Reconciliation

Years ago, when my friend Maude Barlow and I were writing a book about the toxic contamination of the Sydney Tar Ponds on Cape Breton Island, I had the chance to interview friends with whom I had been working for years.  The tar ponds were the single largest toxic waste site in Canada and the ...

Elizabeth May Statement on release of Truth and Reconciliation Findings

OTTAWA – Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada and MP (Saanich – Gulf Islands) issued the following statement regarding today’s report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: “Today, we pause and listen to the intergenerational survivors of Canada’s Residential School System. Their stories, collected by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and ...

Elizabeth May calls on Harper Conservatives to end isolation of Shoal Lake 40 First Nation residents

OTTAWA – The Green Party of Canada is calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Bernard Valcourt, to restore ferry service to the Shoal Lake 40 community and to work with the province of Manitoba, and the city of Winnipeg in the construction of an all-weather access road. “The people of Shoal ...

Green Party stands in solidarity with Heiltsuk Nation to defend herring fishery

OTTAWA – The Green Party of Canada supports the Heiltsuk Nation’s efforts in Bella Bella, B.C., to defend local herring stocks that are at risk. “I stand in solidarity with the people from the Heiltsuk Nation, who have continually fought to defend herring stocks they have harvested for countless generations,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of ...

On the right side of history – Inquiry necessary to end violence

OTTAWA – Lorraine Rekmans, Indigenous Affairs Critic for the Green Party of Canada and candidate for Leeds – Grenville – Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, said she supports an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women, and expects tomorrow’s National Roundtable to propose concrete action on this issue. “The murder and disappearance of Indigenous women ...

Time Allocation – Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act (Bill S-7)

Elizabeth May: Mr. Speaker, rising as we are now to debate time allocation, I want to preempt the usual response from government members who say, “What a shame, the member has raised a process question rather than on the substance of the bill”. This is a moment to debate process on a time allocation motion, ...

ENVI Committee Weekly Summary April 22nd 2013

This week featured two great sessions, both featuring independent and civil society representatives providing very honest opinions as the committee works towards finishing the National Conservation Plan report.  On April 23rd the witnesses were Lisa King, Director, Industry Relations Corporation Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation; Larry Innes, Legal Counsel; Ron Bonnett, President of Canadian Federation of ...

Idle No More: “The Time for Dialogue is Now, Not After a Tragedy”

In the wake of a second hunger strike by Cross Lake First Nation Elder Raymond Robinson, the Green Party of Canada calls on Primer Minister Harper to engage in a dialogue with all First Nations chiefs and agree to a treaty implementation process. “I know from personal experience how weak one becomes after weeks without food, but ...

Elizabeth May Welcomed Indigenous Youth to Parliament Hill

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, MP Saanich-Gulf Islands recently welcomed the indigenous young walkers of The Journey of Nishiyuu to Ottawa and Parliament Hill. Created with flickr slideshow. Print this page...

Question Period – Journey of Nishiyuu

Elizabeth May: Mr. Speaker, I was outside as the young people of nishiyuu flooded on to Parliament Hill. A bald eagle circled overhead. I want to sacrifice my once-a-week question, and rather than be partisan I want to give these young people who have walked all this way, these beautiful Cree and first nations youth, ...