Exploring Theme: "Specific Industry Environmental Issues"

NationTalk: The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, today announced Dr. Ray Copes, as the Independent Chair to oversee the work of the Muskrat Falls Monitoring and Health Management Oversight Committee (MHMOC). Dr. Copes is a physician with a Master’s Degree in Epidemiology. He was selected as the Independent Chair by the...

The Independent – The Innu of Labrador have launched a lawsuit against the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador for breaking financial agreements with the Muskrat Falls Mitigation Plan. The governments failed to consult with the Innu before unilaterally changing the terms...

The Ungava Peninsula Caribou Aboriginal Round Table (UPCART) – Executive committee agreed that the next steps will be to develop a plan for habitat protection and continue discussions on a sharing agreement. In 2018, the Innu Nationi withdrew from UPCART; but a standing invitation has been extended in hopes that they will re-engage in discussion...

CIM Magazine – On Aug. 25, Chief Mike McKenzie announced that the Innu communities have negotiated an agreement with IOC on reconciliation and collaboration, following a decades-long conflict that has reached the Supreme Court several times. The agreement is an impact and benefit agreement on environmental cooperation, benefit sharing and economic development such as training,...

Government established a deputy ministers’ steering committee to oversee the implementation of all the recommendations including the 17 key and ancillary recommendations outlined in Volume 1. Key Finding # 13: GNL failed to ensure that it and Nalcor acted fairly in its consultations related to Indigenous Peoples and environmental matters. While not speaking to GNL’s...

Indigenous Group: Nunatsiavut Govt, Innu Nation and NunatuKavut Community Council, Business: Nalcor Issue: Overexposure to methylmercury in food and resources Comment: The Avativut, Kanuittailinnivut Scientific Report (produced by Harvard University after four years of research on the topic) concludes that methyl mercury levels could rise by 1500%, cause serious food insecurity and disrupt a way...

CBC – The Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed an appeal by Newfoundland and Labrador to strike parts of a lawsuit by two Innu Nations in Quebec against mining giant Rio Tinto. The Innu wanted Quebec courts to make a declaration over their traditional territory, and part of that is in Newfoundland and Labrador. The...

Indigenous Group: 7 Indigenous groups in the north Business: Federal Government Issue: Preserve and manage caribou in the Ungava Peninsula Comment: Response to the critical population declines in both the caribou herds of George River (770K in 1993 to 5.5K in 2018) and Leaf River (628K in 2001 to 181K in 2016) Last Updates: Jan....

Indigenous Group: The Innu First Nations of Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam (Uashaunnuat) and Matimekush-Lac John Business: Iron Ore Company (IOC) (wholly owned by Rio Tinto) Issue: IOC caused harm by operating a large mining complex and railway on traditional territory in northeastern Quebec and Labrador since the 1950s without their prior consent. Comment: Sept. 22, 2014:...