Poor management, new buildings led to Laurentian University insolvency, Ontario AG's preliminary report says

© Jonathan Migneault/CBC

Sudbury's Laurentian University announced it was insolvent in February 2021. In April that year, it cut 69 programs and fired more than 100 staff and faculty members.

Jonathan Migneault - cbc.ca

Yesterday 

Laurentian University's capital expansions from 2010 to 2020, along with "poor management of its financial affairs," were big factors in the Sudbury school's insolvency last year, according to a preliminary report by Ontario's auditor general.

In her "Preliminary Perspective on Laurentian University," which was submitted to the Legislature on Wednesday, Bonnie Lysyk says Laurentian refused to seek financial assistance from the province and made a mistake when it opted to go through the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) for restructuring.

"As of March 3, 2022, the university had incurred legal and other financial consultant fees associated with its insolvency of more than $24 million," the auditor general said in the document.

The Sudbury university announced it was insolvent in February 2021. On April 12 that year, it cut 69 programs, which affected an estimated 932 students. Laurentian also fired 195 staff and faculty members with little notice and severance.

Like all universities, Lysyk said, the COVID-19 pandemic affected Laurentian's finances, but its problems started long before, in 2010, when it went on a building spree to expand its Sudbury campus.

"There wasn't the revenue coming in to support the payment down of the principal and interest from those investments," Lysyk told CBC News.

She said there doesn't seem to be any intentional wrongdoing by Laurentian, and added its capital expansion plans were well meant. But she said the university's board of governors failed to provide proper oversight, and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities did not intervene in time when it was clear Laurentian was in financial straits.

From 2010 to 2020, Lysyk also found, Laurentian senior administration costs grew by 75 per cent, and in 2018 they peaked at more than $4 million annually.

Laurentian's CCAA move a mistake: AG

In her preliminary perspective, she said the size of Laurentian's senior administration had been consistently larger than at other Ontario universities around the same size. As well, some senior administrators' salaries exceeded limits set by legislation meant to put a ceiling on public-sector pay.

Lysyk said Laurentian's solution to its financial problems, restructuring under the CCAA, was a mistake.

The CCAA was created as a tool for insolvent private companies to restructure, but it had never been applied to a public university like Laurentian.

"In this particular case, we do believe that Laurentian needed to pull together a stronger ask of the ministry and work with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to pull together a plan, even a year ahead of time, to support them in their endeavours going forward," Lysyk said.

She noted that nearby Nipissing University, which is in North Bay, ran into financial difficulties in 2014. But Nipissing worked with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities early on to seek funding and improve its position.

Influence from outside parties

In her preliminary perspective, Lysyk said she believes Laurentian was influenced by external parties to use the CCAA, up to a year before it announced it was insolvent.

"In August 2020, Laurentian raised the potential of CCAA to the Minister of Colleges and Universities but did not clearly define how much financial assistance was required from the province to avoid a CCAA filing," the document said.

"An explicit request for funding to the Ministry was not made until December 2020, at which point the ask was significant and the timeline for intervention was short."

Katlyn Kotila, a Laurentian political science student, said the preliminary report was not surprising to her, and has echoed concerns students, staff and faculty have had since the university announced it was insolvent.

"I love the community that Laurentian has provided me with," Kotila said.

"But I'm also so angry. And this process has made me incredibly angry because I'm watching as a university I love and a community that I love has basically been burnt to flames."

Kotila said it was telling that Nipissing University was able to climb out of a bad financial situation by working closely with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

"It's really sad to see that Laurentian had that opportunity to do so and they chose not to."

Professors react

Albrecht Schulte-Hostedde, a professor at Laurentian's School of Natural Sciences, said the auditor general's preliminary findings showed consultants influenced the university's leaders to file for insolvency and go through the CCAA process.

"It wasn't lost on me that yesterday [Tuesday] we celebrated, in a way, the one-year anniversary of the terminations of over 100 faculty," Schulte-Hostedde said.

"And today we learned in this report that it was all unnecessary, that the university's administration had made a conscious choice to go down this route."

Schulte-Hostedde said the university is now "a shadow of what it once was," but added he is optimistic now that many of the university's former board members have resigned.

He said Jeff Bangs, Laurentian's interim board chair, has "said all the right things" so far.

Fabrice Colin, president of the Laurentian University Faculty Association, said the preliminary report validated things his association has argued for 14 months.

The key point, he said, was the CCAA process was not the appropriate cure for Laurentian's financial problems — something the faculty association said all along.

Colin said Laurentian's leadership will need to be more transparent with faculty members to move forward and rebuild.

"We definitely saw a change in the tone and approach since the arrival of the new board members and the new president of the board," he said.

"It seems now there is a commitment towards more transparency and toward more collaborations, so it's encouraging."

Laurentian responds to AG findings

In a written statement, Laurentian said it would carefully examine the auditor general's findings.

The university said it has implemented a number of reforms and initiatives in recent months to ensure its financial sustainability.

It noted the province provided recent financial support when it refinanced a $35 million debtor-in-possession loan.

The statement said it is renewing its board of governors, and has completed a review of its operations and governance.

"We know that our successful recovery will come from essential changes within the institution," the emailed statement said.

"Laurentian is absolutely committed to seeing this transformation to completion — and will do what is necessary to acquire the skills, operational efficiencies, transparency and accountability that is required and expected from Laurentian."

Call for resignations

In a written statement, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) called for Laurentian president Robert Haché and all senior administrators to resign, following the auditor general's preliminary report.

"It is absolutely scandalous that the university leadership used money intended for employee health benefits and academic research for its capital projects and other purposes," CAUT executive director David Robinson said in the statement.

"It then diverted more than $24 million to high-priced consultants and lawyers handling the unnecessary insolvency proceedings, while at the same time demanding staff layoffs and program cuts."

Robinson said Haché and other senior leaders need to step down for Laurentian to regain the public's trust.

SASKATCHEWAN
Nippi-Albright bill aims to transform duty to consult for Indigenous communities

Chief Evan Taypotat of Kahkewistahaw First Nation said he’s looking for a hand up and a seat at the table to help his community prosper.

Author of the article: Jeremy Simes
Publishing date: Apr 13, 2022 

Kahkewistahaw First Nation Chief Evan Taypotat speaks at a NDP press conference at the Legislative Building on April 13, 2022 in Regina. 

PHOTO BY TROY FLEECE /Regina Leader-Post
Article content

Near a potash mine in southeast Saskatchewan sit two different communities — Esterhazy and Kahkewistahaw First Nation.

The difference, according to Chief Evan Taypotat, is his community doesn’t have the million dollar homes, nice stores and burgeoning opportunity. This, he says, is a result of industry and governments not willing to sit down at the table.

“Potash companies throw us a trinket and a bead, and all the nice jobs go to the non-Indigenous folks,” he told reporters Wednesday. “When these potash companies come into our territory, we want to sit at the table.”

The idea of meaningful consultation is at the crux of a new private members’ bill presented by NDP MLA Betty Nippi-Albright.

Flanked by a delegation representing six First Nations communities, Nippi-Albright explained Bill 609 aims to bolster the existing duty to consult process.

Opposition critic for First Nations and Métis relations Betty Nippi-Albright says her new bill would prevent decisions from happening without First Nation input.

 PHOTO BY TROY FLEECE /Regina Leader-Post

She said it would ensure that Indigenous communities are meaningful partners when impacted by Crown land sales or other developments. It would allow them to determine the consultation process.

“Industry needs to involve Indigenous people and the government needs to involve Indigenous people,” said Nippi-Albright, the NDP critic for First Nations and Métis relations.

She explained the current process sees the province write a letter and have a “one-off meeting,” with decisions being made prior to consultation.

“The first thing that the government should be doing is contacting the nations and say, ‘Here’s what’s coming down the pipe, we need to talk to you and give you that heads up,’” she said. “You’re at that table when this is happening, not after a decision has been made.”

In B.C., Taypotat said, industry asks First Nations for permission. In Saskatchewan, he said First Nations have to beg.

“That is wrong,” he said. “We have potash companies coming into Saskatchewan, making millions, billions of dollars.”

He said the First Nation foremost wants to protect the environment and the water. Secondly, it wants procurement, which creates management and leadership jobs.

“We don’t want a hand out. We want a hand up,” he said. “We want to work just as hard as the next company; we want to work just as good. We want to produce product.”

After meeting with members of the First Nations, Government Relations Minister Don McMorris told reporters he understands their concerns and is willing to re-look at the duty to consult process.

He said the province will begin engagement this year to hear from First Nations communities about the current system, which hasn’t been updated in 12 years.

“Maybe there has to be some more policy put in place where industry knows what is expected to properly consult. A fax is not consulting,” he said. “It’s a communications piece that isn’t taking place. That’s what we’re hearing.”

While McMorris said the province plans to put forward a new Indigenous Investment Finance Corporation to increase involvement in the economy, he’s open to bridging gaps between First Nations and industries.

“It’s real in their life, obviously, and I can imagine how they are frustrated with that,” he said, though added he has questions about how far government should go to get between private business.

Kahkewistahaw First Nation and Onion Lake Cree Nation have written letters to the province raising concerns about not being consulted about Crown land sales.

Nippi-Albright has called for a pause on sales of such land.

She added that these lands are essential for Indigenous hunters, trappers and traditional land users.

Onion Lake Cree Nation Councillor Hubert Pahtayken.

 PHOTO BY TROY FLEECE /Regina Leader-Post

Onion Lake Cree Nation Coun. Hubert Pahtayken told reporters the province plans to sell Crown land located next to the First Nation. It has been used for hunting and gathering medicines.

“Without consultation to our people, they sell them,” he said. “For whatever reason, the province doesn’t look at our situations.”

When asked if the province would consider pausing Crown land sales, McMorris said the government needs to review how it’s engaging with Indigenous communities.

“I’m not sure if it’s necessarily a freeze, but to look at that process and how do we better communicate with First Nations to see if they’re interested,” he said. “Some of these parcels of land are pretty small … so a freeze would impact all of that. I’m not sure that is useful for all.”

jsimes@postmedia.com

Mandryk: Moe's GHG remark solidifies his view economy is the priority

PREMIER SCHMOE LEADING PRO OIL RALLY


Murray Mandryk - Yesterday 

When it comes to Saskatchewan significantly lowering its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions , it’s more of a matter of what Premier Scott Moe really cares about rather than what he doesn’t care about.

What he cares about is the economic advantage this province might have in marketing our farming and resource extraction industries as among the cleanest on the planet.

That said, for Moe to boldly pronounce “I don’t care” about having Canada’s highest per capita GHG emissions pretty much tells both sides all they need to know.

If Moe was inclined to choose his words more carefully — or, better put, felt obliged to do so — he would have completely avoided a phrase as divisive as “I don’t care.”

That’s what most politicians would have done.

That’s what smart business people would have also done, given a fundamental tenet in selling is presenting your product in the the most positive context while not offending anyone.

But with a massive Saskatchewan Party majority government largely built on opposing anything the federal Liberal government stands for, including Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax, Moe feels no such compulsion.

Instead, he doubled down Monday on his seemingly callous “I don’t care” assessment of Saskatchewan’s nation-leading GHG emissions.

“I’ll stand with the ‘I don’t care’ right now when it comes to the metrics of per-capita emissions,” Moe, a one-time environment minister, told reporters after not addressing his comments in Monday’s question period when raised by the NDP.

“Could have I chosen something a little less controversial? Potentially.”

Potentially? You think?

More likely, a polling-obsessed Sask. Party government saw this as an opportunity to solidify support among those terrified that further environmental restrictions translate into the loss of good-paying Saskatchewan jobs in oil, mining and farming.

“A lot of folks will come to me and say: ‘Hey guys, you have the highest carbon emission per capita,’ ” Moe told reporters Monday, repeating his words to the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce in Prince Albert on Friday. “I said: ‘I don’t care.’

“I went on to say: We have the highest exports per capita in Canada as well. We make the cleanest products and we then send those products to over 150 countries in the world. This province is, most certainly, part of the solution when it comes to a cleaner, greener economy. We’re part of your solution to your energy security concerns. And we’re part of your solution when it comes to food security concerns countries may have.”

As such, Moe’s “I don’t care” comment mostly distracted from his more substantive message that Saskatchewan’s agri-food, potash, uranium and oil industries provide “some of lowest carbon emissions you will find in world.”

“As we find our way through a time of transition, you should be buying Saskatchewan oil,” Moe said, urging people to compare Saskatchewan commodities with those produced in Russia and Belarus. “That’s my point to not only the people of Saskatchewan but to people across the nation.

“Most certainly, this would be the narrative. We would ask our federal government to take with them as they go overseas to promote and sell some of cleanest products available to the world.”

It’s a more complete explanation, albeit one that still won’t endear Moe to environmentalists.

“I think it’s pretty clear from their lack of action in regards to climate change that they don’t care,” said Emily Eaton, an associate geography and environmental studies professor at the University of Regina.

Saskatchewan’s GHG emissions in 2019 dropped by single megatonne from the previous year, meaning that this province, with four per cent of the Canadian population, still accounts for 10.3 per cent of the country’s overall GHG emissions.

Monday, Moe described this fact as “ridiculous,” and having “no bearing on reality.”

For a premier who talked in February about healing divisions, his comments weren’t exactly an olive branch to those who say Saskatchewan isn’t doing enough to reduce the nation’s highest GHG emissions.

They are only left with Moe’s blunt message: “I don’t care.”

Mandryk is the political columnist for the Regina Leader-Post and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.

Millie Bobby Brown Discusses The ‘Gross’ Way She Has Been Sexualized As A Teen

Jamie Samhan -
ET Canada
© Photo: James Veysey/Shutterstock for BAFTA


Millie Bobby Brown quickly rose to fame as a preteen and had to face the challenges of being in the spotlight at a young age.

Only 12 when she was cast in "Stranger Things", the now-18-year-old told "The Guilty Feminist" podcast of being sexualized for years.

“I deal with the same things any 18-year-old is dealing with, navigating being an adult and having relationships and friendships, and it's all of those things,” she said. “Being liked and trying to fit in, it’s all a lot, and you’re trying to [know] yourself while doing that. The only difference is obviously I'm doing that in the public eye.”

Brown then discussed being sexualized, calling it "really overwhelming."

“I have definitely been dealing with that more in the last couple weeks of turning 18. [I’m] definitely seeing a difference between the way people act and the way the press and social media react to me coming of age," Brown said. "It's gross."

Brown explained that her own Hollywood experience is "a good representation of what’s going on in the world and how young girls are sexualized. I have been dealing with that — but I have also been dealing with that for forever.”

Brown recalled being "crucified" by the press for wearing a low-cut dress at an awards show. “I thought, Is this really what we should be talking about? We should be talking about the incredible people that were there at the awards show, the talent that was there, the people we are representing.”

This isn't the first time that Brown has discussed being sexualized. When she turned 16, she shared a post saying she gets "frustrated from the inaccuracy, inappropriate comments, sexualization and unnecessary insults" and how they cause her "pain and insecurity."

WTF!!!

Thousands still on unpaid leave as Liberals late updating federal public service vaccine mandate: unions

Anja Karadeglija - Tuesday

NATIONAL POST

© Provided by National PostAs of March 29, 1,828 federal government employees were on unpaid leave due to the COVID-19 vaccination policy, according to the Treasury Board.

The Liberal government is now a week late on updating its vaccine mandate policy for federal public servants, according to unions, leaving the 1,828 unvaccinated individuals on unpaid leave waiting to find out if they can go back to work.

“If you’re on administrative leave without pay right now, every day that goes by, you’re left wondering what’s going on here,” said Dany Richard, president of the Association of Canadian Financial Officers, which represents financial professionals working in the federal public service.

“We were told we’d have that decision by April 6.”

As of March 29, 1,828 employees were on unpaid leave due to the vaccination policy, the Treasury Board told unions last week. That number included employees who attested they were unvaccinated, who didn’t provide an attestation about their vaccine status, and employees who submitted an accommodation request that “was not applicable.”

That’s an increase from the 1,382 RCMP and public service employees that were on unpaid leave as of Feb. 1, a number the government outlined in an order paper document the same week.

During the last election campaign, the Liberals campaigned on mandatory vaccines for public servants. Currently, the federal government mandates vaccinations for all employees in the public service, including the RCMP. Those who don’t comply with the policy or aren’t granted an exemption are put on unpaid leave, even if they work from home.

That policy was up for its six-month review as of April 6. The president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada has also previously told media the government promised a “renewed policy” on April 6.

Government faces 90 individual labour grievances on mandatory vaccine policy

Unpaid leave begins for some federal employees not vaccinated for COVID-19

Once released, that updated policy could let the affected individuals go back to work — or it could increase the number on unpaid leave, if the government includes its definition of fully vaccinated as including a booster shot.

“This could go either way. That’s why we want to know, because there’s a major spectrum of how this policy could be reviewed,” Richards said.

Those employees could be out of work for another six months, have their employment terminated, or be allowed to go back to work next week, Richards outlined. “These employees have a right to know what’s happening with their livelihood,” he said.

Richards said the government has given no indication of when the updated policy will be released. “Not only have we not gotten an update on the policy, we don’t even know when the update will happen,” he said. “Is it two weeks, is it two months, is it two days? … I have no idea.”

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat said in a statement it is reviewing the policy and that updates will come “in due course.”

“Any decision made will be based on science and the advice of public health officials,” the statement added. “The review is ongoing and there was never an update planned for April 6, 2022.”

The government owes it to employees to provide some guidance to employees, Richards said. “The fact that our members are kept in the dark is frustrating.”

Both ACFO and PSAC, maintain employees should be allowed to work from home. PSAC declined to comment on the government’s update to the vaccine policy but said in a statement that “continuing to put unvaccinated employees on leave without pay is a harsh and unnecessary measure” when workers have shown during the pandemic they can work from home.

Charest tackles cost of living by pitching Conservatives a child care plan

Catherine Cullen - Tuesday

CBC

Conservative leadership candidate Jean Charest is tackling voters' cost-of-living anxieties by proposing new measures to help more families afford child care.

His plan would give money back to families not covered under the new federal deal to reduce the cost of child care. It also pledges more flexibility and tax breaks for families that receive parental leave benefits.

Beyond his pledge to pause the carbon tax, this is Charest's first major policy foray on affordability. His campaign says it's the first in a series of such announcements.

The rising cost of living is already a major campaign theme for one of Charest's main rivals, Pierre Poilievre. Recent polls suggest rising expenses are a major concern for a majority of Canadians.

Charest has applauded the recent child care deals between the federal government and provinces and territories and has said he is committed to keeping those deals in place.

The federal plan would see the average price of a licensed child care spot drop to $10 a day by 2025.

The federal government also hopes to create approximately 250,000 new child care spaces.

Support for the existing deals from a Conservative leadership candidate may not mean much, since a recent agreement between the NDP and the Liberals could keep the Trudeau government in power until 2025.

Charest's plan would address costs borne by families using daycares that are not subsidized, such as unlicensed home daycares.

'Choice' in child care

He's promising a Choice in Childcare Tax Credit, which would replace the existing Child Care Expense Deduction. According to his campaign, the new credit would rebate up to 75 per cent of child care expenses to lower-income families whose children do not use subsidized daycares.

Rebates would be payable monthly, rather than with each tax return.

Charest is also pledging to make the Canada Child Benefit available in the beginning of the second trimester of a pregnancy "to give families a financial cushion to prepare for their growing family," says the campaign's press release.

Charest's campaign says he also would extend the eligibility period for parental leave benefits to two years.

Charest's plan would also cut the federal tax on Employment Insurance benefits during parental leave and eliminate the EI clawback on the first $20,000 of income earned while on parental leave.

Charest's campaign estimates the plan would cost about $1 billion. The campaign also claims the plan would pay for itself through increased tax revenues as more families return to work.


© Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press

Federal Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre has not yet said whether a government led by him would retain the federal government's child care deals with provinces and territories.

A statement from Poilievre's campaign attacked Charest's approach but didn't didn't say what the Ottawa-area MP's own child care policy would look like.

Poilievre's campaign told CBC News that while he served as Quebec's premier, Charest did not support "choice in child care and discriminated against families that did not use state-based care."

Charest oversaw Quebec's system of not-for-profit, low-fee child care centres while he was premier from 2003 to 2012.

During that time, he raised the daily cost of not-for-profit care as he tried to control Quebec's spending. He also took measures to encourage the emergence of more privately run daycare spots.

Poilievre undecided on Liberals' child care deals

In its statement, Poilievre's campaign also targets the federal Liberals, saying their decades of pursuing affordable daycare have left parents with "less choice and higher prices."

"Mr. Poilievre will wait to see if the latest promises are any different before announcing his plans to reduce costs and expand choice for all parents," said the statement.

In an interview with Radio-Canada in March, Poilievre was asked if he'd undo the federal child care deal with the provinces and territories.

"We'll see how it works. We've seen no results," he said in French to host Patrice Roy.

Leadership candidate Patrick Brown responded to Charest's proposal by taking a swipe at Poilievre.

"Unlike Pierre Poilievre, I would honour agreements signed with the provinces on affordable daycare, and unlike Justin Trudeau, make sure those daycare spots are actually built out," says a statement from Brown's campaign.

Brown also pledged to "recognize that Canadians need choice" in raising their families.

In his campaign's statement, Brown talks about creating a system of "tax credits and direct contribution" that would value the labour of extended family members who help to raise children. He also promises to help parents working in the gig economy or running small businesses get equal access to parental benefits.

The statement offers no specifics about how he would achieve these goals.

Candidate Leslyn Lewis' campaign did not respond to a request for her policy proposals on child care.

Conservatives will choose their next leader on Sept. 10.

Review is a matter of making government 'smarter, not smaller,' Treasury Board president says

QUIT OURSOURCING IT  

BRING IT BACK INHOUSE 

Joanne Laucius - 

© Provided by Ottawa CitizenTreasury Board president Mona Fortier said Monday the government wants to make sure it is smart in investing and using taxpayer dollars.

A review of government policies and operations is aimed at making government smarter, not smaller, says Treasury Board president Mona Fortier.

The review, outlined in last Thursday’s federal budget, has concerned public service unions, who fear that it will lead to downsizing the federal workforce.

The “comprehensive strategic policy review” announced in the budget aims to save money by examining the effectiveness of government programs and operations. The government anticipates savings of $6 billion over five years and $3 billion annually by 2026-27, a figure that was a surprise to public service unions.

Fortier, who will head the review, said Monday the government wants to make sure it is smart in investing and using taxpayer dollars.

“We want to make sure that we focus on the delivery of services we have and programs for Canadians. We know that digitization is going to be very important in how we deliver those services,” said Fortier.

Travel expenses are another saving as workers become proficient in using videoconferencing platforms, she said.

The federal public service has grown from just over 257,000 in 2015 when Justin Trudeau’s Liberals took power to more than 319,000 last year.

For the public service unions, mention of a new review last week conjured memories of the Harper years, when across-the-board cuts affected public service morale, productivity and citizen satisfaction. Cuts at Veterans Affairs, including the disability awards branch, attracted attention, and an auditor general’s report was critical of the length of time it took to decide on the benefit claims of ex-soldiers.

“We’re not Harper,” Fortier said Monday. “We are not going to do what was done in the past.”

Sahir Khan, executive vice-president of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy at the University of Ottawa, said a review is a good idea.

Reviews can be done on two ways — on a fiscal basis to cut costs or with the aim of improving quality. In this case, the government is not using this exercise as a way to get back to a balanced budget, said Khan.

“They’re using it to improve the quality of spending.”

There are three goals of a review. The first is to consider whether spending is aligned with the priorities of the government. In the past, programs have had conflicting goals — funding smoking cessation programs while subsidizing tobacco farmers at the same time, for example.

In the case of this review, the budget has stated that key priorities are strengthening economic growth, inclusiveness and fighting climate change.

The second goal is to review whether every program is working well, said Khan.

The third goal is consider whether a program is the most efficient way to achieve the desired effect. For example, if the aim is to increase youth involvement in sport, this can be achieved through creating a sports program or by allowing parents to submit the cost of their child’s existing sports program for a tax credit.

Khan cautioned that while technology solutions may seem a simple way to improve efficiency, the Phoenix payroll controversy was an illustration that this is not always the case.

Meanwhile, the government will need to have a human resources strategy in place before a real estate strategy to determine how many workers can work from a hybrid or permanent home office before embarking on a strategy to reduce office space, he said.

If programs are eliminated at the end of the day, there are ways to handle the reduction in the workforce, including attrition and being generous with buyouts.

“Unions shouldn’t be concerned. But they should be involved,” said Khan.

Jennifer Carr, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, said what she had heard in recent days has been reassuring. But her members are still concerned about a lack of details — especially after the budget released target savings.

Those who work from home also want to be assured that they will get the necessary training and tools, she said.

“We know Canadians don’t want services cut.”

Fortier said she was looking forward to making sure that unions are part of the conversation.

The first update on the review is to be provided in the fall 2022 economic and fiscal update and another in the 2023 budget.

Federal housing budget a good start, more targeted support needed: Housing advocates


OTTAWA — Advocates say while the focus on housing affordability in the federal budget is promising, its measures could go further to help people in the most dire need.

Emilie Coyle, executive director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies, said the promise of money for housing is welcome but she wants to make sure it gets into the right hands.

"If you are going to really address housing as an issue, you have to start with the people for whom it is the most difficult to find housing," Coyle said.

Kaitlin Schwan, national director of the Women's National Housing and Homelessness Network, said the budget measures don't reflect the gendered nature of the housing crisis, with low-income, women-led households facing the greatest need.

Data from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation shows 26 per cent of single female-led households are in core housing need, compared to 16 per cent of single male-led households.

The numbers are also high for racialized people and people with disabilities, said Schwan.

The budget promised $1.5 billion in funding for the rapid housing initiative, which helps build homes quickly for vulnerable people. At least a quarter of that is set aside for women-focused projects.

This kind of targeting could be expanded to all of the housing programs, said Sahar Raza, project manager of National Right to Housing Network.

These programs also need to be easier and more flexible so that high-need groups can access them, Coyle said.

"Women and gender diverse people experience chronic homelessness in a way that doesn't meet the definition of chronic homelessness," she said, noting it can look like exchanging sexual favours for housing. The numbers also don't capture women who want to leave intimate partner violence but have nowhere to go.

The Liberal budget also announced more than $10 billion in funding to speed up home construction and repairs, along with measures to cool the market and help those trying to buy their first home.

"One of the biggest disappointments in the budget was the lack of urban Indigenous housing strategy," said Tim Richter, CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness.

Richter said this is one of the biggest gaps in the national housing strategy, since Indigenous Peoples are disproportionately affected by housing insecurity and homelessness.

About 5 per cent of Canada's population is Indigenous, but Indigenous people make up around 30 per cent of those who use homeless shelters according to documents obtained by The Canadian Press under Access-to-Information legislation.

"When we fail to invest in deep affordable housing, what we're doing is failing to invest equitably in Canada," Schwan of the Women's National Housing and Homelessness Network said.

A spokeswoman for Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said the budget includes $300 million in funding as a down payment to co-develop an urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing strategy.

Adrienne Vaupshas said the government is investing in rapid housing initiative and $4 billion over seven years for Indigenous housing to respond to calls for action from affordable housing and homelessness advocates.

She said the new funding announcements reflect the government's commitment to addressing the housing gaps since more work is needed to close them.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2022.

———

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

Erika Ibrahim, The Canadian Press

BC

SITE C DAM treaty infringement claim put on hold pending negotiations

Tuesday


A billion-dollar treaty infringement claim over the Site C dam has gone from the courtroom to confidential discussions in an attempt to settle the outstanding litigation brought by the West Moberly First Nation.

Trial was scheduled to start in B.C. Supreme Court on March 14, but in its annual progress report to the BC Utilities Commission last month, BC Hydro said the trial had been adjourned on Jan. 21.

“The parties to the litigation are continuing confidential discussions to seek to settle this litigation,” reads the March 31 report, which also notes construction of the dam was more than 55% complete at the end of 2021.

Dave Conway, a community relations manager for BC Hydro, said the company will not be providing any further public comments about the discussions, but noted both parties agreed to adjourn the case — at least for now.

“BC Hydro remains committed to working with Indigenous communities to build relationships that respect their interests,” said Conway. “We have undertaken extensive and meaningful consultation and engagement with First Nations about Site C since 2007.”

West Moberly, along with Prophet River First Nation, filed the infringement claim in January 2018, and sought a court injunction to stop construction on the now $16-billion project until their case was heard. The two nations warned Premier John Horgan in 2017 that his approval to continue with construction would lead to a civil suit, and claimed any damages could be as high as $1 billion.

The Supreme Court ultimately refused an injunction, but ordered a trial on whether the project infringes aboriginal treaty rights be held by mid-2023 instead, before the dam's reservoir starts to be filled.

Prophet River has since settled their claim outside of court, announced in 2020. West Moberly had also previously entered discussions with BC Hydro in February 2019 to seek alternatives to litigation, before filing an amended claim to the court later that year.

West Moberly Chief Roland Willson has not returned calls for comment. Joshua Lam, a lawyer with Sage Legal, which is representing West Moberly in court, confirmed they have entered negotiations, but says the nation isn’t at liberty to comment further.

“I can confirm what BC Hydro’s stated in that document, but West Moberly isn’t able to comment any further about the status of the case or discussions,” Lam said.

The Supreme Court registry in Vancouver says the case is still technically open, as no party has filed to end it. No new court dates have been set in the matter.

“The court case is adjourned (paused) pending discussions, not over,” confirmed Lam.

The provincial ministry of energy also declined to comment.

“The parties have agreed to adjourn the trial. Out of respect for the ongoing discussions, the Ministry will not be providing any further comments at this time,” a ministry spokesperson said.

West Moberly saw some legal success last year, winning the right to see Site C financial and safety documents held in private by BC Hydro. A condition of releasing these documents was that West Moberly keep them confidential.

tsummer@ahnfsj.ca
Tom Summer, Local Journalism Initiative, Alaska Highway News

Legault's CAQ victorious in Quebec byelection as once-dominant parties fall


MONTREAL — Quebec Premier François Legault warned his troops to stay humble on Tuesday after his Coalition Avenir Québec won a Montreal-area byelection the day prior, and as the two once-dominant parties — the Liberals and Parti Québécois — suffered disappointing results.

Less than six months ahead of the general election, Legault told reporters he is taking nothing for granted, but he admitted his party's chances of winning in October are "looking good right now."

Shirley Dorismond, a nurse who works in addictions and mental health, took the Marie-Victorin riding for the governing party with about 35 per cent of the vote. The riding on Montreal's south shore had been dominated by the sovereigntist PQ since it was created in 1981.

"You have to remember that Marie-Victorin voted for the Parti Québécois for the last 40 years," Legault said in Quebec City. "It wasn't an easy win, so that's why I think it's a big win for us."

The CAQ has remained atop the polls since the 2018 election, when the party won a majority. With Monday's byelection win, Legault's party has 76 seats in the 125-seat legislature.

Meanwhile, PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon tried to spin the results in his favour, telling reporters his party's second-place showing at 30 per cent — relatively stable compared with its results in the 2018 general election — indicates that only the PQ can challenge the CAQ.

"I can't throw a party this morning, but I can see that the result is objectively very good," St-Pierre Plamondon told reporters. "Six months ago, everyone agreed it would be an easy win for the CAQ."

Recent polls have placed the PQ in fifth place overall, with less than 10 per cent support across the province.

The official Opposition Liberal party came fifth on Monday — behind the Conservatives, who didn't run a candidate in the riding in 2018. Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade's party secured seven per cent, down more than half compared with 2018.

"There's no question that it was disappointing," she told reporters. "I think a lot of the Liberals stayed home."

The Coalition's victory came days after evidence released at a coroner's inquest indicated two of Legault's cabinet ministers knew about the tragic situation in the spring of 2020 at a Montreal-area long-term care home 10 days earlier than they had publicly claimed. The coroner is investigating the 47 deaths that occurred at the Herron long-term care home during the pandemic's first wave, along with deaths at other institutional settings in the province.

Legault said the results of the byelection show that Quebecers accept his version of events — that his government believed the regional health authority had taken charge of the Herron care home. Voters, he added, didn't respond to criticisms from the opposition, including from Anglade.

Québec solidaire came third with 14 per cent, a decline of more than seven percentage points from the left-wing party's 2018 results. Co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois said low voter turnout, particularly among young people, and a lack of polling stations on college and university campuses hurt his party.

"We knew entering that race that it was a PQ stronghold; we knew it wasn't going to be easy and considering that, and considering the absence of voting on campuses, I think a solid third place is a result that is honourable for Québec solidaire," he told reporters in Quebec City.

The Quebec Conservative Party received about 10 per cent of the vote, a result party leader Eric Duhaime said shows his team "is the only opposition party to the CAQ that is growing." The Conservatives received 1.5 per cent of the vote provincewide in 2018.

"The battle of Marie-Victorin has just trained us to be much stronger ahead of the electoral war on Oct. 3," Duhaime tweeted Tuesday.

In response to the Conservatives' results, Legault said his party is focusing on "our priorities."

"So we will continue to be the party of the economy, to be a nationalist party, to be a party that is moderate."

And Legault had a message to his team: "It's important to remain humble; it's important, every day, to earn the trust of Quebecers … so no arrogance. We stay humble and we listen to Quebecers."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2022.

Jacob Serebrin, The Canadian Press