Women who killed foster son and abused his sibling sentenced to life in prison
BURLINGTON, ONT- Two women who abused two Indigenous brothers in their care will spend the rest of their lives in prison. The two women recieved mandatory life sentences with no chance of parole in the abuse of two Indigenous brothers in their care, killing the oldest. Becky Hamber and Brandy Cooney of Burlington, Ont., were found guilty in early May of first-degree murder in the death of a 12-year-old boy, and of unlawful confinement, assault with a weapon and failure to provide the necessaries of life regarding his younger sibling. First-degree murder carries an automatic sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. The couple took in the two boys, who cannot be identified under a publication ban, in the fall of 2017 and sought...
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Who are the partners behind a proposed new West Coast oil pipeline?
By Lauren Krugel Alberta’s pitch to the major projects office for a new oil pipeline to the West Coast is being billed as a public-private partnership, though its current structure skews almost entirely toward the public end of the spectrum. Ninety per cent of the proposal would be in the hands of provincial and federal Crown corporations — at least in the beginning. Energy infrastructure company Pembina Pipeline Corp. would be a minority partner. Here is a rundown of what each entity does and what they bring to the table: Trans Mountain Corp. The new pipeline would have a familiar builder and route. It would largely follow the path of the existing Trans Mountain pipeline that runs from the Edmonton area to the B.C. Lower Mainland. Trans Mountain Corp., a...
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Extreme heat bears down as America 250 celebrations ramp up
Trump heads to Mount Rushmore By Steven Sloan WASHINGTON (AP) — Festivities commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence from Great Britain kick into higher gear across the United States on Friday as celebrations are balanced with efforts to stay safe as much of the country bakes under extreme heat. President Donald Trump will travel to South Dakota to deliver a speech and watch fireworks at Mount Rushmore. And in a novel twist, there will be a ball drop in New York City’s Times Square at midnight to usher in the July Fourth holiday with much the same revelry that is typically reserved for New Year’s Eve. The activity culminates in the main event Saturday, when fireworks will erupt in communities across the U.S., along with backyard cookouts and block...
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Île-à-la-Crosse celebrates 250 years with week-long festival
By Nicole Goldsworthy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SaskToday.ca ÎLE-À-LA-CROSSE — One of Canada’s oldest continuously inhabited northern communities will celebrate a major milestone this week as Île-à-la-Crosse marks its 250th anniversary with six days of cultural events, entertainment and community celebrations. The festivities begin Friday, July 3, and continue through July 8, drawing visitors from across Saskatchewan and beyond to commemorate the community’s rich history and enduring cultural traditions. The full itinerary can be found on the ILEX 250 website. Located in northwestern Saskatchewan, Île-à-la-Crosse traces its roots back to 1776 and has long been an important gathering place for Michif, Métis, First Nations and northern peoples. Organizers say the anniversary celebration will honour that legacy while recognizing the people who continue to shape the community today. “This is more...
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NDP’s Nenshi supportive of public cash for Alberta pipeline, wants honesty from Smith
By Jack Farrell Alberta’s Opposition NDP leader says Premier Danielle Smith’s plan for a new pipeline has his support, but he’s calling on her to be honest about how much taxpayers could be on the hook for. Naheed Nenshi says he doesn’t see public financing as a deal-breaker, but he’d like to see more private involvement. Nenshi says if the business case makes sense, “there’s space” for taxpayer cash to get the bitumen pipeline to the B.C. coast in the ground. Smith announced Thursday that her United Conservative Party government had submitted to Ottawa a finalized route with builders on board for the pipeline. It stems from an energy accord she signed last year with Prime Minister Mark Carney. The pipeline would run from Bruderheim, northeast of Edmonton, to the...
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Environmentalists have mixed reactions to Quebec-Ottawa caribou funding deal
By Morgan Lowrie Environmentalists are divided on whether a new funding deal reached between Quebec and the federal government will help save the province’s dwindling caribou herds. The executive director of environmental group SNAP Québec says the agreement announced earlier this week is a step in the right direction. Alain Branchaud says the deal signals an openness by the Quebec government to collaborate with Ottawa on caribou protection, which includes the province agreeing to publish reports on how it’s using the money. But he says more action is still needed, as is compensation for Quebec logging communities whose activities would be disrupted by meaningful conservation action. The agreement will see Ottawa send Quebec $25 million over five years for caribou conservation initiatives, as well as another $15 million to Indigenous...
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Hudson’s Bay closes auctions with sale of Norval Morrisseau paintings
By Tara Deschamps Hudson’s Bay has completed the final auction in a series that found new owners for its trove of art — this one featuring six paintings with ties to Norval Morrisseau. The sale was hosted online by Heffel Fine Art Auction House. Three of the pieces sold in the auction were created by the late Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau and three came from his studio. Studio paintings are typically completed by assistants in an artist’s workshop. Hudson’s Bay has completed the final auction in a series that found new owners for its trove of art — this one featuring six paintings with ties to Norval Morrisseau. (July 3, 2026) The top Morrisseau painting was a vibrant acrylic on canvas attributed to his studio. It sold for $27,500. The...
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Planned work can ‘take root now’
By Sandi Krasowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Chronicle-Journal With the federal parliamentary session adjourned for the summer, the minister of jobs, family and labour welcomes the break. “It’s a very busy time, but I’m really enjoying this portfolio, and I think for me this is a very optimistic, positive portfolio,” Patty Hajdu said. “It’s about helping people, no matter what stage of life they’re in.” The Thunder Bay-Superior North member of Parliament says they had a productive end of session. Hajdu said they passed several different pieces of legislation on community safety and online safety and were working to make sure their spring economic update passed, which it did. “That means that all of the work that we have planned, in terms of building communities up, in terms of...
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Quarterly payments of Ottawa’s boosted grocery and essentials benefit start today
By Craig Lord Eligible Canadians will find a bit more cash in their bank accounts starting today as quarterly payments begin for the federal Liberals’ boosted affordability benefit. The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit is paid out to lower-income households every three months and was previously called the GST/HST credit. Eligible households got a one-time payment worth 50 per cent of the benefit’s annual value in early June. The quarterly payments are also getting a 25 per cent boost for the next five years. Annual amounts can range between a few hundred dollars to more than a thousand dollars per family, depending on marital status and the number of children in the household. Prime Minister Mark Carney pitched the affordability measure in January as a way to help Canadians cope...
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Opening Indigenous eyes to a career ‘they’ve never heard of before’
By John Chilibeck, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Daily Gleaner Stanley Barnaby had a thought. If young Indigenous people aren’t attending university in big numbers to learn about science, technology, engineering, arts or math, why not bring those advanced-level subjects to their communities, where they’re more comfortable? Three years and many funding partners since, a new mobile trailer has been set up to do just that in those close-knit First Nations across New Brunswick. Branded Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars, the idea is to get young local Indigenous people hooked on learning that they may never have considered. For instance, less than one per cent of engineers in Canada are Indigenous, even though they make up five per cent of the country’s population and are the fastest growing...
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Niagara Falls mayor apologizes for comments about Kashechewan evacuees
By Marissa Lentz-McGrath, Local Journalism Initiative, TimminsToday.com NIAGARA FALLS — Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati has apologized after comments made about Kashechewan evacuees were widely criticized by First Nations leaders in Northern Ontario. Earlier this week, Diodati met with Kashechewan Chief Hosea Wesley to talk about the June 23 presentation on the city’s Unhoused and Vulnerable Populations Action Plan, during which it was said people assume First Nations evacuees are homeless. SEE: First Nations leaders reject ‘homeless’ label for Kashechewan evacuees in Niagara Falls In a statement issued today (July 3), Diodati said the meeting gave both leaders a chance to talk openly about how the recent comments were received. “Our intentions to gain support for families and for the community were good, but comments can be misinterpreted,” he said....
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Oka gas station forced to cancel tax exemption
By Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has determined the Belisle Gas Station in Oka can no longer grant the exemption for sales tax for Kanehsata’kehró:non after July 1, The Pines Reporter has learned. In a statement, Revenue Quebec shared they were informed by the CRA in January that after a new validation was conducted by the national agency “an address containing one or more businesses had been incorrectly located within the geographic boundaries in 2015 and was actually outside the territory covered by the Decree.” Revenue Quebec is responsible for administering the tax exemption for First Nations in Quebec, but the geographic scope for Kanehsata’kehró:non tax exemption is established by the federal government. This new analysis was done at the request...
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Kahnawake moving forward as land returned
By Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door The Canadian government has announced $1.2 million in funding to remediate the Old Radar Site that straddles St. Remi and St. Isidore, a 162-acre parcel of land that is being returned to Kahnawake, a milestone for the community years in the making. Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) grand chief Cody Diabo said it’s just the first example of land that is slated for return and that there are currently more parcels being looked at for return to Kahnawake. “We’ve talked about land back for many years – not one more inch. Now we’re talking about actually getting that back, so it’s definitely something very dear for the community,” Diabo said. The effort to acquire the land, which is being returned...
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Ottawa’s ‘new nuclear renaissance’ ignites debate over Canada’s energy future
By Anushka Yadav, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Pointer “There is no credible plan for Canada to become an energy superpower if we choose not to build upon one of the strongest energy advantages we have.” While unveiling a new national strategy for nuclear power on June 22, Energy minister Tim Hodgson made it clear that under the Mark Carney government, Canada was entering a “new civilian nuclear renaissance” with the country’s electrical grid capacity expected to double by 2050, “driven by digitalization, electrification and artificial intelligence”. “If our goal is to double our grid and build a low-carbon economy in less than 25 years, there is no credible plan to do that without nuclear energy and the clean, reliable baseload power it provides.” For decades, nuclear energy has remained...
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Tribes hope Farm Bill can feed more people and preserve Indigenous culture
By Joshua A. Bickel And Jennifer Mcdermott HOPKINTON, R.I. (AP) — At Ashawaug Farm in southwest Rhode Island, Dawn and Cassius Spears preserve their Indigenous knowledge of agriculture through the cultivation and keeping of three Narragansett heritage crops: white corn, succotash beans and crookneck squash. They would like to expand their farm’s reach beyond their farm stand, but it’s challenging. Like many small food producers, the Spears have sought financial assistance through federal programs. Some have been cut or significantly scaled back under the Trump Administration, including U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that helped tribal farmers. Tribes relied on these programs to grow and distribute culturally-significant foods locally. “When we go into these federal programs, we’re hoping that they’ll last long enough,” Cassius Spears said. “They usually start out with...
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Hajdu expresses optimism on new First Nations water legislation
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SNnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY — The Liberals failed in their first attempt at getting a First Nations Clean Water Act passed, but Thunder Bay–Superior North MP Patty Hajdu has reasons to be optimistic about success this time around. Hajdu, who was Indigenous Services minister when the ill-fated first bill was in the House, told Newswatch this week that some changes bode well for the new bill introduced last month by current Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty. “Well, I would say that we have a majority (now), so that will be helpful,” said Hajdu, the jobs and families minister since May 2025. “It was not helpful to see both NDP and Conservative opposition despite the pleading of the AFN (Assembly of First Nations) and other...
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Saskatchewan flooding forces more local states of emergency, some evacuations
By Jeremy Simes Flooding in Saskatchewan has forced more communities to declare states of emergency, while one First Nation has evacuated some residents. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says 11 communities issued alerts over the past week following torrential rainfall. The agency’s Tyler Harrison says nine people from the Cote First Nation, 280 kilometres northeast of Regina, were forced to flee the community. He says the evacuees are considered vulnerable and would need easy access to medical services in case of an emergency. Other communities dealing with flooding are in the province’s east-central region, including Canora, Kamsack and Norquay. Heavy rain had overwhelmed sewer systems, leaving many homes with over a foot of water in basements, while also washing out nearby highways. Leah Clark, the executive director of irrigation at...
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Saskatchewan flooding forces more local states of emergency, some evacuations
By Jeremy Simes Flooding in Saskatchewan has forced more communities to declare states of emergency, while some residents were evacuated from a First Nation near the Manitoba boundary. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says 11 communities issued alerts over the past week following torrential rainfall. Tyler Harrison, manager of the agency’s emergency services, says nine people from the Cote First Nation, 360 kilometres east of Saskatoon, were forced to flee the community. He says the evacuees are considered vulnerable and would need easy access to medical services in case of an emergency. Other communities dealing with flooding are in the province’s east-central region, including Canora, Kamsack and Norquay. Heavy rain had overwhelmed sewer systems, leaving many homes with over a foot of water in basements, while also washing out nearby...
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Flooding leaves 13 Saskatchewan communities under emergency
By Nicole Goldsworthy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SaskToday.ca REGINA — Saskatchewan emergency officials say widespread flooding caused by recent heavy rainfall is affecting communities across the province, even as crews continue responding to dozens of active wildfires. During a media briefing Thursday, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said 62 wildfires were active across Saskatchewan as of 12:30 p.m., while localized flooding has prompted 13 communities to declare local states of emergency. Of the active wildfires, four are contained, eight are not contained, 38 remain under assessment and 12 are classified as protecting values, said SPSA. The six fires of note include: Border Fire near Mary Lake — nine hectares, protecting values. Church Fire northeast of Sandy Bay — 12 hectares, contained. Gulak Fire east of Southend — 309 hectares, not...
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What people are saying about the B.C.-Ottawa ‘prosperity agreement’
Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Columbia Premier David Eby have signed a “prosperity agreement” they say will help unlock billions of dollars in new investment. The deal includes a promise by the federal government to not change the northern oil tanker ban and to accelerate construction of LNG projects. It touches on multiple other projects, including plans for the North Coast Transmission Line and Newmont’s Red Chris mine expansion. Here is what some people are saying about the deal: — “This agreement is comprehensive. It is ambitious. And it will help transform the entire Canadian economy and fund the public services on which all Canadians rely.” — Prime Minister Mark Carney — “This deal will deliver faster commutes as we build critical infrastructure, less pollution as we power growth with clean...
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