McMaster: Republicans Have to 'Disabuse Themselves of This Strange Affection for Vladimir Putin'OTTAWA — First Nations leaders in Manitoba are calling on the federal government to address a backlog in requests for Indigenous children to receive swift access to health care and other services. They say the delay in approval of requests under Jordan's Principle has resulted in communities paying out of pocket for health, social or educational services that are supported under the principle, putting other important programming at risk. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said the backlog has added financial strain to communities, forcing them to provide essential services with limited resources. "Many First Nations are trying to meet the needs of their families. They are not receiving funding to provide these services. They are currently running deficits," acting Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy told reporters in Ottawa on Thursday during the Assembly of First Nations annual winter meeting. "First Nations need (Indigenous Services Canada) to fully resource and prioritize full and equitable funding and reimbursement for costs before year's end." Kennedy added First Nations often have to refer their members to other organizations that are also not getting fully funded to complete requests for assistance. The principle is named after Jordan River Anderson of Norway House Cree Nation in northern Manitoba. Born in 1999 with multiple disabilities, Anderson died at the age of five without ever leaving the hospital because federal and provincial governments couldn't decide who should pay for his at-home care. The principle stipulates that when a First Nations child needs health, social or educational services, they are to receive them from the government first approached, with questions about final jurisdiction worked out afterward. Some projects in the 11 First Nations the Keewatin Tribal Council in northern Manitoba represents are at a standstill because money has had to be allocated to cover the costs of service requests, said Grand Chief Walter Wastesicoot. "There's a deep, deep hole there right now," he said. The Keewatin Tribal Council previously had to pay $7 million out of pocket for Jordan's Principle requests before the federal government reimbursed them, said Wastesicoot. He said the Keewatin communities are currently owed millions, but could not provide an exact amount. Kennedy said a regional Indigenous Services Canada representative told the assembly that there may not be further funding for First Nations until the fiscal year ends. Indigenous Services Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The department says on the government's website that Ottawa has provided more than 8.2 million products, services and supports under the principle from 2016 to the end of October of this year. The office of Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu previously told The Canadian Press that the department remains focused on ensuring First Nations children can access the services they need, and that since 2016, the federal government has allocated nearly $8.1 billion to meet the needs of First Nations children. The Manitoba chiefs' complaints come as the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has ordered Canada to address a backlog of requests. The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society raised concerns earlier this year that Ottawa was taking too long to process requests for financing through Jordan's Principle, leaving children without access to services. Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the Caring Society, said the ever-growing backlog is of Canada's own making. "Canada chose to create these backlogs," she said while supporting chiefs on Thursday. "They're not saying they're overwhelmed and backlogged with thousands of cases under a Canadian pension plan or under an unemployment insurance. The government does this stuff. It is choosing not to do it and it's making excuses for itself." Urgent Jordan’s Principle requests are supposed to be processed within 24 hours. But they are taking up to one month to be reviewed, says Independent First Nations, an advocacy body representing a dozen First Nations in Ontario and Quebec. Blackstock filed an affidavit earlier this year that said nearly half of requests made by individuals from those First Nations in 2023-24 are still in review, along with 10 per cent of the files submitted in 2022-23. The tribunal ordered Canada to return to it with a detailed plan, timelines and targets to address the backlog before Dec. 10. -- By Brittany Hobson in Winnipeg. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. The Canadian Press

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Some junior college athletes will see their careers extended, at least for now. The NCAA Division I Board of Directors, composed of university presidents, agreed to a waiver for junior college players that grants them an additional year of eligibility if they are in a similar situation as Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. Pavia is suing the NCAA over its eligibility standards, arguing that his junior college playing seasons should not count as part of his four seasons of NCAA eligibility. The NCAA DI Board’s decision came five days after a that prohibits the association from counting his junior college seasons, granting him an additional year of eligibility. The court ruling only applied to Pavia. However, the NCAA, in an effort to keep fairness among its competitive schools, granted additional eligibility to all similarly positioned athletes, according to a memo sent to schools. Athletes like Pavia who were expected to use their final year of eligibility this academic year are now eligible next season. Pavia played two seasons of junior college and three seasons of Division I football (one of those being the COVID redshirt season). Because of the court ruling, he will receive a sixth season of NCAA eligibility. “The NCAA Division I Board of Directors granted a waiver to permit student-athletes who attended and competed at a non-NCAA school for one or more years to remain eligible and compete in 2025-26,” the NCAA memo reads, “if those student-athletes would have otherwise used their final season of competition during the 2024-25 academic year, and meet all other eligibility requirements (e.g., progress toward degree, five-year period of eligibility).” The NCAA also plans to file an appeal to the court’s ruling in the Pavia lawsuit, it announced Monday. In perhaps more important news, the NCAA could be barreling toward a more significant change to its eligibility rules, something the association suggested in its memo to schools Monday. The NCAA’s memo reminded schools that the Division I Council is exploring a “comprehensive” review of eligibility rules to create a framework that will be “sustainable and can withstand scrutiny,” the memo said. There is movement from college leaders to adjust the eligibility rule in a way that grants athletes five playing seasons in a five-year time span. Current NCAA rules permit athletes four playing seasons over a five-year stretch, often referred to as the association’s “five-year eligibility clock.” For now, only certain sports grant athletes the ability to play in multiple contests and still retain a year of eligibility. For instance, football players can recoup a season of eligibility with a redshirt if they play in fewer than four games during a season. The NCAA board’s ruling Monday opens the door for hundreds, if not thousands, of former junior college athletes to have their careers extended, if they so choose. As the NCAA suggested in its statement on the injunction last week, the consequences of such will be felt by high school players whose projected roster spots are no longer becoming free. The decision comes amid an unstable and somewhat chaotic time, too. Schools are scrambling to adhere to new rules imposed as part of the NCAA’s landmark settlement of the House antitrust case, including stricter limitations on the size of rosters. among the power leagues alone. “Altering the enforcement of rules overwhelmingly supported by NCAA member schools makes a shifting environment even more unsettled,” the association said in the statement last week. The court’s ruling last week is the third major court decision in the last year to bar the association from enforcing a rule. A West Virginia court made it possible for athletes who are transferring a second time or more to play immediately. A ruling in a Tennessee federal court made mostly moot the NCAA’s interim NIL policy, permitting boosters and booster-led collectives to negotiate with athletes before they enroll. At the heart of Pavia’s argument is the fact that he and other athletes are now eligible to receive compensation from boosters and, soon, from schools through the . He stands to earn at least $1 million next year in college, he says in the filing. It's money he'd otherwise miss out on if he had run out of eligibility. Starting in July, schools are permitted to directly share revenue with athletes. It paves the way for millions of dollars — as much as $20.5 million annually per school — to be shared with athletes in a giant step as . It’s a good reason for athletes — especially players unlikely to be drafted — to remain in college as long as they can.

Vanguard offers 86 exchange-traded funds (ETFs). With such a large lineup, it might seem there would be a Vanguard ETF for any market condition. But what if President-elect Trump's proposed tariffs of up to 20% on all imports and even higher tariffs on Chinese imports are imposed? Many economists think these tariffs could cause inflation to jump again. Multiple studies of Trump's proposals predict a negative impact on the U.S. economy. Does Vanguard have any ETFs suitable for such an environment if these projections are right? I think so. These three Vanguard ETFs could be smart picks if Trump gets his way on tariffs. 1. Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF ( VDC 1.08% ) owns 104 consumer staples stocks , all based in the U.S. Its top holdings include Procter & Gamble , Costco Wholesale , Walmart , Coca-Cola , and Philip Morris . These five stocks combined make up nearly half of the ETF's total portfolio. Arguably, the most important reason this Vanguard ETF would likely hold up well if high tariffs are imposed is that the businesses it owns primarily sell essential goods. The demand for food, beverages, household products, personal care products, and tobacco products should remain solid, even if tariffs contribute to economic uncertainty in the U.S. Granted, some companies in the Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF's portfolio have significant international exposure. This fund could fall if tariffs lead to trade wars with other countries. However, consumer staples is a defensive sector that often performs better than most sectors during turbulent periods. Companies in the sector should be in a stronger position to pass along price increases to customers without affecting sales too much. 2. Vanguard Financials ETF The Vanguard Financials ETF ( VFH 1.25% ) owns 404 U.S.-based financial services stocks . Its top holdings include JPMorgan Chase , Berkshire Hathaway , Mastercard , Visa , and Bank of America . These five stocks together comprise roughly 30% of the ETF's portfolio. Why might this Vanguard ETF perform relatively well if Trump's proposed tariffs become effective? For one thing, the banks in the ETF's portfolio could benefit from higher interest income if tariffs spur the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates . Insurance stocks owned by the ETF should be largely immune to the effects of tariffs. Though some of the Vanguard Financials ETF's holdings could be negatively impacted by tariffs. For example, Mastercard and Visa could suffer if tariffs cause cross-border transaction volumes to decline. Should tariffs lead to higher interest rates, mortgage real estate investment trusts (REITs) would likely incur higher costs to fund growth. Another Trump proposal could also boost this Vanguard ETF. The president-elect wants to reduce regulations. Large financial services companies would probably especially benefit from deregulation. 3. Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF The Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF ( VIOO 1.59% ) is another ETF that could be in relatively good shape in a high-tariff environment. This fund owns 604 stocks in the S&P Small-Cap 600 Index, which focuses on smaller U.S. companies. It's highly diversified , with no single stock making up more than 0.7% of the total portfolio. Smaller companies tend to focus more on the domestic market, with less exposure to global markets. This largely insulates many of them from the negative impact of tariffs. Some could even be helped by tariffs if they can capture market share from international competitors. That said, some of the Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF's holdings have extensive international operations and could be hurt by tariffs. For example, Mueller Industries , the ETF's top holding, manufactures products that include piping, industrial metals, and climate system components. Roughly one-fourth of the company's revenue stems from outside the U.S. However, many of the small companies in the Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF are more heavily (if not exclusively) focused on the U.S. market. Overall, this Vanguard ETF seems likely to perform better than most if Trump's tariffs are imposed.

OTTAWA - First Nations leaders in Manitoba are calling on the federal government to address a backlog in requests for Indigenous children to receive swift access to health care and other services. They say the delay in approval of requests under Jordan’s Principle has resulted in communities paying out of pocket for health, social or educational services that are supported under the principle, putting other important programming at risk. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said the backlog has added financial strain to communities, forcing them to provide essential services with limited resources. “Many First Nations are trying to meet the needs of their families. They are not receiving funding to provide these services. They are currently running deficits,” acting Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy told reporters in Ottawa on Thursday during the Assembly of First Nations annual winter meeting. “First Nations need (Indigenous Services Canada) to fully resource and prioritize full and equitable funding and reimbursement for costs before year’s end.” Kennedy added First Nations often have to refer their members to other organizations that are also not getting fully funded to complete requests for assistance. The principle is named after Jordan River Anderson of Norway House Cree Nation in northern Manitoba. Born in 1999 with multiple disabilities, Anderson died at the age of five without ever leaving the hospital because federal and provincial governments couldn’t decide who should pay for his at-home care. The principle stipulates that when a First Nations child needs health, social or educational services, they are to receive them from the government first approached, with questions about final jurisdiction worked out afterward. Some projects in the 11 First Nations the Keewatin Tribal Council in northern Manitoba represents are at a standstill because money has had to be allocated to cover the costs of service requests, said Grand Chief Walter Wastesicoot. “There’s a deep, deep hole there right now,” he said. The Keewatin Tribal Council previously had to pay $7 million out of pocket for Jordan’s Principle requests before the federal government reimbursed them, said Wastesicoot. He said the Keewatin communities are currently owed millions, but could not provide an exact amount. Kennedy said a regional Indigenous Services Canada representative told the assembly that there may not be further funding for First Nations until the fiscal year ends. Indigenous Services Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The department says on the government’s website that Ottawa has provided more than 8.2 million products, services and supports under the principle from 2016 to the end of October of this year. The office of Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu previously told The Canadian Press that the department remains focused on ensuring First Nations children can access the services they need, and that since 2016, the federal government has allocated nearly $8.1 billion to meet the needs of First Nations children. The Manitoba chiefs’ complaints come as the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has ordered Canada to address a backlog of requests. The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society raised concerns earlier this year that Ottawa was taking too long to process requests for financing through Jordan’s Principle, leaving children without access to services. Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the Caring Society, said the ever-growing backlog is of Canada’s own making. “Canada chose to create these backlogs,” she said while supporting chiefs on Thursday. “They’re not saying they’re overwhelmed and backlogged with thousands of cases under a Canadian pension plan or under an unemployment insurance. The government does this stuff. It is choosing not to do it and it’s making excuses for itself.” Urgent Jordan’s Principle requests are supposed to be processed within 24 hours. But they are taking up to one month to be reviewed, says Independent First Nations, an advocacy body representing a dozen First Nations in Ontario and Quebec. Blackstock filed an affidavit earlier this year that said nearly half of requests made by individuals from those First Nations in 2023-24 are still in review, along with 10 per cent of the files submitted in 2022-23. The tribunal ordered Canada to return to it with a detailed plan, timelines and targets to address the backlog before Dec. 10. — By Brittany Hobson in Winnipeg. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024.None