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APTN News: Hope, Tears and Arrogance: Trudeau’s Indigenous legacy

Fiona Odlum — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 20:48:24 +0000

In 2015 Justin Trudeau was the prime minister who showed up on Halloween dressed up with his children, jogged, posed for selfies with people on the street and importantly for some Indigenous Peoples, was not Stephen Harper.

The Harper government had sparked #IdleNoMore, one of the longest-sustained chains of Indigenous protests across the country. It was a reaction to omnibus legislation that, in part, deregulated environmental protections under the Navigable Waters Protection Act.

”Justin Trudeau was elected, in the wake of the biggest cacophony of Idle No More,“ said Niigaan Sinclair, a professor at the University of Manitoba and panelist on APTN News’ Truth and Politics segment.

To read the entire story, please follow the link to APTN News.

CNA – Singapore: Canada PM Trudeau to resign as prime minister after nine years, blames party infighting

Fiona Odlum — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 20:02:13 +0000

Freeland and Carney are among six to eight names being bandied about. But many Liberals have been angry at Freeland for “precipitating this crisis”, said Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba.

He noted that tensions continue to exist within the party, which is often divided between a pro-business side and a pro-social welfare and mixed economy side.

“Justin Trudeau brought them more to the social democratic left side of the party with major spending, major deficits, but also some very positive social programs like daycare and support for health, pharmaceutical plans, dental plans,” he said.

To read the entire article, please follow the link to CNA Singapore.

The New York Times: Justin Trudeau’s Party Has a Popularity Problem: Justin Trudeau

Fiona Odlum — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 19:31:38 +0000

After the Liberals’ loss in the Toronto race in June, the Canadian news media was filled with anonymous Liberal criticism of Mr. Trudeau’s leadership. Only one Liberal member of Parliament — who has announced that he is retiring from politics — openly called on Mr. Trudeau to step down. Other Liberal lawmakers called for an emergency national meeting to discuss the party’s future.

Mr. Trudeau brushed away those calls.

Royce Koop, a political scientist at the University of Manitoba, said Mr. Trudeau had succeeded because time was running out for the Liberals to change leaders before the next election.

“If you’re Trudeau and you’re trying to hang on, delay is a good tactic,” Mr. Koop said.

To read more of this story, please visit The New York Times.

APTN: Brian Mulroney held the line on settler colonialism: activist

Fiona Odlum — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 20:30:11 +0000

Brian Mulroney is being remembered by some in the Indigenous community as a polarizing figure during his time in office, with his decisions and actions continuing to shape the country to this day.

Mulroney served as the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from 1984 to 1993. He died Thursday at the age of 84.

One of the defining moments of Mulroney’s tenure was his handling of what is commonly called the Oka Crisis in 1990.

The standoff between the people of Kanehsatà:ke people who live west of Montreal, and the Quebec provincial government over the expansion of a golf course onto disputed Mohawk land led to a violent 78-day standoff.

“The events of 1990 were a watershed moment in Indigenous-settler relations in Canada,” said Sean Carleton, assistant professor of history and Indigenous studies at the University of Manitoba.

“This is not speaking ill of the dead. It is insisting that he be remembered for all that he did, rather than the usual uncritical fawning and selective celebration that happens when colonial politicians die.”