 | Thursday, October 21, 2021 – by John McHutchion | | Here’s what you need to know to get the day started: | | | How a big win for a First Nation in B.C. could bring change for resource development in Canada | | | From a helicopter hovering more than 100 metres in the air, Blueberry River First Nations Chief Marvin Yahey surveyed his community's territory in northeastern British Columbia.
Looking over the vast landscape of trees, muskeg and rivers drenched in sun, Yahey pointed to sites that have been important to generations of his ancestors — like a lake where ingredients for traditional medicine could be gathered. But more often during the flight, he gestured to the patchwork of development marking the landscape: roads, forestry cutblocks, pipelines, natural gas wells and facilities.
Yahey said it was "extremely frustrating" to see so much development in the traditional territory. "To have an aerial view, it's mind boggling — but that's the activities we've lived with for many generations," he said.
It was similar frustration that led to a lawsuit six years ago — and to what's been called a precedent-setting court decision that could have implications for resource development elsewhere in Canada. This summer, a B.C. Supreme Court judgment agreed with Blueberry River's 2015 claim that years of extensive industrial development in the region violated the Treaty 8 rights of the Blueberry River First Nations.
The Court said the province failed to maintain the nation's rights to hunt, fish and trap without interference. While no single project had a devastating effect on the community, the court said the cumulative impact of a series of projects limited the nation's ability to maintain its rights. The ruling also gave the province six months to work with Blueberry River to improve land management and the permitting process to respect the nation's rights under the treaty. Those discussions are ongoing.
The outcome of talks with the province will be significant for Blueberry River First Nations and northeast B.C., but the case has also seized attention in other jurisdictions. First Nations are examining what it could mean elsewhere, including to future development near Alberta's massive oilsands.
"The decision is quite incredible," said Chief Mel Grandjamb of the Fort McKay First Nation in northeastern Alberta. "Moving forward, Fort McKay will expect our seat at the decision making [table] when it comes to projects moving ahead in our traditional lands."
Sander Duncanson, a Calgary-based lawyer whose practice represents a number of companies operating in northeastern B.C., said industry is watching as well. He said the court's decision "does change the law in Canada and potentially opens the door to similar claims all across the country from Indigenous groups." | | | | | Wall of remembrance | | |  | (Toby Melville/Reuters) | | | | A woman views the National Covid Memorial Wall, a dedication of thousands of hand painted hearts and messages commemorating victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, in London, England, on Wednesday. | | | | | | | | | In brief | | | Ottawa plans to reveal details today about its forthcoming proof-of-vaccination system for international travel, senior government sources have confirmed to CBC News. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce further details about the passport at 10 a.m. ET in Ottawa. The sources with knowledge about the plan spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly. The sources pointed to Ontario's recently unveiled enhanced vaccine certificates — which includes a QR code built to the SMART Health Card standard adopted by the federal government, and includes the Government of Canada word mark — as something that will also work for international travel. It is not yet clear when vaccine certificates issued by other provinces and territories will be accepted for international travel. The federal government has for months been working on developing an internationally recognized vaccine passport, with the aim of having it ready for the public sometime this fall. Read more on this story here.
People in Ontario who drive or deliver for companies such as Uber, Lyft and Skip the Dishes are calling on Premier Doug Ford's government to grant them basic workers' rights by classifying them as employees. It's an issue that directly affects hundreds of thousands of people who work in the province's gig economy, and could have implications for all workers across Ontario and in other provinces. The app companies are profiting from having a workforce at the ready, yet don't provide those workers the rights and benefits of employees, says Brice Sopher, who delivers for Uber Eats and serves as vice-president of the union-backed group Gig Workers United. "There is nothing right now stopping Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and these other app-based employment companies from offering us full employee rights. They are just choosing not to," Sopher said. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake and there are clear signs that some sort of action is imminent. Industry sources tell CBC News they expect the Ford government will soon reveal new measures regarding wages and benefits for gig workers. Read more on the call for rights for gig workers.
An alleged extramarital affair involving Canada's former top commander at NORAD was investigated by military police for several months after the Department of National Defence (DND) publicly stated that no rules were broken by former lieutenant-general Christopher Coates. Sources with knowledge of the probe told CBC News that interviews were conducted and statements taken from witnesses last spring — several weeks after the department publicly backed Coates. Meanwhile, an access to information request filed by CBC News — looking for briefings and notes exchanged among senior military leaders about how the allegations were handled — was recently denied on the grounds that an active investigation was taking place. "As a standard practice, we do not confirm or deny the existence of investigations past or present," said Dan Le Bouthillier, the department's head of media relations. "Confirming investigations does occur on a case by case basis with due regard to the integrity of the investigation, the privacy rights of all involved and the public's right to know." Read the full story here.
Land acknowledgements have become so commonplace that you'll hear them at the start of hockey games, during academic conferences and even written at the bottom of corporate email signatures. In an era of reconciliation, they're political statements meant to recognize First Nations, Inuit and Métis territory. However, many Indigenous people argue they've grown to become superficial, performative — and problematic. CBC Indigenous spoke with five First Nations people about the issues they see, what they expect when others make land acknowledgments and advice on how they can ring less hollow. Read more on this story from CBC Indigenous reporter Ka’nhehsí:io Deer.
People who are just starting to feel wobbly on their feet could benefit from making small changes to their home and behaviour to help them stay independent for as long as possible, Canadian experts say. Falls are the main cause of accidental death among people aged 65 and older. Making simple changes like adding coloured tape to the edge of stairs, or a grab bar in the bathtub to prevent a tumble could reduce the risk of falling. Marnie Courage, an occupational therapist in Winnipeg, suggests people may get a bigger bang for their renovation buck by focusing on safety in the bathroom. "The majority of these falls are happening in or around a bathroom," Courage said in conversation with Dr. Brian Goldman, host of CBC Radio's White Coat, Black Art and The Dose podcast. "Making modifications to a bathroom can have a huge impact on your function and safety." Read more on this story here.
Six hundred days after their last meaningful game in Toronto, the Raptors returned to their home court last night before a capacity crowd of 19,800. Playing in what Raptors guard Fred VanVleet said felt like a “playoff atmosphere,” Toronto fell to the visiting Washington Wizards by a score of 98-83. Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said the emotion might have been too much for some of his players. "It seemed to me we weren't fully engaged and something was there, and it probably was that it was a pretty big moment," Nurse said. Read more on the Raptors’ home opener here.
Now for some good news to start your Thursday: Bruce (Xiaoyu) Liu of Montreal is the winner of the one of the world's most prestigious piano competitions. The jury of the 18th Frederic Chopin international piano competition named him the winner yesterday. The announcement came just hours after Liu played as the last entrant among 12 finalists, performing Chopin's Concerto in E minor Opus 11 with the orchestra at the packed National Philharmonic in Warsaw. His performance was met with huge applause. He gets the 40,000-euro ($57,000 Cdn) first prize, and the recognition that often launches pianists' world careers. "Being able to play Chopin in Warsaw is one of the best things you can imagine, of course, so I'm truly honoured for this award, of course, and for this jury's trust and for all the warmth I have received in recent days," Liu said. Watch Liu perform and read more about his win here. | | | OPINION | Our superficial view of diversity will only lead to
cultural assimilation | | | Pseudo-diversity separates minorities from their real identity, leaving only visual differences, writes Narjis Karani. Read her column here. | | | | |  | A humanitarian catastrophe looms over Afghanistan | It's been nearly two months since U.S. forces pulled out of Afghanistan, marking the end of a two-decades long war. The Taliban is once again in control. Now, much of the international aid that once flowed into the country has been suspended, and Afghanistan is facing a humanitarian crisis.
CBC's Susan Ormiston just returned from Afghanistan, where she reported from Kandahar and Kabul. Today, she speaks with guest host Elamin Abdelmahmoud about what she learned on the ground.
Listen to today's episode | | | Today in history: October 21 | | | 1833: Alfred Nobel, the Swedish chemist, inventor of dynamite and founder of the Nobel Peace Prize, is born. He bequeathed a fund for annual awards for achievement in science and literature and for the promotion of international peace.
1879: Inventor Thomas Edison tests the first practical electric light bulb.
2003: Conservatives led by Danny Williams sweep to power in a provincial election, ending 15 years of Liberal rule in Newfoundland and Labrador.
2004: The Royal Canadian Mint and the Royal Canadian Legion unveil the world's first coloured circulation coin, a quarter with a red poppy embedded in the centre of a maple leaf. | | | (With files from CBC News, The Canadian Press, The Associated Press and Reuters) | | | | |  | CBC NEWS APP | The most convenient way to get your news
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