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Métis singer/songwriter comes to Alberta following album release
September 6, 2016. Métis singer/songwriter Dustin Harder will be stopping in Calgary (Sept. 8), St. Albert (Sept. 9), Camrose (Sept. 10) and Edmonton (Sept. 12) as part of his western Canadian tour. Harder’s album “Prairie Soul” was released on Sept. 2. The album is a compilation of original songs that were recorded in various studios in Winnipeg, where Harder calls home. Harder’s work has garnered him spots on the National Aboriginal Top 40 Countdown over the past few years, and he is no stranger to generating hits that collect accolades and attention.
CYA Act under review by multi-party legislative committee
September 6, 2016. The Child and Youth Advocate Act is being reviewed by a multi-party committee of MLAs. The act enables the advocate to represent the rights, interests and viewpoints of children and youth receiving intervention services or who are involved with the youth criminal justice system. Public input is being sought until Oct. 14. “While they are our greatest resource, children and youth are among the most vulnerable members of society,” said David Shepherd, chair of the committee and MLA for Edmonton-Centre. “The Child and Youth Advocate Act was established to safeguard Alberta’s most vulnerable children and to give them a voice in matters that affect them.” The committee has until June 2, 2017, to complete its comprehensive review and report to the Legislative Assembly.
Hot springs will not be privatized
September 6, 2016.The federal government will no longer be seeking a private operator for Banff Upper Hot Springs in Banff National Park, Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park, or Radium Hot Springs in Kootenay National Park. Environment Minister Catherine McKenna says extensive analysis has determined that it is in the best interest of Canadians for Parks Canada to continue operating the hot springs. Parks Canada had announced April 2012 that it would invite proposals from the private sector to take over operations. First Nations criticized the move to privatization as did Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Union of National Employees.
Inquiry into justice’s comments begins
September 6, 2016. The inquiry into the conduct of Justice Robin Camp begins today and will go through until Sept. 9. A national coalition of women’s organizations was granted leave to intervene in the inquiry. In a 2014 trial for sexual assault, Camp asked the complainant, a 19 year old Indigenous woman, who was homeless at the time of the assault, “Why couldn’t you just keep your knees together?” The coalition states that Camp “engaged in stereotypical assumptions about the behaviour of sexual assault complainants, victim-blaming, and trivialized the assault allegations.” The hearing into Camp’s conduct takes place in Calgary.