The IRG

Hill Times September 23, 2020 The OPP is arresting journalists, and Throne-Speech writers need to understand why. Journalists in Canada sometimes get flamed on social media, perhaps receive some anger in their pursuit of truth, but there is a tacit understanding that it’s part of the job. In India, Hungary, and Russia, journalists have been […]

Hill Times September 7, 2020 What about a new political structure to bring about change—the Indigenous Party? The federal Māori Party in New Zealand started in 2004 on the spectrum close to the Greens, plus Indigenous rights. It hit a recent peak of influence in 2011-2015 when it partnered with the National Party (centre-right) to

Hill Times, August 24, 2020 COVID-19 has shone a spotlight on the cracks in Canada’s social nets, and the fact that they don’t serve Canadians with equity. We now have opportunity to review the structures and policies of Canada and fix some things that aren’t working in the ways we expected. Rip the box open,

Hill Times August 10, 2020 In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released the 94 Calls to Action, a roadmap for Canada to find closure on the era of Indian residential schools and to ensure we don’t repeat history. What has changed since 2015 to ensure we don’t repeat history? Dr. Eva Jewell and Ian

Hill Times July 27, 2020 It’s been five years into reconciliation and there’s been a lot of talk and not enough action. It’s time to start naming performative action as the barrier to real change. Performative action is doing just enough to avoid recrimination but not enough to affect real change. For example, the federal

Hill Times July 13, 2020 It’s been 49 days since George Floyd died. It has been forty-nine days of international rally and protest, demands for change, system outrage at demands for change, and general confusion. On that day a Black Canadian was also assaulted by police in Laval. It’s been 49 exhausting days for many

Hill Times June 29, 2020 Racism is harmful. Racism simply says there is no room for those who look different. Anti-racism is a commitment to the value of equity and human rights. One must value the human rights of others, including others who are different, to be inclusive. One must uphold the principle of equity

Hill Times June 15, 2020 In the second quarter of 2020, racism and police brutality was brought to the forefront of the world’s consciousness. Black Americans, Native Americans, and allies closed down American cities as a measure of the stark and desperate urgency to change whole systems. Racism and police brutality have no place in

Hill Times June 1, 2020 The Canadian Forces Health Services Group has stepped into the gap in long-term care homes in Ontario and Quebec, and voiced alarm at the state of care for seniors. Thankfully the professionalism and caring of this core group will have a huge impact for seniors trying to live in long-term

Hill Times May 18, 2020 One really couldn’t say I’m a raging feminist, but I am Tlingit. In my culture women lead. That’s the way it has always been. Women are essential in leadership as good decisions can’t be made without women. The reverse is also true in a fully functioning society, good decisions can’t