Political Canadiana-June 2, 2019

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Some of the most interesting pieces in Canadian historical and political news from May 20-June 2, 2019:

Justin Trudeau recently made news for his exoneration of Poundmaker, a First Nations chief who was convicted of treason after the second Northwest Resistance despite his efforts at peacemaking between Indigenous people and settlers.

• Stephanie Taylor writes for Global News about the general event.
• Sean Carleton writes on his Twitter account about the importance of thinking critically about Canada’s colonial past, how it affects the present and how moments like these should not be used to let Canada ‘off the hook’ for current Indigenous issues.
• Stephanie Taylor writes for the Globe and Mail about how Poundmaker’s exoneration brings back his legacy as a peacemaker and what it means for his local community.
• Blaine Favel, a former chief of Poundmaker Cree Nation, writes for the Globe and Mail about the importance of Poundmaker’s exoneration and the historical background to his conviction.
• Bonnie Allen writes for the CBC about historians Blair Stonechild and Bill Waiser, who chronicled the Northwest Resistance, discussing Poundmaker and what his exoneration means.

The national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls also recently released its report.

• Jorge Berrera writes for the CBC about how the inquiry’s report calls the murders and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls a “Canadian genocide”.
• Pam Palmater writes on her blog about how the Canadian justice system still fails to protect Indigenous women and girls.

Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott, who were expelled from the Liberal caucus over the SNC-Lavalin scandal, recently announced their plans to run as independent candidates in the fall federal election.

• Paul Wells writes for Macleans about the steep challenges they face in trying to get re-elected.
• Cam Holmstrom writes for his blog about how this could impact the political parties’ own efforts to get their candidates elected.
• Dale Smith writes for his blog about how Wilson-Raybould and Philpott’s talk about doing things by ‘consensus’ isn’t how things are supposed to work in Canada’s parliamentary system.

The Peoples’ Party of Canada and Maxime Bernier seem to have little, if any, impact on federal politics:

• Chantal Hébert writes for the Toronto Star about how Bernier poses little threat to Andrew Scheer.
• Martin Patriquin writes for IPolitics about a former organizer who quit the party in disgust after seeing how the “crazies” took it over. Patriquin also discusses how the party still lacks some of the most basic elements it needs to function, such as a constitution and board of directors.

Other items of interest:

• Rex Murphy writes for the CBC about the importance of recognizing the good in Canada’s history and heritage along with apologizing for the bad.
• Cam Holmstrom writes for his blog about the image taken of an anti-pipeline protester being shoved by security outside a Liberal party fundraiser, and the impact it could have on Justin Trudeau.
• Thomas Walkom writes for the Toronto Star about how Andrew Scheer’s broad policy proposals are quite similar to Justin Trudeau’s.
• Robert Jago writes for the Tyee about how the federal Green party needs to update its Indigenous vision.
• Patrick Lacroix writes on Twitter about Quebec’s Patriotes Day and its dispute meaning.
• Dale Smith writes for his blog about how Alberta is sending all the wrong price signals by repealing its carbon tax.
• Harrie Vredenburg and Delbert Wepass write for The Conversation about why a group of Indigenous investors want to buy the TransMountain pipeline.
• Dale Smith critiques Andrew Scheer’s economic vision, and the constitutional assumptions behind it, on his blog.
• Sam McKegny and Michael Auski write for The Conversation about rethinking Canada through Indigenous hockey.
• David Blocker writes for the Active History blog, comparing Justin Trudeau’s re-election prospects to those of Pierre Trudeau in 1972.
• Mario Jodoin writes for his blog about the impact a child’s circumstances growing up (e.g. into a wealthy family) can impact their prospects as adults.
• Tanya Talaga writes for the Toronto Star about how Ontario is turning away from reconciliation by making high school classes about Indigenous people and history optional, rather than mandatory.
• Martha Hall Findlay writes for the Canada West Foundation about how the Supreme Court’s ruling that B.C. cannot limit the amount of heavy oil crossing its territory benefits Canada’s national interest. David Climenhaga cautions on his blog that the court’s ruling may not be the “slam dunk” pipeline supporters believe.
• Howard Ramos and Rachel McLay write for The Conversation about busting the myth that Canadians are polarized on climate and immigration issues.
• Bob Joseph writes for the Indigenous Corporate Training blog about four barriers to reconciliation with Indigenous people.