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Alberta sovereignty bill close to finish line as government invokes debate time limit


EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s sovereignty bill galloped toward the finish line Wednesday, with the government using debate time limits to rebut what it called Opposition delay tactics. DENY DEMOCRATIC DEBATE AND SHOVE THE BILL THROUGH

Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley said the government was on pace to pass the bill Wednesday night or in the early hours Thursday, saying Smith’s United Conservatives are desperate to take the controversial bill out of the spotlight.

“I suspect we’ll see them jam it through today in order to try to change the channel from the growing chorus of critiques from investors, legal scholars, business owners, regular Albertans, treaty chiefs, you name it,” Notley told reporters.

“The concerns are growing, and they want to run away from what was supposed to be the premier’s flagship bill.”

The bill was introduced just over a week ago by Smith as the centrepiece legislation of her government to resist what it calls federal intrusion in areas of provincial authority under the Constitution.

By the weekend, the premier was promising changes to counter widespread criticism that the bill would grant her cabinet ongoing emergency-type powers to rewrite laws outside the legislative process to fix whatever it deemed to be federal harm, or even potential federal harm.

Smith has said the powers weren’t supposed to be in the bill, but has not explained how they came to be included.

On Tuesday night, the legislature began debating an amendment brought forward by the UCP caucus to reverse those powers and narrow the definition of federal harm.

UCP backbencher Mark Smith introduced the amendment. He said it was needed to make it clear that the legislature is still in charge of law-making.

“The goal was — or at least it should have been — for all elected members to consider how to make a bill better,” he said.

“Tonight, I’ve placed an amendment before this house, which I believe will clarify this bill and the intent of this bill.”

He introduced the amendment after members of the house passed a motion by government house leader Joseph Schow to limit further debate on second reading of the bill.

Schow also signalled he will bring forward motions to limit debate if necessary at the amendments stage and at third reading, which is the final stage to pass a bill.

Such measures are allowed to balance debate with keeping the business of the house moving.

Schow said there had been nine hours of debate on the bill at second reading and that the NDP had said it had no interest in contributing to the bill and has called for it to be scrapped altogether.

“There has been plenty of time for members to speak,” Schow told the house Tuesday night.

“It’s time the government did what it has promised Albertans it would do this fall and get things done with Bill 1.”

Legal scholars say the bill remains legally questionable given it says the legislature, not the courts, get to decide what is and is not constitutional.

There are also worries about the legal uncertainty that could result if cabinet uses its powers under the bill to direct municipalities, health regions, schools and city police forces to resist implementing federal laws.

Some business groups, including the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, have warned that such uncertainty is bad for business.

Earlier Wednesday, former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge joined Notley at a news conference to say the bill sends a message of legal confusion and uncertainty that won’t entice potential investors.

“We should not shoot ourselves in the foot by creating an impression that investors cannot rely on the rules, on the laws and on the processes that we have in place in Canada,” Dodge said.

Earlier Wednesday in Ottawa, First Nations chiefs from Alberta and Saskatchewan called for both provinces to scrap their respective provincial rights bills, calling them inherently undemocratic, unconstitutional and an infringement on Indigenous rights.

Treaty 6 Chief Tony Alexis of Alberta’s Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation said there has been no consultation or dialogue with First Nations around the Alberta bill and it could set a harmful precedent.

Rick Wilson, Alberta’s Indigenous relations minister, said the bill specifies that treaty rights are respected but he has heard the leaders’ concerns and will work to address them.

Wilson, speaking to reporters, said the title of the bill itself — the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act — is problematic.

“I’ve been on the phone, of course, with First Nations leaders across the province and a lot of the concerns are around just calling it the sovereignty act, like, what does that mean?” said Wilson.

“In fairness, there’s not a lot of clarification around what that means. Should we have done more consultation? Absolutely.”

— With files from Kelly Geraldine Malone in Saskatoon

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2022.

Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press

Alberta Council of Women's Shelters study outlines staffing crisis, turning away clients

Story by Anna Junker • TODAY

Shelters had to turn away more than 11,000 women and seniors due to capacity issues during a 12-month period, new data from an organization of domestic violence shelters shows


Jan Reimer, Executive Director of the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters, speaks as the Alberta chapter of IODE Canada announces their $100,000 fundraising goal for the in support of Alberta children traumatized by domestic violence at WINGS of Providence in Edmonton, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020.© Provided by Edmonton Journal

A new report released Wednesday by the Alberta Council of Women Shelters (ACWS) examines the state of shelters between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022.

According to the report, 11,546 requests for admission were by women and seniors who had to be turned away due to shelters being at physical capacity, along with 6,241 children who would have accompanied them had there been space.

Another 7,570 requests by women and seniors were turned away for other reasons, along with 3,336 children who would have accompanied a parent into a shelter. An individual is turned away when shelter staff are either unable to accommodate due to capacity, not enough staff or the shelter does not have the resources to meet the complexity of needs.

According to the report, stagnant wages, funding, and frozen salaries are contributing to a staffing crisis and high turnover rates. Pressures due to inflation and a decline in donations have also made shelter budgets tighter.

“Shelters need appropriate funding in order to be able to recruit and retain qualified staff — this is essential to their ability to meet the needs of the people who need help,” the report states.

Overall, during the 12-month period, shelters received 65,390 calls seeking support. Of those, 25,530 were calls to request admission yet only 16.6 per cent of those people gained entry.

There were 7,620 people sheltered — 4,182 women and 3,373 children, 48 men, and 17 who indicated another gender. Of those admitted, 6,989 were at emergency shelters.

In Edmonton, 30.7 per cent of emergency shelter clients stayed up to one week in a shelter, while 34.8 per cent stayed between one and three weeks, and 34.6 per cent stayed more than three weeks.

The report states the length of time a client stays is impacted by a variety of factors, including the affordability of local housing markets and the availability of community supports. It found a significant number of survivors require longer stays in shelters to support their safety and well-being.

Slightly more than 26 per cent of clients stayed at second-stage shelters, also known as transitional housing, for up to three months, while 21.2 per cent stayed between three and six months, 44.7 per cent stayed between six months and one year, and 7.9 per cent stayed for more than a year.

Seventy-two per cent of survivors who completed danger assessments in emergency shelters were at severe or extreme risk of being killed by a partner or ex-partner, for those staying in second-stage shelters, that figure rises to 85 per cent.

Wednesday's letters: UCP gov't ignoring sick kids crisis

Story by Edmonton Journal •

Children receiving palliative, respite and end-of-life care are being discharged from the Rotary Flames House in Calgary and staff are being redeployed to Alberta Children’s Hospital, amid a surge in respiratory illness.


A family heads into the emergency department at the Alberta Children's Hospital on Monday, November 28, 2022.© Provided by Edmonton Journal

During question period on Monday, only one set of questions regarding this crisis was asked to Premier Smith. In her response, she stated “we’re seeing a crisis that’s taking place across the province and across the country.” But, she and her government couldn’t offer any solutions on how to address this crisis. All she offered was that she would have something soon to say regarding the shortage of children’s medications. That’s a supply-chain issue across Canada and the United States for over a month.

When real issues like stopping respite care for children arise, all we have from this government is the sound of crickets. It’s almost like if they don’t acknowledge the issue; they think it will just disappear. Albertans deserve better from their government.

Stephanie Shostak, Edmonton

Related video: Children's hospitals in Alberta are under intense pressure as they deal with an influx of sick kids (cbc.ca)
Duration 1:17
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Sovereignty Act a power grab

I am a strong believer in Alberta’s right to be a driver of change in Canada. We have enormous resources, people and spirit. What I don’t believe is that the government under Bill 1 can attempt to gain powers to self govern. This is ludicrous. The province is attempting to gain powers in the midst of COVID and the ideal of free choice by, ironically, legislating their ability to control and focus their powers. They ought to be ashamed.

The proper answer is to allow free speech, self-organization and debate. Legislating power to your own viewpoint is a very dangerous and slippery slope that I hope most Albertans stand up against.

Mark Poesch, Edmonton

Leadership rivals flip-flop on Bill 1

It’s no surprise that the UCP leadership hopefuls who were bashing Danielle Smith’s proposed sovereignty act are now towing the UCP party line. The excuses for the 360-degree shift in attitude that they gave to the media was actually quite laughable. They must think that Albertans are really gullible.

Now that the sovereignty act is making its way through the legislature, it doesn’t take a political genius to figure out that any fierce opposition to the act from within the UCP ranks could cause the UCP to be ripped to shreds.

Dennis Wanechko, Leduc


Sovereignty distracts from real issues

Does it really matter whether or not this theatre is constitutional or not? The whole point of it is to shock people and lay a trap for the federal government and its supporters. Then, it is hoped, the people of Alberta will rally round the UCP to defend the province from the enemy, the Government of Canada.

If you have no case, create an enemy. This is a well-worn tactic used by those who want a fight to divert everyone from real issues: economy, climate change, post-industrialization, health care, education, immigration, et cetera. Maybe it will work. We’ll just have to trust the people of Alberta to decide what is in their best interests. A warning to the federal Conservatives: Be careful what you wish for. You might get it.

Louise Davis, Sherwood Park


OK to be bribed with our own money

Why the big deal about Danielle Smith’s giveaway? I was under the impression that royalties belonged to all Albertans. We are being bribed with our own heritage money. The sum of $600 over a six-month period, according to Smith, should be graciously accepted. What would be graciously accepted by the majority of Albertans would be her resignation as premier asap.

Barton Whyte, Sherwood Park

Bill 1 mistake shouldn’t have been made

Given all the rhetoric expressed prior to being elected, I am dumbfounded that Premier Smith is now begging forgiveness about the overreach of the Alberta Sovereignty Within A United Canada Bill. Stupid comes to mind. Premier Smith does not deserve to be forgotten so much as dumped for permitting such a piece of legislation to have even left the drawing room.

Like so many things we have seen in the past, this is a leader who acts compulsively and then begs forgiveness. Alberta needs a leader who thinks before they speak. I am left to wonder if Premier Smith will pursue a leadership style that suggests she will continue to open her mouth only to change feet when she renders new opinions or direction.

Ken Crutchfield, St. Albert

Former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge warns of economic damage from Alberta sovereignty act

Story by Lisa Johnson • 

Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley (left) met virtually with economist David Dodge, former Governor of the Bank of Canada, on Wednesday December 7, 2022 to warn about the ongoing damage to the Alberta economy from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's Sovereignty Act.© Provided by Edmonton Journal

Former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge is making a last-ditch attempt to convince Premier Danielle Smith her flagship bill will chase away investment.

Bill 1, the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act, aims to give the province the power to direct provincial agencies to act against federal laws it considers unconstitutional or harmful and is expected to pass debate in the legislature Wednesday evening.

At an Alberta NDP news conference Wednesday morning, Dodge said he’s concerned the act will undermine confidence in the rule of law in the province, which is essential to attracting investment, and called on the government to reconsider it.

“Whatever precise form that legislation eventually takes, the tabling itself creates a strong impression that investors will not be able to rely on due process in the application of federal and provincial law in the future, and lacking confidence in the future application of law in Alberta, investors then would look elsewhere,” said Dodge.

Dodge was the governor of the Bank of Canada from 2001 to 2008, and was appointed to Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach’s Council for Economic Strategy in Alberta in 2009. He was also tapped by Rachel Notley’s government in 2015 to advise it on its infrastructure priorities.

Amendments introduced late Tuesday night in the legislature would reverse some of what was heavily criticized in Smith’s sovereignty act, clarifying that cabinet can’t make changes unilaterally behind closed doors, and more narrowly defining what specific harms can be addressed under the act.

While Dodge said he had not read the text of the bill’s amendments and so declined to comment on them, the mere proposal of the act creates a perception of uncertainty.

“The act is a signal to the world that we don’t quite know what we’re doing and that we can’t quite get the fundamental stuff right,” he said.

Dodge echoes a number of business advocacy groups , First Nation chiefs , and legal scholars who have expressed concern about the bill since its introduction last Tuesday.

Dodge said the bill purports to replace the courts as constitutional arbiter, thus undermining the rule of law.

Notley said Wednesday that the UCP is underestimating the legal, regulatory, and reputational risk the bill is already having on the investment community.

“There are, without question, genuine issues that need attention between our province and the federal government to ensure that Alberta is treated fairly. Unfortunately, for the past three and a half years we’ve got a UCP government that’s been shaking its fist at clouds and not engaging in genuine efforts to bring about improvements,” said Notley.

When asked about Dodge’s comments in question period Wednesday in the legislature, Smith pointed to Postmedia coverage noting oilsands producers are directing “more capital toward their growth plans in 2023 after several years of relative frugality.”

“That does not sound like chasing business (away),” said Smith.

Under the first draft of Bill 1, if a non-binding resolution was passed by MLAs, it would have given cabinet the power to change provincial laws without going back to the legislature.

The so-called Henry VIII clause was panned as undemocratic by critics, including constitutional experts, who said it would give the premier and her ministers sweeping power without proper legislature oversight.

The legislature is expected to debate changes to the bill reversing that and pass through all stages of debate by the end of the night Wednesday.

More to come…

lijohnson@postmedia.com

First Nations demand proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act, Saskatchewan First Act be withdrawn

Story by Yasmine Ghania • 

Standing at a podium in Ottawa with several treaty chiefs behind her, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) called for the proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act and the Saskatchewan First Act to be withdrawn.


Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald says she supports treaty chiefs who are opposing the proposed Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act and the Saskatchewan First Act.© Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

Chiefs connected to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), Treaty 6 and Treaty 7 say the acts infringe on treaty rights and that making amendments to them wouldn't be enough.

"We will not stand idly by. We will not allow it to happen," Chief RoseAnne Archibald said Wednesday.

The Saskatchewan First Act, which recently passed its second reading at the legislature, aims to confirm the province's autonomy and jurisdiction over its natural resources and ward off federal policies such as climate change rules.

Meanwhile, Premier Danielle Smith's proposed Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act has faced widespread condemnation for language that would grant her and her cabinet sweeping authority to redress any federal policy, law or program it deems harmful to Alberta.

The Alberta government recently said it's amending its act to take away cabinet's unilateral powers to change legislation, as proposed in the original version of the bill.

"My caucus identified some issues that they wanted to address," Smith told the legislature earlier this week. "They wanted to seek some clarity, and that's the kind of leader I am. I want to make sure that we get this bill right, and I'm grateful that my caucus is going to propose amendments to do that."

Chief Tony Alexis of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, northwest of Edmonton, said that after speaking with lawyers and policy experts, he has many concerns about Alberta's proposed legislation, including the province trying to extend its jurisdiction

"The Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act is harmful to Albertans, Canadians and treaty people," he said.

Alexis said an emergency resolution was put forward at the Assembly of First Nations to garner support from chiefs across the country.

Lack of consultation

Chiefs have said that the Saskatchewan and Alberta governments didn't consult with First Nations.

"There's all this talk about reconciliation, but there's no real implementation of that," said Vice-Chief Aly Bear of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), which represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan.

"We're asking the government to actually sit down with us [and] have conversations. Let's talk about moving forward together."

There is a concern that Alberta and Saskatchewan's proposed pieces of legislation could have a domino effect across Canada, chiefs say.

"What would keep other provinces from following suit? And ultimately, what will that mean for treaty rights across Canada?" Alexis said.

Last week, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe insisted his government's act is inclusive.

"It doesn't change the intentions the government has to include all Saskatchewan people, Indigenous or otherwise, in the economy. What the act is focused on is to make sure we have the focus on Saskatchewan so we can collectively benefit," Moe said.

A statement from Premier Smith's office said "it's clear in the Sovereignty Act that we will respect Indigenous rights and respect treaty rights."

The government has reached out to arrange meetings with treaty chiefs since they expressed concerns, according to the statement.

"The approach this government is taking is to ensure we have strong and meaningful reconciliation with our First Nations partners," the statement said.

SMITH PURGE FOR PRIVATIZATION 

Alberta's deputy chief medical officers of health have resigned
Story by Madeline Smith • 
The province’s two deputy chief medical officers of health have submitted their resignations.


Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping.© Provided by Edmonton Journal

Dr. Rosana Salvaterra and Dr. Jing Hu have both given notice, an Alberta Health spokesperson confirmed Wednesday. For now, chief medical officer of health Dr. Mark Joffe will take on full-time duties.

“Dr. Joffe will be supported by medical officers of health within AHS, by other staff in the office of the chief medical officer of health, and by the public health division,” Charity Wallace said in a statement.

“We expect these changes to have no impact on the department’s and Dr. Joffe’s ability to meet the requirements of the Public Health Act.”

Salvaterra was formerly the medical officer of health for Peterborough, Ont., and she’s worked in Alberta’s office of the chief medical officer of health since October 2021. Hu has been in the deputy role since January 2020 — shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Health Minister Jason Copping first revealed during Wednesday’s question period at the legislature that the two deputies would be leaving, but continue to serve in their jobs for now.

“We are in the process of looking to fill those roles,” Copping said, noting that the ministry continues to support Joffe in his work.


NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley initally asked Tuesday in the legislature whether the deputies had resigned “under (the premier’s) leadership,” and when NDP health critic David Shepherd repeated the question Wednesday, Copping confirmed their departure.

Shepherd added in a statement that he fears the exits “will lead to further chaos” in the health system.

It’s unclear for now when the two deputies will officially leave and who will replace them.

It’s the latest news of turnover in Alberta’s health system, coming less than a month after former chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw was ousted from her job and replaced by Joffe, a longtime Alberta Health Services (AHS) executive. Hinshaw’s contract wasn’t set to expire until 2024.

Premier Danielle Smith said she would be replacing Hinshaw to seek “new advice on public health” shortly after she was sworn in.

Since then, she has also fulfilled a promise to move quickly on changes to the management of Alberta’s health system.

Last month, Smith replaced the 11-member Alberta Health Services board with a sole official administrator , Dr. John Cowell. He’s been given a broad mandate to decrease wait times in emergency rooms and for surgeries, improve EMS response times and consult with front-line workers to develop long-term reforms.

— With files from Lisa Johnson

masmith@postmedia.com

@meksmith

1st shelter for Muslim women opens in Hamilton
Story by Aura Carreño Rosas • Yesterday 

For the first time in the Hamilton area, Muslim women in need of shelter services now have an option specifically for them.

Nisa Homes, an organization with nine other shelters across Canada, has opened its tenth shelter in the city. An official launch takes place Tuesday afternoon at City Hall, on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Yasmine Youssef, program director at Nisa Homes, told CBC Hamilton that shelters like this are needed because of a demand for beds and for spaces for marginalized people to feel safe.

"There's a lot of fear and stigma, because of racism, because of Islamophobia, because of anti-Asian hate. You're seeing a lot of people afraid to reach out because they don't know how they're going to be received," she said.

The shelter, which has already begun to take in families, caters to Muslim women but is open to all women. However, its capacity is limited to 16 people.



The shelter has specific items for Muslim women to partake in their religious practices, such as prayer rugs and copies of the Qur'an.© Aura Carreño Rosas/CBC

Nisa Homes says 63 of every 100 women that come to the organization's shelters face domestic violence. Youssef said many are also women of colour who may not speak English and don't have immigration status.

"There's so many barriers immigrants specifically face that need to be addressed... But there's nothing that supports women that are immigrants who are also fleeing domestic violence," she said.



The shelter also has many shared spaces, including a children's area, living room, kitchen and dining room.© Aura Carreño Rosas/CBC

She said clients tell her that culturally appropriate support can be hard to access.

"They tell us, 'yeah, I did try to reach out for help, and when I when I was speaking to [other service providers], they told me the problem is that [I'm] Muslim, [I] have to leave Islam, and then everything will be okay.'"

Youssef has been with Nisa Homes since their launch in 2015, when there was only one shelter was set up in Mississauga.

The organization now has shelters across the country, including in Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal

Culturally specific services

School board trustee Sabreina Dahab said she was "really, really excited" and emotional about the opening of this shelter.

Dahab said in recent years, she has worked with and supported Muslim women by connecting them with resources and translation services.

"It felt really lonely and isolating to be doing this without an agency to support or without like a network. [Now] I can respond to this more systemically [instead of] one person in the community who is trying to do this by themselves," she said.



Ward 2 trustee Sabreina Dahab said she's glad to have an organization working to support Muslim women in Hamilton.© Bobby Hristova/CBC

She added that spaces like this are vital for providing culturally specific services for Muslim women, saying she's heard of women who are not "even given access to halal meat" at other shelters.

"All of these things are essential for not only escaping and leaving the necessity of violence situations, but to be able to be well supported in this city."

Lack of data

Youssef said although she knows from experience that there is a need for culturally specific shelters, the demographics are under-researched.

"At the moment, shelters and transitional homes don't track anything outside of whether you speak French or English. And whether you're Indigenous or not. They don't track racial data. They don't track religious data, none of that stuff is required," said Youssef.



Accommodations at the shelter include various rooms with three beds for women coming in with children, and one room to accommodate four single women.© Aura Carreño Rosas/CBC

She said some reasons might be the strain shelters already have to function and systemic racism.

"Our shelter system is the same as it was what in the 60s and 70s … But our population, our community, our society looks so different now than it did in the 60s and 70s."

"It [would be] easier to advocate for something and to get changes passed when you have numbers to back up what you're saying," she added.

'They're not alone'

According to Youssef, the ultimate goal is to help these women heal.

"We make sure we use [our services] to make them feel more comfortable … to make them feel like this can actually work and they can get back on their feet. They're not alone... They can survive on their own without their abuser," she said.


Although many corners of the shelter are still a work in progress, some people are already living there, and staff say they expect the home to fill up in no time.© Aura Carreño Rosas/CBC

"We get so many clients — more often than not — telling us 'the only reason I decided to reach out to you was because I knew you understood where I'm coming from, you look like me, you speak like me,'" she added.

Kamloops, B.C., company slays industry giants to win acoustic guitar of the year

Yesterday 

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A small guitar company from Kamloops, B.C., has triumphed over industry giants to have one of its models named acoustic guitar of the year.



Riversong Guitars and its River Pacific design beat out Taylor, Yamaha and Martin guitars to walk away with the prestigious Musical Merchandise Review Dealers' Choice Award.

Each year, the magazine surveys instrument retailers across North America asking them to vote for their favourite product.

Riversong founder Mike Miltimore says it's the first time a Canadian company has won in the category.

He credits the win to his small company's heart, and the innovation of the guitar's adjustable neck that runs through the body, allowing it to better resonate.

Miltimore says that since the winners were announced, his company has been flooded with orders and messages of support from Canadians.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2022.

The Canadian Press

Democrats ditch Manchin’s ‘dirty deal’ after opposition from climate activists

Story by Nina Lakhani in New York • The Guardian

A last-ditch effort to force through legislation that would weaken environmental protections and fast-track energy projects has failed.


Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images© Provided by The Guardian

Joe Manchin, the fossil-fuel-friendly senator from West Virginia, had attempted to latch the controversial deregulation and permitting reforms to a must-pass defense bill – after failing to get his so-called “dirty deal” passed earlier this year.

The proposal to attach his bill to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an annual appropriations bill that will be voted on later this week, was reportedly supported by Joe Biden and House leader Nancy Pelosi.

But progressive lawmakers and hundreds of climate, public health and youth groups opposed the move to pass such consequential reforms without proper scrutiny. Manchin’s legislation would weaken environmental safeguards and expedite permits to construct pipelines and other fossil fuel infrastructure while restricting public input and legal challenges.

On Tuesday, more than 750 organizations sent a letter to the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and congressional leadership opposing what they call a “cruel and direct attack on environmental justice communities”. Attaching the “dirty deal” to the NDAA, which would have been one of Pelosi’s final acts as speaker, threatened her legacy and the party’s climate credibility, the groups said.

The deal was ditched – for now at least – amid mounting criticism aimed at the Democratic leadership.

Related: How fossil fuel firms use Black leaders to ‘deceive’ their communities

Environmental groups welcomed the news, but warned the fossil fuel industry would not give up.

Ariel Moger, government and political affairs director at Friends of the Earth, said: “Manchin’s efforts to tie his dirty deal to any must-pass legislation he can get his hands on are undemocratic and potentially devastating for the planet. With momentum on the side of frontline communities, the fight will continue until the bill dies at the end of this Congress.”

Jeff Ordower, 350.org’s North America director, said: “Senator Manchin cannot get away with last-ditch efforts to push forward his fossil fuel fast tracking bill. The industry will keep trying these secretive, last minute efforts to push forward dirty deals, so we will continue to be alert and we won’t let up the fight.”

Manchin, who receives more campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry than any other lawmaker, warned of dire consequences for America’s energy security. He said: “The American people will pay the steepest price for Washington once again failing to put common sense policy ahead of toxic tribal politics. This is why the American people hate politics in Washington.”

Manchin’s bill, described by environmentalists as a “fossil fuel wishlist”, was first attached as a side deal to Biden’s historic climate bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, but was eventually thwarted after widespread opposition from progressive Democrats and civil society groups. It included limits on legal challenges to new energy projects including the 303-mile Mountain Valley gas pipeline across the Appalachian mountains that has been stalled by concerned communities and environmental groups in West Virginia and Virginia.

He and other proponents have said that fast-track permitting is needed for a rapid transition to renewables and in order to modernize the country’s outdated power transmission systems.

But Jeff Merkley, the Democratic senator representing Oregon, said Manchin’s deal was a dirty one, and had nothing to do with renewables. “This [bill] will give a whole lot more impetus to fossil fuels and run over the top of ordinary people raising concerns, that’s why it’s a dirty deal. This is a real travesty in terms of legislative deliberation, and in terms of environmental justice.”

On Tuesday, Rashida Tlaib, the Democratic congresswoman from Michigan, had called on her colleagues to stand up against the fossil fuel industry and the undemocratic manner in which leadership was trying to push through the bill without scrutiny. She said: “It’s outrageous enough that Congress wants to spend another $847bn on our military-industrial complex, the largest annual military budget in history; we cannot allow them to then ram through Manchin’s dirty deal in the process.”

The NDAA is considered a must-pass bill because it authorizes pay increases and compensation for harmed troops, as well as establishing the following year’s personnel, arms purchasing and geopolitical policies.

Environmental and climate justice groups warned Democrats that frontline communities would not forget, and would hold them accountable in 2024 if the deregulation bill was pushed through.

“To think that this is happening at the hands of Democrats, and their very last action of power is going to be to hurt our communities and strip our voice is really hurtful. I feel betrayed,” said Maria Lopez Nunez, deputy director of the New Jersey-based Ironbound Community Corporation and member of the White House environmental justice advisory council.

“For any Democrat that’s listening, if you’re playing along to this charade, our community will call you out and we will hold you accountable.”

Activists take Qatar workers protest to FIFA boss's home town

Story by By Arnd Wiegmann • 

Protest against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Brig© Thomson Reuters

BRIG, Switzerland (Reuters) -An activist group erected protest billboards in FIFA boss Gianni Infantino's Swiss home town of Brig on Wednesday to demand the world soccer body compensate migrant workers for alleged human rights abuses in Qatar, host of the football World Cup.


Protest against FIFA President Infantino's hometown Brig© Thomson Reuters

The mobile billboards carried the messages "Infantino: your family were migrants", "Thousands like them were victims of this World Cup", and "Compensate them now".


Protest against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Brig© Thomson Reuters

The protest by the Avaaz campaign group included an Infantino impersonator holding a World Cup trophy.

Qatar, where foreigners make up most of the 2.9 million population, has faced intense criticism from human rights groups over its treatment of migrant workers.

FIFA had no direct comment on the protest but pointed to comments by Infantino last month hailing a fund that Qatar set up in 2018 that has paid out $350 million to workers in cases mainly linked to late or non-payment of wages.

Britain's Guardian newspaper reported last year that at least 6,500 migrant workers -- many of them working on World Cup projects -- had died in Qatar since it won the right in 2010 to stage the World Cup.

The International Labour Organization has questioned that number, which it said included all deaths in the migrant population. Qatari World Cup organisers have said that there have been three work-related fatalities and 34 non-work-related deaths among workers at World Cup 2022 sites.

Amnesty and other rights groups have led calls for FIFA to compensate migrant workers in Qatar for human rights abuses by setting aside $440 million, matching the World Cup prize money.

FIFA has said it was assessing Amnesty's proposal and implementing an "unprecedented due diligence process in relation to the protection of workers involved".

The EU parliament last month approved a resolution that calls on FIFA to help compensate the families of migrant workers who died, as well as workers who suffered rights abuses, during preparations for the World Cup.

(Reporting by Arnd Wiegmann, writing by Michael Shields, Editing by William Maclean)