Tuesday, December 24, 2024

The Notwithstanding Clause: Use It – or Lose It?

In recent years, provincial governments have turned with increasing frequency to Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - otherwise known as the notwithstanding clause - to inoculate legislation from judicial invalidation. Should this trend be concerning, and does it represent a break from the historical norm? When, if ever, is it […]

Indigenous Peoples and Critical Minerals

 The global demand for critical minerals has placed unprecedented pressure on Indigenous groups and governments to approve and fast track resource development projects. This is particularly the case in northern Ontario, where the extensive mineral resources continue to attract a great deal of development interest. How are Canadian Indigenous communities responding to this situation? […]

The Online News Act: Surveying the fallout and what comes next

 The Online News Act (Bill C-18) has not turned out as the Trudeau government intended, with Meta withdrawing from news sharing and Google threatening to do the same. The result has been a disaster for Canadian media, with both legacy outlets and news startups left worse off than before. On this panel, we bring […]

First Nations and the energy to succeed

Indigenous communities have unique and incredibly complex relationships with the oil, gas and pipeline sectors. Media coverage emphasizes - and distorts - Indigenous engagement by focusing on the comparatively small numbers of conflicts with developers. After thoughtful local debate, many Indigenous communities, in fact, choose to pursue careful partnerships with energy firms. This webinar, presented […]

Assessing the Impact of the Impact Assessment Act ruling

 On October 13th, 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada, in a 5-2 decision, held that the majority of the Impact Assessment Act was outside Parliament’s law-making authority and thus unconstitutional. The decision is highly significant in its delineation of federal and provincial jurisdiction. The Court reiterated that the federal government must be careful to […]

Delayed and denied: The challenges faced by Canadians with rare disorders

 Fewer new drugs for rare disorders come to Canada relative to the US and Europe. Canada has set-up barriers that delay or deny access to new drugs for many patients with unmet or poorly met healthcare needs. This leaves vulnerable Canadians at a serious disadvantage. This webinar will highlight how these barriers impact Canadians […]

The Role of Clean Fuels in an Energy Transition

 From a wide variety of energy policy perspectives – be it reliability, affordability, security or redundancy – we will continue to need not just electrons but also molecules to meet society’s energy needs. Electricity and fuels play very different roles in our energy system. We cannot have just one or the other, and we […]

Exploring Innovation in Canadian Health Care

 Canadian health care is in crisis. Wait-lists grow, while Canadians cannot find a family doctor or access much-needed medicines and treatments. Governments have poured billions into the system as Canadians reach their limit with the status quo. Innovative thinking is required to rescue Canadian health care. In this MLI panel, we will discuss innovations […]

Icy Crossroads? Comparing American and Canadian security strategies in the Arctic

 This live webinar brings together leading Canadian and American experts to examine security and defence strategies in the North American Arctic, following on the publication of the US Department of Defense Arctic Strategy 2024. Panelists will explore how Canada and the United States approach Arctic security, discussing areas of alignment and potential divergence. This […]

First Nations Wealth Production and Management

 Indigenous groups nationwide are eager to produce own-source revenues and to reduce their reliance on fiscal transfers from the Government of Canada. Indigenous economic development corporations are the primary vehicle available to First Nations, Metis and Inuit in their efforts to achieve this goal. This webinar examines the role and impact of wealth production […]

Converting Opportunity into Indigenous Prosperity

 This webinar features Sandy Sanderson, President of the Northeastern Alberta Business Association and a northern entrepreneur. The discussion will review the current state of Indigenous engagement in the oil and gas sector in northern Alberta. It will explore the achievements and limitations of Indigenous procurement processes, Indigenous investment strategies, and opportunities for further participation […]

Authoritarian Alliances in Afghanistan: How China is strengthening the Taliban regime while undermining liberal democracy

 In the wake of the NATO and U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, China has swiftly expanded its presence in the war-torn nation, exploiting the power vacuum to extract natural resources and support the Taliban regime. This financial backing strengthens the Taliban’s control and risks turning Afghanistan into a terrorism hub. In a webinar discussion, we will explore […]