Ontario’s legislature takes a small, smart step toward reconciliation

Typically, monumental changes in government happen incrementally, over time. But occasionally, they happen quickly, the result of a chance conversation.

But to Mr. Calandra’s credit, he later learned that Mr. Mamakwa, an Indian residential school survivor who understands what it means to be punished for speaking his language in a government-sanctioned institution, was right. Only English and French were recognized as official languages in Ontario, and that has been the case ever since the British “founded” the province in 1867.

Ontario has an ambitious electric-vehicle plan that could bring in tens of billions of dollars – but the province needs First Nations buy-in to develop the Ring of Fire to make those ambitions a reality. It is clear that Honda, Stellantis, LG Energy Solutions, Volkswagen and others areto be closer to the resources needed for battery production, but the government cannot allow those companies to develop on the Ring without community support, lest some First Nations block access.

“Ookihmaawinuh ootaakii pehyehteh wiitaan ahniinihii ahshai uhwuhshihmeh kohtwahsooyuhkih ehoochih pwaatuhwihsehkin kitchiyehowkuhmikoo nihpehwihnun ihiimaah Waanihnaawuhkak?”

Pleasemod Language Ontario School Province Government Ring Access Mamakwa Tories First Nations Doug Ford

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