Sweetgrass and CFWE news briefs - Nov. 6, 2015

Man wanted in investigation of suspicious death

November 5, 2015. The Calgary Police Service is looking for Joseph Jean Nathan Fortier, 43, of Calgary, in relation to a suspicious death in the city’s southeast. Police were called to a hotel in the 1800 block of 50 Street S.E. at approximately 12 noon on Thursday after staff found a deceased woman in a room. Investigators are looking to speak to Fortier, whom they believe may have information that is critical to this investigation. Fortier is described as an Aboriginal male, 5’9” tall, approximately 130 lbs., with a shaved head and a soul patch (slight beard on his chin). The autopsy on the woman will be performed today.

November 5, 2015. As Sturgeon
River-Parkland MP Rona Ambrose becomes new interim leader of the federal Conservative Party, the Progressive Canadian Party is pushing for the re-birth of the Progressive Conservatives. The Conservative Party was born from the merger of the PCs and Canadian Alliance (formerly the Reform Party). Ambrose was chosen following voting under a preferential ballot process, which allowed both MPs and Conservative senators to vote. Stephen Harper stepped down as party leader on election night as the Trudeau Liberals were swept into power.
Meanwhile, Progressive Canadian Party leader Sinclair Stevens said in a letter, “Canadians have moved on. It is time for
what was purposely called briefly the "Conservative Party" to do so as well. It is time for Progressive Conservatives to come together to restore vision to the party which first built a strong, united Canada to take heart in the decision of Canadians.  It is time to consider a Progressive
Conservative alternative.”

November 4, 2015. Residents of
the Siksika First Nation set up a blockade on one of their roads to prevent construction crews from working. The residents are claiming that Chief and council are not listening to their concerns that homes should not be built in the low-lying area, which was evacuated in June 2013 because of flooding river waters. Residents recently submitted a petition to the Siksika Chief and council demanding control of where the new homes are to be located. About 100 homes were destroyed during the flood, and nearly 1,100 band members have been without a
permanent home since then. Chief Vincent Yellow Old Woman says he’s aware of the concerns. He said the First Nation received $49 million from the province to address the flooding concerns.

November 5, 2015. Global News
will be airing 16x9’s “As long as the waters flow” on Nov. 7, which examines the drinking water situation on First Nations. According to a report by the Council of Canadians, as of January 2015, there were 169 drinking water advisories in 126 First Nations communities across Canada. That represents 20 per cent of all First Nations communities in Canada. In Alberta, 17 DWAs are in force. In June 2014, the Tsuu T'ina, Ermineskin, Sucker Creek and Blood First Nations initiated court action asking the Federal Court to force Ottawa to upgrade their water systems, provide continuing support to keep them operating safely and to refund money the bands say the government has saved over the years by not doing so. The lawsuit argues that Ottawa built substandard water treatment facilities on the four reserves and then didn't maintain them. The most recent estimate of the cost of bringing water treatment on reserves up to federal standards is about $1.2 billion, with another $470 million a year for maintenance.