$30B in new investments needed to meet Canada’s critical mineral demand: report
By Jordan Omstead A newly released report estimates Canada will need at least $30 billion in new capital investments by 2040 if it wants to meet domestic demand for the critical minerals key to a green economy transition. But the Canadian Climate Institute’s report says cutting back on environmental safeguards and Indigenous consultation to speed up those projects is likely to backfire. The report released Thursday says those cutbacks can lead to delays later on, due to community opposition or litigation. The think tank’s latest report comes as the federal government, along with Ontario and British Columbia, face major pushback from First Nations and environmental groups to legislation intended to speed up mining project approvals. The report says Canadian governments should support Indigenous participation and reduce environmental risks as part...
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Using AI to protect caribou migration in a changing Arctic
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer A machine learning tool is offering new hope for one of Canada’s most vulnerable caribou migrations. Researchers are turning to artificial intelligence to predict when and where the Dolphin and Union caribou will cross the sea ice between Victoria Island and the mainland of Nunavut — a migration that takes place each spring and fall but has become more dangerous as climate change thins the ice and shipping traffic climbs. Caribou can drown if they try to cross ice that is unstable, and the risk increases when icebreakers and other vessels move through the area — and the ships are arriving in greater numbers than ever before. The tool called IceNet can help protect caribou by warning when migration conditions...
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Trigon gives green light to LPG export facility in Prince Rupert, B.C.
Trigon Pacific Terminals is giving a green light to a new $750-million liquefied petroleum gas export facility in Prince Rupert, B.C. Trigon chief executive Rob Booker says the company now needs the federal government to expedite the shovel-ready project that he says is in the national interest. Subject to all necessary legal and regulatory approvals, Trigon says the facility is expected to start exports in late 2029. It will have annual capacity of 2.5 million tonnes per year. The company says the final investment decision comes with support from the Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla First Nations. Trigon already operates a multi-commodity bulk export terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. ...
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‘Harper’s dreams coming true’: MPs slam Carney’s fast-tracking plan
By Natasha Bulowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new bill to fast-track major projects will have to rely on Conservative votes to pass, with all other parties expressing major reservations. The legislation would allow the federal government to conditionally approve projects it deems “in the national interest” before an environmental or impact assessment or other regulatory processes take place. Both the NDP and Greens have spoken out against it, while Patrick Bonin, Bloc Québécois environment and climate change critic, called Carney’s plan to fast-track major projects “highly problematic” at a French-language press conference on Monday. The federal government is seeking to give itself “superpowers” to accelerate projects and weaken environmental protections, Bonin said. Some of the factors used to evaluate whether a project is...
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More Overdose Prevention Sites Likely Coming to Hospitals Across BC
By Michelle Gamage, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Tyee B.C. is setting things in motion to build more overdose prevention sites at hospitals, adding to the nine sites that are already open at hospitals like Surrey Memorial and St. Paul’s, according to the Health Ministry. Overdose prevention sites allow patients to legally use unregulated drugs while supervised by health-care professionals who can step in if there’s a medical emergency such as an overdose. These sites help build trust and relationships, which can be used to connect people with other services, like housing and treatment, the ministry said last Thursday. The announcement says the province has “given direction” to the health authorities on the “consultation and approval requirements for creating new overdose prevention services at hospital sites.” A group of doctors...
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“Wearing the Badge Alone”: New Report Reveals Mental Health Crisis Among First Nations Police Officers
By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor They are protectors. They are peacekeepers. But above all, they are relatives—carrying the weight of community and crisis on their backs, often with no backup and nowhere to turn. A new report released this week lays bare a grim reality that’s long simmered under the surface of First Nations policing in Ontario. Officers working under the Ontario First NationsPolicing Agreement (OFNPA) are struggling—not from a lack of heart, but from the unrelenting strain of working alone, underfunded, and unsupported in the very communities they serve. Seventy-four percent of officers surveyed say they’ve experienced mental health issues while on the job. Over a quarter reported their mental health as “poor or very poor” in the past six months. The...
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Indigenous leaders express alarm as Ontario’s Bill 5 becomes law
By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor ONTARIO—Despite vocal opposition from Indigenous Nations, environmental organizations, and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), the Ford government is pushing ahead with Bill 5—the “Protecting Ontario by Enabling Economic Growth Act, 2025.” The bill, which amends multiple environmental and land-use statutes, including those that attempt to overturn nation to nation treaty with First Nations in Ontario, has passed committee and is now on its way to third reading in the Ontario Legislature. The legislation has been widely criticized for weakening key environmental safeguards, limiting public input, and undermining Indigenous rights to consultation and consent. Among its most controversial provisions are amendments to the Endangered Species Act, the Planning Act, which opens up threats to any and all lands, private...
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Wildfire looming over Squamish, B.C., reached within 40 metres of homes
By Darryl Greer An out-of-control wildfire threatening neighbourhoods in Squamish, B.C., reached within 40 metres of some homes overnight as debris from burning trees fell near properties, the fire chief said Wednesday. Aaron Foote, chief of Squamish Fire Rescue, told reporters that debris has been rolling down steep hillsides as local firefighters battle the blaze that’s looming over the community, next to the Sea to Sky Highway. “Currently (the structures are) not at risk. We do have a good area of humidity,” he said. “We’ve been applying sprinkler systems throughout the past few days, and currently, they are not at risk.” The Dryden Creek blaze was five hectares on Tuesday when the District of Squamish declared a local state of emergency and it has grown to more than 20 hectares,...
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School supports during evacuations
By Pearl Lorentzen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeside Leader Students from Red Earth Creek, Loon River First Nation, Peerless Trout First Nation, and Chipewyan Lake have been evacuated because of wildfires. As of June 5, Swan Hills students had returned after an evacuation. Their school divisions are supporting them in different ways. Red Earth Red Earth Creek was evacuated to Peace River and is part of the Peace River School Division (PRSD). On May 29, PRSD sent a letter to Red Earth Creek school families. “Knowing how incredibly stressful and disruptive these times can be, we want to extend a small measure of normalcy,” says the letter, “and support the continued learning of your children, by opening the doors of our Peace River schools to your families. This is entirely...
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Major projects will be slowed by court challenges if rights are violated: B.C. chief
By Alessia Passafiume The regional chief for British Columbia said Wednesday that governments should not speed up major projects at the expense of First Nations rights — and warned that projects will be slowed down by court challenges if First Nations are not consulted from the start. “We’re asking the government to follow your own laws,” Terry Teegee said, citing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that the federal government adopted. The government of Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced major economic legislation last week. The bill has two parts — one to break down federal barriers to internal trade and the other to fast-track major projects. It sets out five criteria to determine whether a project is in the “national interest.” Those criteria include the project’s...
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Government rejects Bloc’s call to split internal trade, major projects legislation
By Sarah Ritchie The Liberal government is rejecting a call from the Bloc Québécois to split its marquee legislation in two and allow part of it to speed through the House of Commons this summer. The bill — known as Bill C-5, or the free trade and labour mobility in Canada act —was introduced last Friday. It has two parts. The first portion addresses internal trade barriers the Liberals have promised to tackle by July 1. The second part proposes to make sweeping changes to speed up approvals of major projects. The Bloc argued the internal trade portion of the legislation could be passed relatively quickly with broad support from the House of Commons, but called for a separate study of the changes to major project reviews. “The bill as...
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Community Futures Peterborough makes ‘record-breaking investment’ of $100,000 in 10 area organizations
By Natalie Hamilton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, KawarthaNOW From helping bring to life “the dream of a place to farm closer for aspiring farmers,” to creating an inclusive community for newcomers to Peterborough, these are two ways $100,000 is going to be used locally courtesy of grants recently awarded to 10 organizations. On Tuesday (June 10), Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) announced the recipients of the 2025 Community Advancement Program (CAP), a non-repayable funding program that supports projects that foster economic stability, investment, and employment across the city of Peterborough and Peterborough County. In celebration of its 40th anniversary, CFP is providing $100,000 to 10 organizations in the region. According to a media release, the “record-breaking investment” underscores the non-profit organization’s “long-standing dedication to fostering resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities throughout...
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Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe promises $500 in direct aid to each wildfire evacuee
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, facing criticism that his government is failing to provide timely help to those fleeing wildfires, promised Wednesday a $500 payout for each evacuee. Moe said that money is on top of existing supports for the more than 10,000 people forced out of their homes due to a string of wildfires in Saskatchewan’s northern region. “It’s an investment that will be available very shortly to families,” Moe said at a news conference in Saskatoon. “It will be available to support them in their evacuation and also potentially in repatriation to their communities.” The money will go to those over 18. Moe has faced criticism from the provincial ombudsman and others that his government failed to provide timely aid to evacuees, leaving some without shelter and having to...
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Alberta premier faces raucous, angry town hall on province’s coal policy
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and three of her ministers got an earful from southern Alberta locals at a rowdy, hours-long town hall to discuss the province’s coal policy. About 500 people, dressed in cowboy hats, belt buckles, and jeans, packed a community hall in Fort Macleod, Alta., for an event marked by heckling, competing applause, and placards. The premier and her ministers of energy, environment and agriculture took questions and were shouted down on several occasions by attendees as they defended changes to the province’s coal policy. The town hall came weeks after the Alberta Energy Regulator, or AER, granted an Australia-based coal company permission to start a controversial coal exploration on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. A new study by Alberta government scientists, which has yet to...
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Protests at G7 summit in Alberta set to be largely peaceful, targeting Trump policies
By Fakiha Baig Protests during the upcoming G7 leaders summit in Kananaskis, Alta., may be starkly different than demonstrations happening this week against immigration crackdowns in the United States. A University of Toronto research group that has been monitoring the meetings of world leaders since 1998 says its analysis shows Canadian protests are more peaceful and smaller. But similar to the recent demonstrations in Los Angeles, they’re likely to be against the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump. “The Los Angeles protests will add another (issue) the protesters going there already care about, but it won’t do anything much more than that,” said John Kirton, director of the G7 Research Group. “I don’t think it’ll bring more protesters, too. Nor will the L.A. protests delay Trump from coming here.” Prime...
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Continued failure to consult on uranium exploration a harmful mistake: Mi’kmaw Chiefs
By Lyndsay Armstrong Nova Scotia’s continued failure to consult with First Nations on uranium exploration is a mistake that will further erode the province’s relationship with Mi’kmaq communities, says the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs and a lawyer from Sipekne’katik First Nation. Pictou Landing First Nation Chief Tamara Young said the Mi’kmaq people were neither consulted nor notified when Nova Scotia introduced then passed a bill that opens the province up to potential uranium mining and fracking. “The lack of consultation is unacceptable and goes against the UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples),” Young said in a statement to The Canadian Press on Wednesday. The assembly has said they will continue to oppose both uranium exploration and hydraulic fracturing until their environmental concerns have been...
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Around 7,000 Saskatchewan wildfire evacuees set to return to their homes
Around 7,000 people in and around La Ronge, Sask., can start going home today after a wildfire forced them out of their communities a little more than one week ago. A notice says La Ronge, Air Ronge and communities within the Lac La Ronge Indian Band will reopen to residents at 8 a.m. Lyle Hannan, the director of the local emergency operation centre, has said rain in the last few days helped crews contain the wildfire near the community. He has also said the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency was able to bring in more staff and resources to fight the fire. Saskatchewan is reporting 23 active wildfires, with six considered not contained. Premier Scott Moe, facing criticism that his government was failing to provide timely help to evacuees, has promised...
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Indigenous leaders express alarm as Ontario’s Bill 5 becomes law
By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor ONTARIO—Despite vocal opposition from Indigenous Nations, environmental organizations, and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), the Ford government is pushing ahead with Bill 5—the “Protecting Ontario by Enabling Economic Growth Act, 2025.” The bill, which amends multiple environmental and land-use statutes, including those that attempt to overturn nation to nation treaty with First Nations in Ontario, has passed committee and is now on its way to third reading in the Ontario Legislature. The legislation has been widely criticized for weakening key environmental safeguards, limiting public input, and undermining Indigenous rights to consultation and consent. Among its most controversial provisions are amendments to the Endangered Species Act, the Planning Act, which opens up threats to any and all lands, private...
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Sir John A. Macdonald statue back in view at Queen’s Park after five years boarded up
The Sir John A. Macdonald statue outside the Ontario legislature is back in full view after spending the past five years in a box. The statue of Canada’s first prime minister has been under hoarding since 2020, when it was vandalized with pink paint. The monument was one of many that were targeted across the country amid anti-racism protests and as Canadians grappled with the history of residential schools. Macdonald is considered an architect of the country’s notorious residential school system, which took Indigenous children from their families in an effort to assimilate them. Progressive Conservative and Liberal members of a non-partisan board of the legislative assembly agreed earlier this month on a motion to remove the hoarding after the statue is cleaned. Speaker Donna Skelly says she recognizes the...
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A tourism information centre is being built on the historic E. Pauline Johnson mansion site by Six Nations Elected Council
A large tourism information Centre is being built on the historic E. Pauline Johnson mansion historic site on Highway 54 by Six Nations Elected Council is causing controversy. Construction has begun without community consultation. The building site is close to the mansion. The entire site holds a national historic designation. (Photo by Jim C. Powless)...
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