EDMONTON – A number of blockades are taking place on Alberta highways this week as people continue to show support for the Idle No More movement.
The Idle No More movement was sparked by the Harper government’s Bill C-45. Specifically, many Canadians are concerned about the impact the changes to the bill will have on aboriginal communities, the environment, waterways, and the review process for land and resource development projects.
From 1:30 to 3:30 pm, roughly 100 supporters formed a blockade on Highway 63, the only major road that connects Edmonton to Fort McMurray.
“They were trying to be respectful,” says Idle No More spokesperson Eriel Deranger. “The police were well aware,” she adds. “It was very peaceful.”
Deranger says northbound traffic was shut down for approximately two hours, and the blockade shut down traffic in both directions for about half an hour.
“There have been various roadblocks across Canada over the past week or so.”
Swan River First Nation is planning a Highway 2 blockade at Range Road 101A near Kinuso on Friday from 11 am to 1 pm for the same cause. RCMP have planned alternate routes in place to direct traffic.
“It’s our people’s territory,” says Deranger of the numerous demonstrations, adding they are all a “show of solidarity.”
Idle No More supporters will also be gathering in downtown Edmonton for a demonstration Friday. They will begin a march at 10:30 am in Churchill Square.
At its core, the Idle No More movement was created in opposition to the Harper government’s policies on aboriginal communities, the environment, and a number of changes pushed through in the omnibus Bill C-45.
Over a span of about six hours, opposition parties tried to push through amendments to Bill C-45, the Conservative government’s latest omnibus budget bill. The Conservative majority government did not allow any of the amendments to pass.
Deranger stresses it’s not just the policy changes that sparked Idle No More, but rather the way in which these policy changes were enacted.
“These are pretty big amendments to the Indian Act and it was done with very little consultation with aboriginal peoples.”
Deranger says Idle No More should be important to all Canadians, not just First Nations, because it voices concern with how the Conservative government is passing bills without proper consultation.
“What we saw was a bill rammed through without adequate debate… there should have been adequate debate and adequate consultation.”
“We’ve seen the Conservative government erode democracy,” she says.
Deranger explains Idle No More is a movement that is about “a breakdown of democracy.”
“We’re saying enough is enough. We’re not going to stand idly by.”
However, there has been a lot of confusion surrounding which aspects of Bill C-45 are of particular concern for Idle No More supporters. Deranger hopes to clear up some of the misunderstandings about the cause.
“To be honest, I think there’s a lot of misinformation going on as to what the movement’s really about. Because of the misinformation on both sides, it becomes a bit of an uneducated debate until you really break it down. This is an issue that should be a concern for everyone.”
Breaking down Bill C-45 & Idle No More
The Indian Act
Deranger says the bill includes changing the procedures that lead up to the removal of land. Basically, she says, the amendments makes federal removal of land easier. In the past, she explains, referendums were required for land removal proposals, and the referendums had to include all members of a First Nation. Now, she says, either a meeting or a referendum must be called, and the majority vote at that meeting decides the result, no matter how few people are at the meeting. In addition, says Deranger, the Minister can call a meeting himself for the removal of land.
The Navigable Waters Protection Act
The Navigable Waters Protection Act would become the Navigation Protection Act. Changes to the law would see thousands of lakes and streams removed from federal protection. Critics say that move takes away environmental oversight of the waterways.
“Important lakes and rivers in my region are being stripped of protection,” NDP MP Glen Thibeault has said. Thibeault represents the Sudbury, Ontario riding.
The Harper government said the changes would streamline regulation and reduce red tape that was holding up projects along waterways. Transportation Minister Denis Lebel added many waterways will still be covered by environmental protection under other laws.
However, Idle No More supports fear the changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act remove protection of more than 99.9 per cent of lakes and rivers in Canada, says Deranger.
“It’s a direct violation of treaty rights,” she adds. “Lakes and rivers are often the centre and focal point of communities.”
The Environmental Assessment Act
Deranger says the Environmental Assessment Act has been weakened under the new bill. She says now, certain projects don’t have to go through a significant review process, including those that involve natural resource extraction.
“The Idle No More movement came about because [the bill] had drastic impacts on aboriginal rights,” she explains, “but not only our rights, but on Canadian democracy.”
The changes in Bill C-45 would also eliminate the Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission, which is an independent body responsible for making science-based decisions to protect Canadians from toxic chemicals and hazardous materials in the workplace.
The Fisheries Act
Critics say the Fisheries Act and the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act were critical laws that were used to support environmental stewardship, clean water and healthy oceans for all Canadians. They say the changes included in the omnibus bill would further weaken Canada’s environmental laws, remove critical federal safeguards, and reduce the amount of public consultation and input on projects that impact the environment and ecosystem. Critics argue the changes to the Fisheries Act would give industry the option of asking that their existing commitments to protect fish habitat be changed or cancelled, or that they no longer be responsible for providing compensation for lost or damaged habitat.
Deranger says the biggest concern with changes to this law is that “aboriginal fishing rights” were added to the Fisheries Act. However, she says, those same rights are already included in Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. Idle No More supporters worry that this addition means the Conservative government could be considering removing Section 35 from the Constitution.
“The concern is that if the government is able to push this bill through… it could completely erode our democratic rights in our country,” adds Deranger.
More on Idle No More
The Idle No More campaign was started by four women from Saskatchewan against a number of bills before Parliament. They are particularly critical of Bill C-45, which they say weakens environmental laws.
"We started discussing that and felt that we need to bring attention to this legislation," said Jessica Gordon, who lives in Saskatoon.
Jan O'Driscoll, a spokeswoman for Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan, said the department has made efforts to consult with aboriginal leaders. He said they continue work on pressing issues on reserves like education, clean drinking water and housing.
"While we've made significant strides, there is still work to be done," O'Driscoll said in an email.
"We'll continue to partner with First Nations to create the conditions for healthier, more self-sufficient communities."
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2012.