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FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron re-elected

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, or FSIN, held their elections last week. Chief Bobby Cameron was elected for a fourth consecutive term, defeating Aly Bear.

Cameron faced controversy after it was revealed that he was convicted of break, enter, and theft in 1993. A criminal conviction removes eligibility to run for Chief. Cameron did not address this after his victory.

Bear started the campaign with the endorsement of 15 Chiefs from across the province, including Saskatoon Tribal Chief Mark Arcand.

Cameron garnered 765 votes against 258 for Bear from delegates representing 74 member nations. David Pratt was also re-elected as first vice-chief and Fabian Head is the new third vice-chief.

After balloting, but before the vote count, flyers featuring a likeness of Aly Bear were found on vehicles near the convention centre with derogatory statements about the former member of the executive. In his acceptance speech, Cameron acknowledged the fractious campaign, saying, “We denounce any political attacks of any kind. We totally oppose that way. We always wanted to run a clean campaign- a kind campaign,” Cameron told his supporters. Both candidates were allowed to address delegates following the result, but only Cameron wanted to speak.

The FSIN also faced criticism during the election campaign that it was not accountable or transparent enough. One example came after the swearing-in when none of the winning executive members made themselves available to reporters for questions.

The FSIN now faces a federal audit following accusations of misuse of public money. One example is a member of the treasury board spending $40,000 on a trip to Las Vegas, and individuals receiving $200 per diem cheques in the mail despite not attending the event. James Smith First Nation Chief Kirby Constant also raised alarm over missing $1 million in COVID relief money that FSIN did not transfer to his community despite an agreement to.

Cameron will now serve his fourth term as Chief.

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Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark goes after Poilievre’s housing plan

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark may not be running for re-election next week, but he is making his opinion of a Conservative plan known on his way out.

Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre made multiple housing announcements last week, including removing the GST from homes sold for less than $1 million. Poilievre also said he would pay for the plan by cutting two government programs — the Housing Accelerator Fund and the Housing Infrastructure Fund — which he described as costly bureaucracies. The Conservatives say the move would save Canadians $40,000 on a $800,000 house and would spur the construction of an additional 30,000 homes in Canada every year.

The HAF is a dedicated fund of $4.4 billion meant to encourage building in cities across the country, with an objective of 100,000 new units. In late September, Saskatoon city council approved a plan to divvy out more than $13 million in HAF incentives to housing developers, plus five-year incremental tax abatements over $3 million. 

On Facebook, Clark said, “Pierre Poilievre announced yesterday that if elected he would cancel the funding for the Housing Accelerator Fund and the new Canada Infrastructure Fund to pay for eliminating GST on new homes under $1 million. I support reducing the costs of housing, but need to be very clear that the horse is out of the barn with the Housing Accelerator Fund.

Clark continued, “The City of Saskatoon has already leveraged the Housing Accelerator Fund towards getting commitments for over 1600 units of badly needed new rental housing in our City. This includes over 500 units of below-market housing that will only be built with incentives from the Housing Accelerator Fund funding. Cancelling this program would almost certainly mean cancelling most or all of these 1600 new units, as they are tied together in the same developments.”

This news comes just days after Clark wrote an op-ed against ‘defeatist thinking’ and said young people are choosing Saskatoon. The municipal election is on November 13.

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Saskatchewan reaches 30% female MLAs for first time

The Saskatchewan Legislature will look very different from years past. Not simply because of a more equal party distribution, but also because a third of MLAs are women.

Chi Nguyen, the Executive Director of Equal Voice said, "The critical mass concept means if you have one or two out of 50 people, those one or two people might feel really tokenized in their experience. And so what happens when you the hit critical mass, that 30 percent, is that the culture can start to shift and evolve and change." Nguyen calls this climb in representation an "important milestone."

Equal Voice is aiming for 50 percent women and gender-diverse representation across all provinces.

The Saskatchewan Party elected eight women, 24% of the caucus, and the NDP elected thirteen or 48%. This means that 21 of the 61 MLAs are female.

Sask. Party spokesperson Julie Leggott told CBC in an email statement that approximately 25 percent of nominated candidates who put their names on the ballot for the party in the 2024 election were women. "Of course, beyond the candidates on the ballot many, many more individuals that participated in the nomination process or volunteered on a campaign were women," Leggott said.

Leggott continued, "We are grateful for the ongoing participation and input from women, which helped form many of the commitments we made to Saskatchewan people like new options for cervical screening, a new tax credit for in vitro fertilization, and the breast health centre under construction in Regina right now."

The women MLAs elected for the Saskatchewan Party are:

• Darlene Rowden, Batoche

• Terri Bromm, Carrot River Valley

• Lori Carr, Estevan-Big Muddy

• Racquel Hilbert, Humboldt-Watrous

• Colleen Young, Lloydminster

• Jamie Martens, Martensville-Blairmore

• Megan Patterson, Moose Jaw Wakamow

• Alana Ross, Prince Albert Northcote

The women elected for the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party are:

• Nicole Sarauer, Regina Douglas Park

• Meara Conway, Regina Elphinstone Centre

• Carla Beck, Regina Lakeview

• Jaqueline Roy, Regina Northeast

• Joan Pratchler, Regina Rochdale

• Aleana Young, Regina South Albert

• Sally Housser, Regina University

• Betty Nippi-Albright, Saskatoon Centre

• Vicki Mowat, Saskatoon Fairview

• Erika Ritchie, Saskatoon Nutana

• Kim Breckner, Saskatoon Riversdale

• Brittney Senger, Saskatoon Southeast

• April ChiefCalf, Saskatoon Westview*

_{*Saskatoon Westview will not be official until the final count on November 9, however, the NDP have claimed victory.}

More news and info

• Jagmeet Singh could decide when Canadians go to the polls. He’s in no rush. (Politico)

• 'Doctors aren't always right': Alberta goes ahead with controversial transgender policies in 3 new bills (CTV News)

• ‘An honour’: Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck speaks on election results for first time (Global News)