Winnipeg Free Press

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Smoke from an out-of-control fire in northeastern Manitoba has created issues in Red Sucker Lake, Wasagamack and God’s Lake First Nations. The province said fire is not threatening the communities, but smoke is a health risk for the elderly, young children and people with res- piratory issues. “The direction of the wind and the humidity could allow the smoke to stay closer to the ground and be trapped in some of those commun- ities,” said Earl Simmons, the prov- incial wildfire service director. “We’re sending water bombers, and our crews are out there trying to prevent that fire from reaching any of those communities and the hydro line.” About 1,400 residents from the three First Nations were sent to Winnipeg or Brandon starting last Friday, said Simmons. The evacuations are “dynamic and fluid” at this time, he added. Another nearby community, Manto Sipi Cree Nation, started evacuations Tuesday for members with the highest health concerns, the Canadian Red Cross said. The organization is supporting more than 700 evacuees from the affected communities, as well as Marcel Colomb First Nation, which ordered a complete evacuation last week due to another wildfire. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okima- kanak, which represents most north- ern First Nations in the province, said this year’s evacuations have gone ahead with minimal obstruc- tions. “The leadership in these commun- ities have been very strong and very proactive. That really makes a dif- ference so that we’ll minimize any kind of panic or chaos when they are evacuating the communities,” Grand Chief Garrison Settee said on Tues- day. The advocacy organization is working with food bank Harvest Manitoba to get supplies to evacuees. Simmons said there have been about 165 wildfires so far this year, with 50 currently active, which is below the average of 277 for the same time in previous years. “This fire activity just started up in the last few weeks. Prior to that, we had a good month or so with no fire activity and a lot of rain across the province,” said Simmons. “We’ve got a fair bit of dry light- ning coming through. Because of these dry conditions they’re starting fires. We’re trying to jump on those fires before they get going.” Fire crews from Ontario and water bombers from Quebec have been brought in to help with firefighting efforts. — The Canadian Press NEWS I LOCAL / CANADA WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2024 Action from PM needed on discrimination report J UST when I thought maybe — just maybe — Canadian society has made progress on racial discrimin- ation, a disturbing report out of Ottawa shows that white supremacy is alive and well at the highest level of bureau- cracy in the federal government. The Coalition Against Workplace Discrimination obtained an internal report from the federal public service that examined allegations of racial discrimination against Black and other racialized staff, including Indigenous workers, in the Privy Council Office. The report was released Monday. What it found was a culture of white supremacy where racial slurs are common — including the use of the N-word — and where non-white staff are regularly passed up for promotions in favour of their white colleagues. “Black and racialized employees — through dozens of examples of racial stereotyping, microaggressions and verbal violence — described a work- place culture where such behaviour is regularly practised and normalized, including at the executive level,” the report says. The PCO is the highest level of bu- reaucracy in the federal civil service. It serves the Prime Minster’s Office and cabinet and sets the tone for the entire government. The clerk of the PCO is the highest-ranking bureaucrat in the federal government. It’s not a stretch to say that what goes on in the PCO likely has a cascading effect on the rest of the federal civil service. It is beyond dumbfounding that this still goes on in any workplace in Canada, much less at the most senior level of administration in the federal government. People are seriously using the N-word in the PCO? And according to the report, they’re using it “comfort- ably” in front of Black staff? You gotta be kidding me. How is this happening in 2024 and why haven’t heads rolled? The report shows white employees work in the PCO for longer periods of time than non-white staff and are “clustered in permanent and high- er-level positions.” Non-Black em- ployees of colour say they observed anti-Black discrimination from man- agers and employees that negatively impacted the career advancements of Black staff. Staff “detailed a culture of whiteness at the executive levels and the ways in which a clear preference for whiteness is pervasive at PCO,” the report says. Many racialized employees who were passed up for promotions had high performance reviews but saw white staff who trained with them advance above their level. Also, Black employees were “chastised or discour- aged” from taking part in diversity, equity and inclusion work, the report says. What’s shocking is no one seems to be taking responsibility for this. The silence from elected officials is deafening. “Racism and discrimination is never acceptable,” Finance Minister Chrys- tia Freeland said when asked about the report Monday. “It’s not acceptable anywhere in Canada, least of all inside our government.” That’s it? No followup? No public statement that government is appalled by these findings and that it is launch- ing an inquiry into what is obviously a toxic and grotesque culture at the high- est level of the federal bureaucracy? Instead, all Canadians get is a talking-point answer from the finance minister. Where is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on this? Why has he not launched a further review into these findings and held senior bureaucrats responsible for them? When the PCO was asked for com- ment on the report, it did not respond to a request from The Canadian Press. Senior bureaucrats obviously prefer to bury the report instead. It’s not surprising. It appears government was planning to keep this report under wraps all along. The only reason it was released is because the Coalition Against Workplace Discrim- ination obtained it through a freedom of information request. That means the federal Liberal government — which purports to be the great defender of ra- cial equality — was happy to withhold this information from the public. The question now is, where else in the federal public service is this happening? It’s a broader question that should be examined. If this is the tone set at the highest level of administration in the federal government, it likely exists elsewhere. If white supremacy and racism have been normalized at that level, chances are it has a cascading effect on other levels of the bureaucracy. More importantly, it’s devastating for Black and other racialized staff who have to endure this level of hatred and exclusion by white managers and employees. This report should be dealt with by the prime minister and cabinet. Just because it was released in the dead of summer when few people pay attention to politics or what’s going on in Ottawa, doesn’t mean it should collect dust on some bureaucrat’s shelf. Canadians should be very disturbed by this. tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca TOM BRODBECK OPINION Northern First Nations sending residents south due to wildfire smoke BRITTANY HOBSON PROVINCE TRUMPETS $49M IN ROAD REPAIRS THE provincial government is touting $49 million in southern Manitoba road repairs and construction projects to enhance safety and strengthen the economy. “People throughout southern Manitoba can look forward to improved driving condi- tions on important routes,” Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor said in a press release Tuesday. Projects recently completed, currently underway or scheduled to start imminently include reconstruction of the southbound lanes on a section of Highway 75 and the completed intersection reconstruction of the Trans-Canada Highway at Deacon’s Corner. Rural Municipality of Montcalm Reeve Paul Gilmore said the Highway 75 repairs are long overdue. “I’m certain our ratepayers will applaud this initiative along with the thousands of travellers on this major highway connecting Manitoba to our southern neighbours,” he said in the press release. This year’s provincial budget included $500 million in capital funding to repair and rebuild Manitoba’s highways and public infrastructure. NEW ACCESSIBLE SPRAY PAD OPENS IN MAPLES A state-of-the-art, 3,000-square-foot accessible spray pad and playground opened Tuesday at Adsum Park in The Maples. The $1.7-million recreational infrastructure received funding from all three levels of government and the neighbourhood. In addition to the new spray pad and play- ground, the project included new asphalt pathways, seating areas, fencing, benches, picnic tables, a bike rack, shade structures and upgraded landscaping. The park upgrades received $400,000 from the federal Canada Community Building Fund, $545,000 from the provincial Building Sustainable Communities Program, $723,000 from the City of Winnipeg, and $50,000 from Maples Recreation Association Inc. IN BRIEF ;