The theme for this Consultation was Nurturing Diversity and Inclusion: Reflecting on the past to inspire the future, a message with strong resonance for the local organizations in Edmonton, especially in the context of the 150th anniversary of confederation. [...] The Working Group meetings held on Thursday and Friday gave participants the opportunity to become familiar with the functions and key issues of the working group, and to discuss emerging issues, share information, and work on developing policy positions for the membership to vote on a the general meeting. [...] There were calls to put pressure on Canadian companies to be more socially responsible and to pressure the Canadian government to implement policies imposing due diligence and traceability in the mineral supply chain, as well as to sign on to the international arms treaty and make changes to legislation to prohibit export of military equipment to countries with questionable human rights records. [...] All of these discussions reinforced the idea that after a year of intense activity and support for refugees, we must find ways to sustain and build on the energy and support of the government and the Canadian public. [...] The keynote speaker, Lewis Cardinal, reflected on the consultation theme, Nurturing Diversity and Inclusion: Reflecting on the past to inspire the future experience and insight of the Indigenous Peoples.
- Pages
- 21
- Published in
- Montreal, QC, CA
