khadr to Canada. The document states that Canada should immediately sign the transfer papers and bring Khadr back to Canada from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba over its treatment of him. The Canadian Supreme Court stated that he had been subjected torture and heavy abuse while he was at Guantanamo Bay. The U.N. document also states that Omar Khadr would receive an appropriate redress over the human rights violations he had received once Omar returns to Canada. So far, Canada has not signed the paper nor has the government done any action to stop the human rights violations that were committed on him.

This issue totally contradicts Canada's position on human rights. Canada has joined NATO forces in Libya last year to stop the human right abuses and killings by Qaddafi. The Canada government criticized countless for violations of human rights yet the government does not care about abuses committed on their own citizens overseas. This is disgrace and makes Canada look like a total hypocrite. The government should definitely on Canadian issues more and stop criticizing other countries if the government can't stop human rights violations either.

Thousands join protest in defiance of Quebec’s Bill 78

Thousands of students protesters marched on the streets of Montreal last Saturday to protest against Bill 78, which criminalizes the recent strike against tuition fees and places restrictions on all demonstrations. Students, teachers, and families joined the protest in the rain as they raise banner in defiance of Bill 78. The protest was organized by CLASSE (The Broader Coalition of the Association for Student-Union Solidarity) to pressure the provincial government to revoke the bill. Many call the bill a threat against democracy and a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedom. The original student strike happened because the government decided to raise tuition fees by 200 dollars per year for seven years.

While I certainly do not support Bill 78, I do not support the student strike against tuition fees neither. Quebec has the lowest tuition fees in the country and raising it by 200 dollars is not a lot. One theory that I have is that the student strikes might be supported by Quebec nationalists and using the tuition hikes as an excuse for protesting because honestly, it's not like the students can not pay 200 dollars per year if they get a job. Bill 78 is separate issue and it contradicts the Charter because it limits of freedom of expression.