Monday 14 April 2014

>@leonaaglukkaq Announces Support to Help put "Students on Ice"



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: my CNW <portfolio@newswire.ca>
Date: 14 April 2014 11:48
Subject: Minister Aglukkaq Announces Support to Help put Students on Ice - Program supports youth and Aboriginal leadership and fosters understanding and...
To: Portfolio E-Mail <portfolio@newswire.ca>


my CNW

Government of Canada

Government of Canada

Transmitted by CNW Group on : April 14, 2014 13:44


Minister Aglukkaq Announces Support to Help put Students on Ice - Program supports youth and Aboriginal leadership and fosters understanding and respect for the Arctic

OTTAWA, April 14, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Canada's Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced Parks Canada's sponsorship of student participation in Students on Ice, an award-winning organization offering unique educational expeditions to the Antarctic and the Arctic. Through this unique initiative, Parks Canada is supporting youth and Aboriginal leadership development and building connections between northern and southern Canada.

Through a three year agreement, Parks Canada will contribute approximately $150,000 a year to sponsor 13 new student participants per year in the Students on Ice program - seven selected from the North and six from the South.

For the seven students selected in the North, Parks Canada will be creating seven new summer jobs in northern national parks. The application process for these northern positions will be launched on the Parks Canada website (www.pc.gc.ca). The six students selected from the South have been identified through an established selection process for Parks Canada summer jobs in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

The 13 students will be together July 9-24, 2014 as Students on Ice participate in a ship and land-based expedition exploring the eastern Canadian Arctic and western Greenland. In this first year, the program will feature Torngat Mountains National Park (Labrador). This program will be offered again in 2015, featuring Sirmilik National Park (Nunavut), and in 2016 featuring Auyuittuq National Park (Nunavut).

Quick Facts

  • In addition to a summer job with Parks Canada, the selected students will fully participate in the Students on Ice program and will be assigned a project to reach out and connect with Canada's youth through videography and other social media.

  • The participants will have an opportunity to promote their Arctic experiences to Parks Canada visitors and through urban outreach.

  • Canada's North is home to some of the world's most spectacular scenery, unique wildlife and pristine wilderness. Northern national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas are key natural, cultural, recreation and tourism assets.

  • Parks Canada has a number of existing programs that engage young Canadians, including: My Parks Pass; Canada's Coolest School Trip; the Parks Canada Youth Ambassador Program; and engaging interpretive and educational experiences at many parks and sites. Through projects like these, Parks Canada seeks to better connect with young Canadians and share the treasures of our collective heritage with the next generation.

Quotes

"I'm proud to support participation in the Students on Ice Program. Through this initiative, our Government is contributing to the development of future youth and northern Aboriginal leaders, helping to build bridges between Northern and Southern Canada, and increasing connection among Canada's youth to Parks Canada's special places."

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Canada's Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

"Students on Ice is thrilled to be working with Parks Canada to help provide 13 youth with an inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity in the Canadian Arctic. By working together, we will help these future leaders foster a new understanding and respect for the Arctic, the planet and become globally minded ambassadors."

Geoff Green, Founder, Executive Director and Expedition Leader, Students on Ice

Related Product

Backgrounder: Parks Canada and Students on Ice

Associated Links

Parks Canada: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/apprend-learn/glace-ice/glace-ice.aspx
Students on Ice: www.studentsonice.com

About Parks Canada

Parks Canada works to ensure that Canada's historic and natural heritage is presented and protected for the enjoyment, education and appreciation of all Canadians, today and in the future. Through a network of 44 national parks, 167 national historic sites and four national marine conservation areas, Parks Canada sets the stage and invites Canadians, as well as people from around the world, to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery of our treasured natural and historic places.

About Students on Ice

Students on Ice is an award-winning organization offering unique educational expeditions to the Antarctic and the Arctic. Their mandate is to provide students, educators and scientists from around the world with inspiring educational opportunities at the ends of the Earth and, in doing so, help them foster a new understanding and respect for the planet.


SOURCE Parks Canada

For further information:

Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441

Ashley Brasfield
Manager, Communications and Media Relations
Students on Ice
819-827-3300

Media Relations
Parks Canada
819-953-8371
www.twitter.com/parkscanada



Parks Canada

Parks Canada - More on this organization
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Government of Canada

Government of Canada - More on this organization
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Saturday 12 April 2014

Your #Housing and #HumanRights in the #NWT and #Nunavut

There are many folks in the NWT and Nunavut suffering with problems that relate to there social housing units. It's often VERY hard for them to speak out... especially in their communities. Many of these issues deal with the housing authority's lack of understanding that housing is a human right.
"...The right to housing is the economic, social and cultural right to adequate housing and shelter. It is recognised in many national constitutions and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights... The right to housing is recognised in a number of international human rights instruments. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognises the right to housing as part of the right to an adequate standard of living.  It states that:
“ Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control...."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_housing

Canada has signed these Human Rights agreements... therefor housing is a Human Right in Canada.
So if your are thrown out of social housing or cannot get housing... for any reason.. it may well be a breach of your human rights..

The Right to Adequate Housing Toolkit
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Housing/toolkit/Pages/RighttoAdequateHousingToolkit.aspx

"...Elements of the right to adequate housing

Legal security of tenure: Regardless of the type of tenure, all persons should possess a degree of security of tenure which guarantees legal protection against forced eviction, harassment and other threats;

Affordability: Personal or household financial costs associated with housing should not threaten or compromise the attainment and satisfaction of other basic needs (for example, food, education, access to health care);

Habitability: Adequate housing should provide for elements such as adequate space, protection from cold, damp, heat, rain, wind or other threats to health, structural hazards, and disease vectors;

Availability of services, materials, facilities and infrastructure: Housing is not adequate if its occupants do not have safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, energy for cooking, heating and lighting, sanitation and washing facilities, means of food storage, refuse disposal, etc.;

Accessibility: Housing is not adequate if the specific needs of disadvantaged and marginalized groups are not taken into account (such as the poor, people facing discrimination; persons with disabilities, victims of natural disasters);

Location: Adequate housing must allow access to employment options, health-care services, schools, child-care centres and other social facilities and should not be built on polluted sites nor in immediate proximity to pollution sources;

Cultural adequacy: Adequate housing should respect and take into account the expression of cultural identity and ways of life..."

PDF: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FS21_rev_1_Housing_en.pdf

When you've tried to resolve your problems.. and all fails... file a complaint with
http://nwthumanrights.ca/
NWT Human Rights Commission
Write:
PO Box 1860
Yellowknife, NT  X1A 2P4
E-mail: info@nwthumanrights.ca
Fax: 867-873-0357
Call:
Toll Free: 1-888-669-5575
Yellowknife: 867-669-5575
Visit:
Main Floor, Laing Building, 5003-49th Street
(Entrance on Franklin Street, next to Motor Vehicles.)
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/nwthrc

When you've tried to resolve your problems.. and all fails... file a complaint with
Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal
http://www.nhrt.ca/
All communications requesting information or relating to files must be through the Office of Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal. The Tribunal members do not respond to personal communications in relation to the Tribunal activities except during prearranged teleconferences, mediations and hearings.

Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal
PO Box 15
Coral Harbour, NU X0C 0C0
Hours of Operation:
    April to October: 8:30 to 5:00 pm Central Standard Time
    November to March: 8:30 to 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time
    Note: Coral Harbour, NU does not change time
1-888-220-1011 - Toll Free Fax
1-866-413-6478 - Toll-free Telephone
Email: nunavuthumanrights@gov.nu.ca

Wednesday 9 April 2014

>@CWP_CSP Voter vouching upholds a Charter enshrined right to vote @FairElxnsAct ... for the most disadvantaged groups.

As the member of the Canada Without Poverty Board for the NWT, I forward this statement from out Executive Director Leilani Farha:
"...While the Fair Elections Act would continue to allow for 39 forms of ID, ranging from a bank card to government cheque stub to health card or drivers license, there are no provisions to ensure individuals lacking those types of ID can still vote. The vouching system upholds the Charter enshrined right to vote for those individuals who do not have traditional forms of ID, individuals who most often come from disadvantaged groups. For example, voter vouching has been essential to those experiencing homelessness – people living on the streets or in shelters – whose identification is sometimes stolen or lost. Without voter vouching, their right to vote will be denied. It is also essential for Aboriginal peoples living on reserve, students, people living in rural areas without public offices or amenities such as libraries, those without access to transportation, and those, like women fleeing domestic violence, who unexpectedly find themselves without any ID at all. Legislation pertaining to the most fundamental democratic rights must ensure protections for the most disadvantaged groups.
Let's be clear – by eliminating vouching the cornerstone of democracy will be denied to thousands of people. The Chief Electoral Officer has stated that removing vouching as an option will impact over 100,000 people. Voter vouching upholds a Charter enshrined right (to vote) for groups who are in precarious situations, including groups that are meant to be protected by the Charter. Vouching must be maintained...."
Leilani Farha
Executive Director
CANADA WITHOUT POVERTY/CANADA SANS PAUVRETÉ
http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2014/04/cwp-speaks-out-against-the-federal-elections-act-on-the-hill/

CWP recommends that the Government stop talking for a moment and reflect on the fact that it is about to rob tens of thousands of disadvantaged Canadians of their democratic citizenship. 
Maintain vouching. Work collaboratively with Elections Canada to fix the vouch voting system so that it functions more effectively.
In a true democracy, all voices matter.

Friday 4 April 2014

Need help #applying for a #job with the #GNWT? #Yellowknife #NWT #YZF

Need help applying for a #job with the #GNWT?

WHO:  #GNWT #Human #Resources 
WHAT: Open House in Yellowknife
WHEN: April 9 and 10, 2014
WHERE: In the basement near Gourmet Cup/downtown Grocery Store

GNWT Human Resources is having an open house to help applicants understand the GNWT job application  process on April 9 and 10;

Folks are invited to bring their resumes and they will have computers set up to walk you through their application process.

For more information you may contact:
Christy Campbell
Human Resource Officer
Tel: (867) 873-7913 
Christy_Campbell@gov.nt.ca