Nov 30, 2023

(Ottawa, Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ontario) – First Nations leaders, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, women, youth, and veterans from across Canada will gather for the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Special Chiefs Assembly and Election of the National Chief from December 5-7, 2023, in Ottawa, Ontario. On July 11, 2023, First Nations-in-Assembly passed AFN Resolution 34/2023, Appointment of Chief Electoral Officer and Timing of the Election of the National Chief, which set the timing of the next election for December 2023 during the upcoming Special Chiefs Assembly.

Dates: December 5-7, 2023

Location: Hybrid (in-person and online)
Shaw Centre
55 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 9J2

Assembly Highlights:

*Additional ballots may follow as necessary, with timings provided by the Chief Electoral Officer.

Media accreditation is required. Please register in advance at meetings.afn.ca. For more information and to access the draft agenda, please visit: https://afn.ca/events/special-chiefs-assembly-national-chief-election/.

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The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national advocacy organization that works to advance the collective aspirations of First Nations individuals and communities across Canada on matters of national or international nature and concern.

Follow AFN on X @AFN_Updates.

Contact Information:

Kelly Reid
Senior Communications Officer
Assembly of First Nations
(613) 292-0857 (mobile)
kreid@afn.ca

Genna Benson
Director of Communications
Assembly of First Nations
604-340-3117 (mobile)
gbenson@afn.ca

NT5

November 30, 2023

Province proposing changes to Victims’ Bill of Rights, Cannabis Control Act and Coroners Act

TORONTO — Today, the Ontario government will introduce proposed legislation, that, if passed, would make it easier for more victims of crime to sue an offender for emotional distress. The proposed Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023 would also protect children and youth from cannabis, enhance community safety and make court and government operations more efficient.

“We’re putting victims of crime first, protecting children and keeping our communities safe,” said Attorney General Doug Downey. “Through proposed changes to the Victims’ Bill of Rights and the Cannabis Control Act, our government is increasing access to justice for victims of crime, holding offenders accountable, and protecting children and youth.”

The proposed legislation, if passed, together with supporting regulatory changes, will:

• Update the Victims’ Bill of Rights, 1995 to make it easier for victims of crime (such as victims of terrorism, vehicle theft, human trafficking related crime and hate related crimes targeting places of worship) to sue an offender for emotional distress and related bodily harm.
• Protect children and youth by banning the growth of recreational cannabis in homes that offer childcare services.
• Amend the Coroners Act to allow for faster and more meaningful and relevant recommendations for construction-related death investigations.

“We’re taking steps to bring justice and closure to family members of construction workers who have lost their lives on the job,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “We’re also updating the Fire Protection and Prevention Act to give fire departments the tools they need to protect communities by strengthening compliance with Ontario’s rigorous fire regulations.”

If passed, the Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023, would also update the Courts of Justice Act and other statutes, including by limiting delays in a child protection trial when a judge is appointed to another court, to ensure that court operations are more readily accessible to Ontarians.

QUICK FACTS

• In 2022, there were 1,721 incidents of police-reported hate crimes which is almost a 20 per cent increase from the previous year.
• In 2023, the Ontario government invested $25.5 million over two years to help address the rise of hate incidents against religious and minority groups. The new Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant will help faith-based and cultural organizations enhance or implement measures to ensure community spaces remain safe and secure.
• From 2014 to 2021, there was a 72 per cent increase in auto theft across the province, and a 14 per cent increase in the last year alone.
• Ontario has invested $18 million over three years to help police services combat and prevent auto theft and keep communities safe.
• Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes worldwide. Ontario is a hub for human trafficking, with the most police-reported incidents in the country in 2019.
• Ontario’s five-year Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy, introduced in 2020, focuses on raising awareness, protecting victims, intervening early, supporting survivors and holding offenders accountable.
• Through the Victim Support Grant for 2023-24, Ontario is providing more than $4 million across the province to help support victims and survivors of intimate partner violence, domestic violence, human trafficking and child exploitation.

Additional Resources

• Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023

Media Contacts

Andrew Kennedy
Minister’s Office
andrew.kennedy2@ontario.ca

Maher Abdurahman
Communications Branch
mag-media@ontario.ca
416-326-2210

NT5

OTTAWA, Nov. 29, 2023 — The National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) is pleased with the success of its first-ever multi-party reception hosted by the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, the New Democrat Party, the Bloc Québécois, and the Green Party. This unprecedented event provided an inclusive platform for Friendship Centre delegates to champion the integration of Friendship Centre priorities across party lines, with a particular focus on long-term sustainable funding, emergency response mechanisms for natural disasters such as wildfires, and the devolution of services to urban Indigenous communities.

Held on November 29, 2023, in Ottawa, the reception facilitated robust discussions on the unique challenges faced by Indigenous communities, allowing Friendship Centre delegates to advocate for sustained and predictable funding to ensure the ongoing success of their vital programs. The delegates also stressed the importance of creating a dedicated funding mechanism to effectively respond to natural emergencies, recognizing the vulnerability of many urban Indigenous communities to crises such as wildfires.

“We are grateful to the participants from the Liberal, NDP, Bloc Quebecois, Green, and Conservative Parties, and in particular the co-hosts for organizing this meaningful conversation to help us better address the immediate and long-term needs of urban Indigenous communities,” said NAFC CEO Jocelyn Formsma, “With Friendship Centre funding ending in 2025, it is significant to have all Parties engage with us, and we hope that we can count on their support to ensure there are no disruptions to the services we provide to over 1 million people.”

Political representatives from each party acknowledged the importance of the issues raised by Friendship Centre delegates and committed to considering these insights as they shape their policies moving forward.

The National Association of Friendship Centres remains steadfast in its commitment to building strong partnerships and fostering open dialogues with all political parties. The organization believes that collaborative efforts are instrumental in creating policies that reflect the diverse needs and aspirations of urban Indigenous peoples across Canada.

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES:

John Paillé
Senior Communications Coordinator
jpaille@nafc.ca

NT4