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Canada’s Overlooked History of Slavery

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The issue of slavery in Canada has often been overlooked by historians and society. Substantive recognition of this dark chapter did not begin until the 1960s. Slavery was actively practiced in New France, in both the St. Lawrence Valley and Louisiana, affecting the lives of thousands of men, women, and children of Aboriginal and African descent over nearly two centuries.

Slavery was introduced to New France in stages. The first recorded slave, a young boy from Madagascar or Guinea, arrived with the Kirke brothers in 1629. Before leaving Quebec three years later, they sold him for 50 écus. The boy, named Olivier Le Jeune by his new master Guillaume Couillard, was described as Couillard’s “domestique” (servant) in the record of his burial in 1654, suggesting he might have been manumitted.

Black slaves began arriving in Canada towards the end of the 17th century. Despite the colonial officials’ repeated desires to import African slaves, no slave ship ever reached the St. Lawrence Valley. Black slaves arrived from neighbouring British colonies, smuggled or taken as war captives, or brought back by Canadian merchants from business trips to the south, in Louisiana or the French Caribbean.

Contrary to common perception, the majority of slaves in Canada were of Aboriginal, not African, origin. Native populations had a tradition of subjugating war captives before the arrival of the French. This practice acquired new meanings and proportions with Western expansion. From the 1670s, the French began receiving captives from their Aboriginal partners during commercial and diplomatic exchanges. The Illinois were notorious for their raids against southeastern nations, from which they brought back captives. By the early 18th century, the practice of buying and selling these captives as merchandise was established.

The ethnic origin of Aboriginal slaves is sometimes specified in period documents. They included Foxes and Sioux from the western Great Lakes, Inuit from Labrador, Chickasaws from the Mississippi Valley, Apaches from the American southeast, and especially “Panis.” The term “Panis” was initially used to refer to the Pawnees, a nation in the Missouri River basin heavily targeted by the allies of the French. However, it quickly became a generic term for any Aboriginal slave, regardless of their actual origin.

In contrast, in Louisiana, Aboriginal slaves were harder to acquire and retain in bondage. Colonists, particularly planters, preferred African slaves, whom they judged more suited for working in indigo and tobacco fields. The African slave trade in Louisiana began in 1719.

Slavery in New France was regulated by various laws and customs. Masters had almost absolute control over their slaves, who had few legal protections. Slaves were considered property and could be bought, sold, and inherited. The Code Noir, a set of laws governing the treatment of slaves, was applied to a limited extent in New France, providing some guidelines for their treatment but often ignored in practice.

The slave population in New France was relatively small compared to other parts of the Americas. Estimates suggest that there were about 4,200 slaves in Canada by the end of the 18th century, with Aboriginal slaves outnumbering African slaves. Slave ownership was concentrated among the wealthy elite, including government officials, merchants, and clergy. Many slaves worked as domestic servants, laborers, or skilled craftsmen.

Slaves in Canada lived and worked under harsh conditions. They were often subjected to physical punishment, hard labor, and poor living conditions. Their diet was basic, and medical care was minimal. Despite these hardships, some slaves formed close relationships with their masters and fellow slaves, creating a sense of community and resilience.

The relationship between slaves and their masters varied. Some masters treated their slaves with a degree of humanity, providing for their basic needs and allowing them some autonomy. Others were brutal, inflicting severe punishments and exploiting their labor. Slaves could be subjected to sexual abuse, and their marriages and family bonds were often not recognized or respected.

Manumission, or the freeing of slaves, was relatively rare in Canada. Some slaves were able to buy their freedom or were freed by their masters for various reasons, including acts of loyalty or religious conversion. Free Black and Aboriginal individuals often faced significant discrimination and limited opportunities for economic advancement.

The abolition of slavery in Canada was a gradual process. The British Empire’s Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in 1807 ended the transatlantic slave trade, but it was not until the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 that slavery was officially abolished throughout the British Empire, including Canada. By that time, the institution had already been in decline due to economic changes and growing anti-slavery sentiment.

The history of slavery in Canada is a complex and often overlooked chapter in the nation’s past. It involved the exploitation and suffering of thousands of Aboriginal and African individuals. Recognizing this history is essential for understanding the broader context of racial relations and social justice in Canada today.

Suggested Readings

  • “The Hanging of Angélique: The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montreal” by Afua Cooper
  • “Slavery and the Evolution of the Atlantic World” by William A. Green
  • “Black Enslavement in Canada” by Robin Winks

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Saskatchewan NDP’s Beck holds first caucus meeting after election, outlines plans

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REGINA – Saskatchewan Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck says she wants to prove to residents her party is the government in waiting as she heads into the incoming legislative session.

Beck held her first caucus meeting with 27 members, nearly double than what she had before the Oct. 28 election but short of the 31 required to form a majority in the 61-seat legislature.

She says her priorities will be health care and cost-of-living issues.

Beck says people need affordability help right now and will press Premier Scott Moe’s Saskatchewan Party government to cut the gas tax and the provincial sales tax on children’s clothing and some grocery items.

Beck’s NDP is Saskatchewan’s largest Opposition in nearly two decades after sweeping Regina and winning all but one seat in Saskatoon.

The Saskatchewan Party won 34 seats, retaining its hold on all of the rural ridings and smaller cities.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Telus prioritizing ‘most important customers,’ avoiding ‘unprofitable’ offers: CFO

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Telus Corp. says it is avoiding offering “unprofitable” discounts as fierce competition in the Canadian telecommunications sector shows no sign of slowing down.

The company said Friday it had fewer net new customers during its third quarter compared with the same time last year, as it copes with increasingly “aggressive marketing and promotional pricing” that is prompting more customers to switch providers.

Telus said it added 347,000 net new customers, down around 14.5 per cent compared with last year. The figure includes 130,000 mobile phone subscribers and 34,000 internet customers, down 30,000 and 3,000, respectively, year-over-year.

The company reported its mobile phone churn rate — a metric measuring subscribers who cancelled their services — was 1.09 per cent in the third quarter, up from 1.03 per cent in the third quarter of 2023. That included a postpaid mobile phone churn rate of 0.90 per cent in its latest quarter.

Telus said its focus is on customer retention through its “industry-leading service and network quality, along with successful promotions and bundled offerings.”

“The customers we have are the most important customers we can get,” said chief financial officer Doug French in an interview.

“We’ve, again, just continued to focus on what matters most to our customers, from a product and customer service perspective, while not loading unprofitable customers.”

Meanwhile, Telus reported its net income attributable to common shares more than doubled during its third quarter.

The telecommunications company said it earned $280 million, up 105.9 per cent from the same three-month period in 2023. Earnings per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 was 19 cents compared with nine cents a year earlier.

It reported adjusted net income was $413 million, up 10.7 per cent year-over-year from $373 million in the same quarter last year. Operating revenue and other income for the quarter was $5.1 billion, up 1.8 per cent from the previous year.

Mobile phone average revenue per user was $58.85 in the third quarter, a decrease of $2.09 or 3.4 per cent from a year ago. Telus said the drop was attributable to customers signing up for base rate plans with lower prices, along with a decline in overage and roaming revenues.

It said customers are increasingly adopting unlimited data and Canada-U.S. plans which provide higher and more stable ARPU on a monthly basis.

“In a tough operating environment and relative to peers, we view Q3 results that were in line to slightly better than forecast as the best of the bunch,” said RBC analyst Drew McReynolds in a note.

Scotiabank analyst Maher Yaghi added that “the telecom industry in Canada remains very challenging for all players, however, Telus has been able to face these pressures” and still deliver growth.

The Big 3 telecom providers — which also include Rogers Communications Inc. and BCE Inc. — have frequently stressed that the market has grown more competitive in recent years, especially after the closing of Quebecor Inc.’s purchase of Freedom Mobile in April 2023.

Hailed as a fourth national carrier, Quebecor has invested in enhancements to Freedom’s network while offering more affordable plans as part of a set of commitments it was mandated by Ottawa to agree to.

The cost of telephone services in September was down eight per cent compared with a year earlier, according to Statistics Canada’s most recent inflation report last month.

“I think competition has been and continues to be, I’d say, quite intense in Canada, and we’ve obviously had to just manage our business the way we see fit,” said French.

Asked how long that environment could last, he said that’s out of Telus’ hands.

“What I can control, though, is how we go to market and how we lead with our products,” he said.

“I think the conditions within the market will have to adjust accordingly over time. We’ve continued to focus on digitization, continued to bring our cost structure down to compete, irrespective of the price and the current market conditions.”

Still, Canada’s telecom regulator continues to warn providers about customers facing more charges on their cellphone and internet bills.

On Tuesday, CRTC vice-president of consumer, analytics and strategy Scott Hutton called on providers to ensure they clearly inform their customers of charges such as early cancellation fees.

That followed statements from the regulator in recent weeks cautioning against rising international roaming fees and “surprise” price increases being found on their bills.

Hutton said the CRTC plans to launch public consultations in the coming weeks that will focus “on ensuring that information is clear and consistent, making it easier to compare offers and switch services or providers.”

“The CRTC is concerned with recent trends, which suggest that Canadians may not be benefiting from the full protections of our codes,” he said.

“We will continue to monitor developments and will take further action if our codes are not being followed.”

French said any initiative to boost transparency is a step in the right direction.

“I can’t say we are perfect across the board, but what I can say is we are absolutely taking it under consideration and trying to be the best at communicating with our customers,” he said.

“I think everyone looking in the mirror would say there’s room for improvement.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Canada Post to launch chequing and savings account with Koho

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Two years after the failed launch of a lending program, Canada Post is making another foray into banking services.

The postal service confirmed Friday that it will be offering a chequing and savings account in partnership with Koho Financial Inc.

The accounts will be launched nationally next year, though Canada Post employees will be offered early access as the product is tested.

Canada Post spokeswoman Lisa Liu said in a statement that there are gaps in the banking and savings products available that the Crown corporation looks to fill.

“Canada Post is uniquely positioned to fill some of these demands. Many of our existing financial products help meet the needs of new Canadians and those living in rural, remote and Indigenous communities, but we believe more is required.”

The MyMoney offering will be a spending and savings account where customers will be able to choose between features like high interest rates, cashback rewards and credit-building tools.

A document briefly posted to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers website said it would use a prepaid, reloadable Mastercard that will use money from the account like a debit card but offer the features of a Mastercard.

It said there will be a range of account tiers, including no-fee accounts and paid accounts with more features.

The plans comes after Canada Post launched a lending program with TD Bank Group in late 2022, only to shut it down weeks later because of what it said were processing issues.

Liu said the postal service has since been exploring other possible financial service offerings.

“Utilizing what we’ve learned, we are making a strategic shift from loans toward products more aligned with our core financial service products.”

The new account will be delivered with financial technology company Koho. A few months ago the company paired with Canada Post to allow its customers to deposit cash into their account through post offices.

Koho is also working to secure a Canadian banking license to expand its services.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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