Sinclair calls out 'intimidating' Mounties Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up here to get it delivered weekday mornings. The RCMP has launched a "major investigation" into the discovery of the remains of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, former Truth and Reconciliation Commission chair Murray Sinclair said Thursday. But Sinclair, a former Senator and judge, was critical of the way police are investigating, saying they were “simply intimidating people.” Sinclair said that an investigation into remains of children at schools across Canada should be conducted independently of the federal justice department or the department of Indigenous affairs. RCMP officers played a “clear and unavoidable” role in running the residential school system, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said Wednesday. A plan for justice: The Trudeau government on Thursday unveiled a 113-page report promising "transformative changes" in response to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which included 231 “calls for justice.” The CBC reports: The 'Federal Pathway' report called for a holistic approach, co-developed with input from First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, to end the scourge of violence disproportionately directed at Indigenous women and gender-diverse people. The plan includes government promises to spend more on Indigenous language, culture, infrastructure, health and policing. Ottawa will give communities more control over social services to ensure a culturally relevant approach to governance. The action plan, which does not yet include priced commitments, includes plans for public awareness campaigns, training programs, shelters and a guaranteed income. Tenille Campbell, a Dene-Métis mother, writes in Maclean's about how she faced the difficult task of telling her daughter about the news from Kamloops. I am exhausted, so tired of having to explain to my nine-year-old daughter the atrocities of the past—and the present—that happen to Indigenous people. I am tired of watching the light in her eyes die out every time she comes to the realization that people hate us because of who we are, what we represent. The pride in knowing our roots and our history and where we come from is always in direct conflict with ideas of the Canadian history shown in textbooks, and explaining the term genocide and how it applies to her, to us, is a soul-wearying moment. Racism in health: In Macleans, Pam Palmater, a Mi'kmaw lawyer and activist for Indigenous women, writes that the tragic death of Joyce Echaquan shows that systemic racism in health care continues because it has been normalized, ignored and denied, which puts an onerous burden on Indigenous people to draw attention to the problem. Were it not for Echaquan’s phone recordings, there would be no investigation or media attention on the racist attacks she experienced from hospital staff before her death. Yet, even now, with the video- and audio-recorded evidence, one nurse involved says she isn’t racist—just overworked. Centre Block showdown: Public Services Minister Anita Anand has written to the Senate leadership to tell them their plans for improvements to the Centre Block's Senate chambers are too fancy. The changes senators have proposed would add $100 million to the ongoing renovations. Senators want three new committee rooms that would cost more than $47 million. Grounded: MPs voted unanimously on Thursday to condemn Air Canada for paying executives millions in bonuses while negotiating a COVID bailout from the federal government. The motion states “that this House condemn the decision of senior management of Air Canada to pay themselves $20 million in executive bonuses when they’re received $6 billion in public assistance.” Less COVID: Canada’s per capita rate of new cases fell for the 29th consecutive day, to the lowest level since Oct. 18, just before the post-Thanksgiving holiday surge of cases near the start of the second wave, Patricia Treble writes in Maclean's. Vaccinations are no doubt helping to stem the tide. As of Thursday, 67 per cent of eligible Canadians 12 and older have received at least one dose of vaccine. Canada could be getting more doses directly from the United States in a plan the Americans unveiled Thursday. The offer comes as Canada is under pressure to do more to share vaccines with other countries. The Canadian Press reports: "By August, Canada will have enough to fully vaccinate its entire population," reads a statement signed by 32 agencies and organizations, including the Canadian arms of One, UNICEF, World Vision, the Mennonite Central Committee, Canadian Council of Imams and the Anglican Council of Indigenous People. The groups joined together Thursday to pressure Canada to donate to COVAX four million doses by the end of June—one-tenth of the doses Canada expects to have delivered by then—and then to donate up to 94 million excess doses by the end of the year. "Canada has ordered more doses per capita (more than 10) than any other country and therefore has a responsibility to share with the world," the groups said. Wine at the cabinet table: Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is getting called out after a photo leaked showing him and some of his ministers wining and dining in an apparent violation of public health rules. Albertans are not amused, writes veteran commentator Don Braid. — Stephen Maher | 
