Alessia Passafiume

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Alessia Passafiume.

Boost Indigenous business to counter Trump's tariff threats, leaders say

Boost Indigenous business to counter Trump's tariff threats, leaders say

OTTAWA -- As U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats rattle Canadian investors, the head of a group representing thousands of...

Poilievre says he's 'not aware' of more than two genders, has other priorities

Poilievre says he's 'not aware' of more than two genders, has other priorities

OTTAWA -- Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Wednesday he is only aware of two genders -- male and female --...

Poilievre 'not aware' of more than two genders; says there are other priorities

Poilievre 'not aware' of more than two genders; says there are other priorities

OTTAWA -- Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he is only aware of two genders -- male and female -- and...

Trans activist wants federal guidance on U.S. travel after Trump orders

Trans activist wants federal guidance on U.S. travel after Trump orders

OTTAWA -- A prominent trans activist says she'll be avoiding travel to the U.S. following President Donald Trump's executive order...

Group says disability benefit at risk unless Ottawa moves quickly on regulations

Group says disability benefit at risk unless Ottawa moves quickly on regulations

OTTAWA -- An organization advocating for people with disabilities says the new federal disability benefit could be delayed beyond the...

Indigenous leaders, barred from premiers meeting, want in on Canada-U.S. talks

Indigenous leaders, barred from premiers meeting, want in on Canada-U.S. talks

OTTAWA -- Three national Indigenous leaders say Indigenous Peoples should be at the centre of any discussions on how the...

AFN chief says First Nations should be at the centre of Canada-U.S. tariff talks

AFN chief says First Nations should be at the centre of Canada-U.S. tariff talks

OTTAWA -- Three national Indigenous leaders say Indigenous Peoples should be at the centre of any discussions on how the...

AFN chief says First Nations should be at the centre of Canada-U.S. tariffs talks

AFN chief says First Nations should be at the centre of Canada-U.S. tariffs talks

OTTAWA -- The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says First Nations should be at the centre of...

First Nations group presses Ottawa to come back to the table for child welfare talks

First Nations group presses Ottawa to come back to the table for child welfare talks

OTTAWA -- The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society is calling on the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to force...

Caring Society tries to force Canada back to the table to talk child welfare reform

Caring Society tries to force Canada back to the table to talk child welfare reform

OTTAWA -- The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society is calling on the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to force...

Jaime Battiste first Indigenous candidate to join Liberal leadership race

Jaime Battiste first Indigenous candidate to join Liberal leadership race

OTTAWA -- Jaime Battiste says that if he can't be the most powerful and wealthy candidate in the race for...

Trudeau says Trump's comments on 51st state 'flattering' but a 'non-starter'

Trudeau says Trump's comments on 51st state 'flattering' but a 'non-starter'

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says talk of Canada becoming the 51st state is a distraction from more pressing...

Hajdu says failing to pass First Nations water bill would be 'deep disappointment'

Hajdu says failing to pass First Nations water bill would be 'deep disappointment'

OTTAWA -- Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu says it will be a "deep disappointment" if a First Nations drinking water...

Ontario First Nations to negotiate child welfare reforms with Ottawa

Ontario First Nations to negotiate child welfare reforms with Ottawa

OTTAWA -- First Nations in Ontario are charting their own path with the federal government to reform the child welfare...

LeBlanc and Joly offer little details about visit with Trump's team in Florida

LeBlanc and Joly offer little details about visit with Trump's team in Florida

OTTAWA -- Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan...

Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments

Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments

Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new border plan with Donald Trump's transition...

Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments

Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments

OTTAWA -- Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new border plan with Donald...

Virani says new wrongful conviction commission will support women, racialized people

Virani says new wrongful conviction commission will support women, racialized people

OTTAWA -- The federal justice minister says a new commission that will review potential wrongful convictions will help racialized and...

Survivors' Secretariat warns it's at risk of bankruptcy without funding decision

Survivors' Secretariat warns it's at risk of bankruptcy without funding decision

OTTAWA -- The Survivors' Secretariat says it will be bankrupt by the end of the month unless Canada makes a...

Canadians won't be taxed on disability benefit under proposed rule change

Canadians won't be taxed on disability benefit under proposed rule change

OTTAWA -- The Liberals are planning to introduce legislation to exempt the Canada Disability Benefit from being treated as income...

National chief urges MPs to send water bill to Senate before holiday break

National chief urges MPs to send water bill to Senate before holiday break

OTTAWA -- The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is calling on all members of Parliament to send...

Canada can't say when it will clear 140,000 backlogged cases for First Nations kids

OTTAWA -- Canada told the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal it can't say when it will work through 140,000 backlogged requests...

Law firm warns $47.8B First Nations child welfare reforms could be lost with election

Law firm warns $47.8B First Nations child welfare reforms could be lost with election

OTTAWA -- A legal review commissioned by the Assembly of First Nations is warning a $47.8 billion deal to reform...

AFN says it's not prepared to implement chiefs' child welfare direction

AFN says it's not prepared to implement chiefs' child welfare direction

OTTAWA -- The Assembly of First Nations is warning it's not equipped to implement the direction it received from chiefs...

Metis National Council elects new president after months of internal turmoil

Metis National Council elects new president after months of internal turmoil

OTTAWA -- The Metis National Council says it has elected a new president after months of turmoil that saw the...

Ontario First Nations mull next steps on child welfare amid various legal opinions

Ontario First Nations mull next steps on child welfare amid various legal opinions

OTTAWA -- First Nations leaders are split over next steps after a landmark $47.8 billion child welfare reform deal with...

Trudeau, ministers and opposition leaders address AFN gathering in Ottawa

Trudeau, ministers and opposition leaders address AFN gathering in Ottawa

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fell short of committing to a national inquiry on systemic racism in policing this...

Chiefs vote for new negotiations on child welfare reforms, inclusion of N.W.T.

Chiefs vote for new negotiations on child welfare reforms, inclusion of N.W.T.

OTTAWA -- First Nations chiefs agreed Wednesday to launch new negotiations with Canada over child welfare after voting down a...

AFN demands national inquiry into systemic racism in policing, police-related deaths

AFN demands national inquiry into systemic racism in policing, police-related deaths

OTTAWA -- The Assembly of First Nations is demanding the federal government launch a national inquiry into systemic racism in...

AFN women's council 'grateful' Anaida Poilievre no longer addressing gathering

AFN women's council 'grateful' Anaida Poilievre no longer addressing gathering

OTTAWA -- The Assembly of First Nations' women's council said it's grateful Anaida Poilievre will no longer be addressing their...

Assembly of First Nations special chiefs assembly kicks off in Ottawa

Assembly of First Nations special chiefs assembly kicks off in Ottawa

OTTAWA -- The Assembly of First Nations is hosting a special chiefs assembly in Ottawa today with child welfare, economic...

AFN special chiefs assembly to focus on child welfare, policing, economics

AFN special chiefs assembly to focus on child welfare, policing, economics

OTTAWA -- Hundreds of First Nations chiefs are gathering in Ottawa for three days this week to discuss economic reconciliation...

Manitoba Metis Federation to be first Metis group with modern treaty in Canada

Manitoba Metis Federation to be first Metis group with modern treaty in Canada

OTTAWA -- The Manitoba Metis Federation will be the first Metis group to sign a modern treaty with the federal...

Manitoba Metis Federation to be first Metis group with modern treaty with Canada

Manitoba Metis Federation to be first Metis group with modern treaty with Canada

OTTAWA -- The Manitoba Metis Federation will be the first Metis group to sign a modern treaty with the federal...

Blair says future of defence relies on building relationships with Indigenous Peoples

Blair says future of defence relies on building relationships with Indigenous Peoples

OTTAWA -- Defence Minister Bill Blair says his department's future success depends upon building and strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities...

Inuit Nunangat University closer to realization with $50M from Mastercard Foundation

Inuit Nunangat University closer to realization with $50M from Mastercard Foundation

OTTAWA -- The dream to open an Inuit-led university is one step closer to realization, the president of Inuit Tapiriit...

Inuit Nunangat University closer to realization with $50M Mastercard investment

Inuit Nunangat University closer to realization with $50M Mastercard investment

OTTAWA -- The president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami says the dream to open an Inuit-led university is one step closer...

Closing First Nations infrastructure gap could generate $635B: report

Closing First Nations infrastructure gap could generate $635B: report

OTTAWA -- Closing the First Nations infrastructure gap could generate $635-billion in economic output over the next seven years, a...

Boissonnault's former company suspended from federal procurement

Boissonnault's former company suspended from federal procurement

OTTAWA -- The federal government is barring a company previously co-owned by a Liberal MP and former minister from bidding...

Canada ordered to address Jordan's Principle backlog, find new solutions

Canada ordered to address Jordan's Principle backlog, find new solutions

OTTAWA -- The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has ordered Canada to address a backlog of requests under Jordan's Principle which...

Liberal MP accuses opposition MPs of wasting time on another Boissonnault probe

Liberal MP accuses opposition MPs of wasting time on another Boissonnault probe

A Liberal MP says his committee colleagues are wasting time by launching a third inquiry into the former employment minister...

Liberal MP accuses opposition MPs of wasting time on another Boissonnault probe

Liberal MP accuses opposition MPs of wasting time on another Boissonnault probe

OTTAWA -- A Liberal MP says his committee colleagues are wasting time by launching a third inquiry into the former...

NDP MP calls on Boissonnault to resign over false claims to Indigenous identity

NDP MP calls on Boissonnault to resign over false claims to Indigenous identity

A Metis member of Parliament is calling on the employment minister to resign over what he calls harmful false claims...

NDP MP calls on Boissonnault to resign over false claims to Indigenous identity

NDP MP calls on Boissonnault to resign over false claims to Indigenous identity

OTTAWA -- A Metis member of Parliament is calling on the employment minister to resign over what he calls harmful...

$375M announced for Indigenous-led conservation in Northwest Territories

$375M announced for Indigenous-led conservation in Northwest Territories

OTTAWA -- K'ahsho Got'ine guardians Twyla Edgi-Masuzumi, John Tobac and Buddy Gully pulled more than 300 fish out of the...

Indigenous groups, government and industry launch $375M for conservation in N.W.T.

Indigenous groups, government and industry launch $375M for conservation in N.W.T.

OTTAWA -- K'ahsho Got'ine guardians Twyla Edgi-Masuzumi, John Tobac and Buddy Gully pulled more than 300 fish out of the...

Chair of Liberal Indigenous caucus says identity 'complicated' as members questioned

Chair of Liberal Indigenous caucus says identity 'complicated' as members questioned

The chair of the Liberal party's Indigenous caucus says Indigenous identity is "complicated" after questions have been raised about the...

Indigenous groups, government and industry launch $375M for conservation initiatives

OTTAWA -- A new $375-million conservation fund being created in the Northwest Territories is the largest single investment in Indigenous-led...

Chair of Liberal Indigenous caucus says identity 'complicated' as members questioned

Chair of Liberal Indigenous caucus says identity 'complicated' as members questioned

OTTAWA -- The chair of the Liberal party's Indigenous caucus says Indigenous identity is "complicated" after questions have been raised...

Report details anti-Black racism in the public service, calls for commissioner

Report details anti-Black racism in the public service, calls for commissioner

OTTAWA -- A government-funded report says Black executives within the public service are subject to harassment and intimidation, career stagnation...

Housing minister announces applications open for $1B critical infrastructure program

Housing minister announces applications open for $1B critical infrastructure program

OTTAWA -- Applications opened Thursday for a $1-billion federal program to help municipalities and Indigenous communities build critical infrastructure.

B.C. Metis group leaves Metis National Council assembly, mulls removal entirely

OTTAWA -- The Metis National Council says its election for a new president will be delayed following the withdrawal of...

Survivors call on Canada to criminalize residential school denialism

Survivors call on Canada to criminalize residential school denialism

OTTAWA -- Residential school survivors are calling on Canada to criminalize residential school denialism, days after the release of a...

Special interlocutor calls for 20-year probe into missing Indigenous children

Special interlocutor calls for 20-year probe into missing Indigenous children

OTTAWA -- A final report into missing children and unmarked graves at residential schools is calling on the federal government...

Final report coming today on unmarked graves, missing children in residential schools

Final report coming today on unmarked graves, missing children in residential schools

OTTAWA -- A final report is set to be released today by Canada's special interlocutor for missing children and unmarked...

Lawsuit alleging anti-Black racism in federal public service heads to Federal Court

Lawsuit alleging anti-Black racism in federal public service heads to Federal Court

OTTAWA -- A Federal Court hearing is underway today to determine whether a group of Black public servants can proceed...

Some say it's time for Canada to criminalize residential school denialism

Some say it's time for Canada to criminalize residential school denialism

As a young child, Dennis Saddleman's mother always ensured he knew how much she loved him, gave him kisses on...

Some say it's time for Canada to criminalize residential school denialism

Some say it's time for Canada to criminalize residential school denialism

OTTAWA -- As a young child, Dennis Saddleman's mother always ensured he knew how much she loved him, gave him...

Families call for inquiry after nine Indigenous people killed in police interactions

Families call for inquiry after nine Indigenous people killed in police interactions

OTTAWA -- Black and Indigenous women gathered in Ottawa to demand action following a spate of police-involved deaths, including nine...

Child welfare reform is in the hands of the AFN after deal voted down, minister says

Child welfare reform is in the hands of the AFN after deal voted down, minister says

OTTAWA -- Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu says it is up to the Assembly of First Nations to come back...