First Nations warn they will oppose a bid for sovereignty

If a re-elected Parti Québécois government decides to make another push for sovereignty, they will face strong opposition from the province’s First Nations, reported the Montreal Gazette March 19. . . . York University law Professor Patrick J. Monahan argues that if Aboriginals don’t have the right to secede, then neither does Quebec. Given that First Nations have their own culture, language, traditional territory and historic land claims, it’s difficult to prevent them from making the same case for sovereignty as Quebec itself has made, according to Monahan. Read full story.

Why companies need a smart training culture
At Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), John Silverthorn doesn’t see training as a sentence – but rather as a key to corporate well-being, reported The Globe and Mail March 19. The senior vice-president of talent management for CIBC sends people for training all the time, not as punishment but to boost the bank’s business. . . . CIBC also has a partnership with York University’s Schulich School of Business to teach selected senior managers strategic and leadership skills. Read full story.

A conversation with George Fallis
Canadian universities have gone through an unprecedented expansion over the past 15 years, reported University Affairs March 19. . . . Perhaps it’s time to sit back and reassess things, suggests George Fallis, professor of economics and social science and former dean of arts at York University. . . . Professor Fallis spoke with University Affairs about his prescription for redesigning Ontario’s postsecondary sector over the next 20 years. Read full story.

In trade talks, it’s countries vs. companies
Some of the opposition to investor-state arbitration is clearly overheated reported Bloomberg Businessweek March 20. . . . Still, lots of people have trouble with the idea of giving anyone as much power as the arbitrators have. “They’re supreme court justices for the world,” said Osgoode Hall Law School Professor Gus Van Harten. “Only they’re not judges, and you don’t know who they are.” Read full story.

Simple ways to stop procrastinating
Research conducted at York University in 2012 found undergraduate and graduate students who feel others expect them to be perfect suffer from psychological distress and performance avoidance, leading to an increased chance of procrastination, reported News.com.au March 20. Read full story.

A doctor is telling health groups to stop downplaying the role poverty on the health of our country
Dennis Raphael, professor of health policy and management at York University in Toronto, was a guest on AM900 CHML’s “Matt Holmes Show” March 18. Listen to full interview.