Carney says he backs strikes on Iran ‘with some regret’ as world order frays
By Rod Mcguirk MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday he supported the strikes on Iran “with some regret” as they represented an extreme example of a rupturing world order. Carney spoke at the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based international policy think tank, during the Australian leg of a trade-focused, three-nation visit that began in India. He will address the Australian Parliament on Thursday, then fly to Japan on Friday. “Geostrategically, hegemons are increasingly acting without constraint or respect for international norms or laws, while others bear the consequences. Now the extremes of this disruption are being played out in real time in the Middle East,” Carney said. The Canadian prime minister stressed his country was not apprised beforehand of the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, in his first remarks...
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Winnipeg security guard charged with using brass knuckles on suspected shoplifter
By Brittany Hobson Winnipeg police have charged a security guard with assault after video surfacing online appeared to show him using brass knuckles to punch out a suspected shoplifter. The 23-year-old guard was arrested Monday evening and charged with assault with a weapon, unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon and uttering threats after police became aware the assault was captured on camera. Police said the case began when officers were called to a Dollarama discount store in the city’s downtown on Saturday, where they arrested a 46-year-old who had been detained by an on-duty security guard. That man is accused of concealing $95 worth of merchandise and trying to leave the store before the guard intervened. That man was charged with robbery and uttering threats. Later on, an...
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In Manitoba, a growing herd of bagwaji-bizhikiwag offers lessons in community
By Crystal Greene, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, IndigiNews A large herd of bagwaji-bizhikiwag (wood bison) call Chitek Lake Anishinaabe Provincial Park in Manitoba home — and their community recently grew even larger. On Feb. 18, the herd welcomed ten new bulls and cows to their territory nestled between Lake Winnipegosis and Lake Winnipeg — more than 300 kilometres northwest of the City of Winnipeg. They’d traveled 12 hours in a massive cattle trailer across provinces, from Elk Island National Park in “Alberta.” Wood bison, once on the brink of extinction, have seen their populations climb thanks to conservation efforts. And even though historically the species wasn’t known to live in this herd’s area, the vast isolation of the park’s boreal forest, fields and lakes helps keep them safe from disease...
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What treating Kashechewan evacuees reveals about Canada’s drinking water crisis: Policy failure is an Indigenous health issue
By Jamaica Cass, Director, Queen’s-Weeneebayko Health Education Partnership, Queen’s University, Ontario When 200 people evacuated from Kashechewan First Nation arrived in Kingston, Ont. on a Sunday afternoon in January 2026 — many Elders, children and medically complex family members — the urgency was immediately clear. By the next afternoon, my colleagues from the Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team and I had brought our mobile clinic to the evacuees’ hotel and were seeing patients who had been abruptly displaced by yet another failure of their community’s drinking water system. At the same time, Kingston’s Indigenous friendship centre was organizing volunteers to lead cultural programming and create supports to help families maintain connection and dignity during displacement. This matters because Kashechewan is not an exception. Research across Canada shows that unsafe drinking...
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‘We never received one complaint’: Native Centre board members speak out against misconduct allegations
By Paige Seburn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Lake Report Conflicting accounts are re-emerging at the Niagara Regional Native Centre, where current leadership is pushing back against allegations of intimidation and mismanagement from past leaders and staff. This comes amid disputes over a Sept. 11 protest outside the centre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, as well as over staff levels, membership approvals and legal cost reimbursements. Former board president Sean Vanderklis, who resigned Feb. 26 last year, said he received a lawyer’s letter on Oct. 17 alleging defamation related to the dispute. A copy of the letter reviewed by The Lake Report shows counsel for former board member Lacey Lewis demanding the removal of social media posts and a public retraction, and reserving the right to pursue legal action. As of right now,...
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Polar Plunge raises over 18k for Special Olympics Manitoba
By Renee Lilley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Portage Graphic Leader A record-breaking number of participants braved the icy waters at Stride Place in recent days, raising thousands of dollars to help local athletes reach the national stage. The eighth annual Portage la Prairie Polar Plunge, held Feb. 28, saw 48 “plungers” leap into a customized dive tank. The event raised $18,500 for Special Olympics Manitoba, marking the highest participation rate in the event’s local history. “Special Olympics is an amazing cause that gets athletes involved in sport,” said Kristen Tompsett, staff sergeant with the Manitoba First Nations Police Service and a longtime event organizer. “This year is particularly important because the national games are in Alberta this August. We want to ensure as many athletes can go as possible.” The...
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‘Blue Heron’ wins best Canadian film at TFCA Awards, ‘Endless Cookie’ wins best doc
By Alex Nino Gheciu A coming-of-age drama about a Canadian-Hungarian family’s turbulent time settling into their new home on Vancouver Island has been named best Canadian feature by the Toronto Film Critics Association. “Blue Heron” writer-director Sophy Romvari accepted the $50,000 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award for her debut feature at a gala Monday night. Centred on a Hungarian family adjusting to life in Canada, her semi-autobiographical film gradually uncovers family tensions through the viewpoint of the youngest child. In December, “Blue Heron” won best first feature in the main slate of the Toronto Film Critics Association Awards — an honour that makes Romvari just the third filmmaker, after Sarah Polley and Zacharias Kunuk, to claim both prizes in the same year. Another major winner announced at the ceremony was...
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Jasper facing higher RCMP costs as Alberta ponders provincial police force
By Peter Shokeir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Jasper Local The Municipality of Jasper could pay nearly $1.2 million annually for RCMP policing by 2030-31, according to preliminary estimates from provincial officials. In December, the Government of Alberta (GOA) announced changes to the Police Funding Model formula, as well as significant increases to the overall amount of funds collected from municipalities. “Overall, municipalities will face higher costs, unclear benefits, and significant uncertainty,” the Rural Municipalities of Alberta explained after the new model was announced. On Tuesday (Feb. 24), after learning how those changes could affect the Municipality of Jasper’s bottom line, councillors meeting as Committee of the Whole directed municipal staff to work with the provincial Police Funding Model team to identify modifiers and subsidies that might apply to Jasper,...
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Assembly of Treaty Chiefs votes no-confidence in UCP government
By Jeremy Appel, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News In a historic vote, an umbrella organization representing chiefs from Treaties 6, 7 and 8 has called on the Legislative Assembly to hold a vote of non-confidence in Premier Danielle Smith and the UCP. The vote was unanimous at the Assembly of Treaty Chiefs (AOTC) Feb. 26 meeting at River Cree Resort in Enoch. It’s the first time the AOTC has voted non-confidence in a government. “A responsible government requires independent democratic oversight and a transparent legislative process. The UCP has obstructed and failed to meet these basic requirements to govern,” reads an AOTC news release. The chiefs are calling for UCP, NDP and independent MLAs to “officially and expeditiously” hold a vote of non-confidence in the government in the...
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Alberta’s Indigenous Tourism: Growth, Challenges, and Future Vision
By Chevi Rabbit, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News Alberta is building a vibrant Indigenous tourism sector, with experiences ranging from Métis Crossing and River Cree Resort and Casino to evening markets and immersive cultural performances. Travel Alberta, which co-hosted the 2026 International Indigenous Tourism Conference, is supporting operators and promoting the province as a destination for Canadians and international visitors. Terry Goertzen, Vice President of Indigenous Relations and Economic Development at Travel Alberta, brings extensive public service experience, including work with Indigenous Services Canada and serving as Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport in Manitoba. He said this experience informs Travel Alberta’s approach to Indigenous tourism and economic development. Investment and Support Goertzen explained that Travel Alberta has invested more than $13.5 million to support Indigenous tourism...
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Otipemisiwak Métis Gov’t is Bringing Support Sessions to Calgary for Men Facing Gender-Based Violence
By Jeremy Appel, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is hosting a series of events across the province geared towards men and boys who have experienced domestic violence, with the next stop scheduled for Calgary. Breaking the Silence is intended so that “Métis men and boys can have a safe place to share their feelings and experiences,” explained Nelson Lussier, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government’s secretary for justice. Lussier told Alberta Native News that the initiative aligns with Canada’s National Plan to End Gender-based Violence. The plan doesn’t explicitly call for programming to deal with male victims of gender-based violence, but does call for programming to be “inclusive of children and families,” and to educate men and boys about their role in “preventing and addressing gender-based...
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Country by country, here’s how the unfolding war is affecting the Middle East
By Julia Frankel JERUSALEM (AP) — The unfolding war in the Middle East has ricocheted across the region, with nearly every country sustaining damage from missile hits or shrapnel, many reporting casualties, and key embassies, economic engines and passageways closing down. Foreign governments are urging their citizens to leave on any available commercial flight as Gulf airspaces largely close, cruise ships can’t pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and major airlines cancel flights. The U.S. State Department says it has evacuated nonemergency personnel and families in six nations, adding the United Arab Emirates to its list on Tuesday. It also has advised citizens from 14 countries to leave. Governments from Russia to Germany and France also scrambled to run repatriation flights. Here’s a country-by-country breakdown of the impact of the...
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Iran attacks threaten US economy with more uncertainty around inflation, growth
By Christopher Rugaber WASHINGTON (AP) — Oil prices jumped Tuesday for the second straight day and gas prices moved higher in the United States, underscoring the threat of rising inflation posed by the Iran war. Coming after nearly five years of elevated costs, even a modest pickup in prices could further sour many Americans on the economy and heighten the affordability concerns that have become a top political issue. On Tuesday, U.S. oil prices rose more than 5% to $75.22 a barrel in afternoon trading. Gas prices jumped 11 cents to $3.11 a gallon on average nationwide, according to AAA. A key issue, economists say, is how long the conflict lasts and whether shipping routes, such as the Strait of Hormuz, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, is closed....
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Police investigating after five new homes vandalized in the Ucluelet First Nation community of Hitacu
By Nora O’Malley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ha-Shilth-Sa Hitac̓u, BC – Ucluelet RCMP are investigating after five new homes in the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ community of Hitac̓u were vandalized on Feb. 23. Photos shared on social media by Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government (YG) show smashed windows, doors knocked in and fire damage to a stove and microwave. YG president Charles McCarthy expressed grave disappointment for the “senseless damage”. “Repairs will be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, which will delay occupation of these houses for our community members,” said McCarthy in a news release. “It took many years and considerable staff time and effort to secure new housing in the community. These five homes were built to fill a gap in our housing portfolio, creating detached homes where families can set roots and...
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Roads to Ring of Fire Could Become Reality Sooner Than Expected
By Alex Murray Writer Ontario is bootstrapping an accelerated plan to build all-seasons roads and infrastructure that will connect the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region to the rest of the province by 2030, five years ahead of schedule. Construction begins in June 2026. The Ring of Fire is an 8,000 square kilometer area about 500 km northeast of Thunder Bay in the James Bay lowlands. Precious metals and minerals in massive amounts, including chromite (used in stainless steel), copper (excellent electric conductor), and palladium (catalysts and water treatment), were discovered there in 2007. The recent partnerships signed by the Ontario government, Marten Falls First Nation, and Webequie First Nation at a major mining convention in Toronto have opened the floodgates for the province to begin “realizing the economic potential of...
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Alberta’s premier says conflict in Iran underscores need for new Canadian pipeline
By Lisa Johnson Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the war in Iran underscores the need for a new pipeline connecting her province’s oil reserves to the West Coast. The threat of shipping disruptions has seen global oil prices jump since American-Israeli attacks on Iran over the weekend. Smith says any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil choke point at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, only underscores the need for a new pipeline that could bring her province’s pivotal export to Pacific shipping lanes. She made the comments Monday at an unrelated news conference in Lethbridge. Smith said if the uncertainty continues, it only demonstrates that the world and Canada’s trading partners need to have a stable source of supply. “We want the conflict to end quickly...
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B.C. and Cowichan chiefs start negotiations after landmark court ruling on title
The British Columbia government and chiefs from the Cowichan Nation say they’ve begun negotiations after a landmark court ruling awarded Aboriginal title over a swath of property in Richmond, B.C., last year. The talks come even as both parties pursue appeals in the legal action that recognizes Aboriginal title over about 300 hectares of land along the Fraser River in a decision that set off concerns about the impact on private land ownership. A joint statement from the province and the Cowichan says the nation “respectfully did not seek to invalidate” private ownership of the land, but went to court to compel the province to “negotiate in good faith the reconciliation” of private titles granted by government of its former village site. Premier David Eby told a separate news conference...
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B.C. Mountie gets probation in fatal 2017 arrest of Dale Culver in Prince George
An RCMP officer convicted of obstruction of justice in the death of an Indigenous man while in custody in 2017 has been handed 18 months probation by a court in British Columbia. The BC Prosecution Service says Const. Arthur Dalman received the probation order with various conditions, which will give him a criminal record. Dalman was convicted in July 2024 for ordering witnesses to delete video footage taken at the time Dale Culver was arrested in Prince George in 2017, and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association had said that officers beat the man and used pepper spray during the arrest. Culver, who was 35 years old, was Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en, and police said at the time that they had received a report about a man casing vehicles and found a...
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Alberta Premier Smith hopes failing recall petitions a sign people feel heard
By Jack Farrell Premier Danielle Smith says she hopes failing recall petitions against members of her caucus mean Albertans are feeling heard. Two dozen recall petitions were launched late last year against United Conservative Party legislature members, but so far none have been successful. Most of the petitions were started after Smith’s government used the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to end a provincewide teachers strike last fall. Smith said Monday she knew the move created “a lot of concern,” but said she believes the results illustrate that concern has subsided. “We made a choice and it is the right of citizens to be able to gather and tell us that they disagree with that,” the premier told reporters in Lethbridge at an unrelated news conference. “What I take from the results...
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After a storied civil rights career, Jesse Jackson heads home to South Carolina and lies in state
By Jneffrey Collis COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson Sr. was honored Monday in the state where he grew up under segregation with a hero’s memorial, his flag-draped casket under the Capitol’s rotunda and thousands of people circling the Statehouse grounds waiting to honor him. A horse-drawn caisson brought Jackson’s body to the Capitol and white-gloved state troopers brought the casket inside, where Jackson was only the second Black person to lie in state. The service started with a rousing version of the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” that reverberated through the Statehouse — a building that was partially destroyed in 1865 during the Civil War, which South Carolina started to keep slavery. Before the doors opened to the public, politicians and other guests...
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