Northern stores ‘absolutely not’ hiking food costs when federal funding arrives: CEO
Canadian Press-The chief executive of the North West Co. Inc. says its stores in remote Indigenous communities are “absolutely not” hiking food prices when funding flows in from federal programs such as Jordan’s Principle. Dan McConnell made the comments today during a call for shareholders discussing the company’s third-quarter financial results, in which it reported consolidated sales of $637.5 million. The figure marks a 3.3-per cent increase over the same quarter last year, but McConnell said that didn’t translate to the bottom line, as the company’s net earnings were $36.4 million, down from $38 million in the third quarter of 2023. The North West Co. operates 118 Northern grocery stores in remote communities across Northern Canada, as well as a host of other businesses, including Quickstop convenience stores in Northern...
Parliament set to hold an 11th hour vote on $21B spending bill
Members of Parliament are set to vote on a government bill asking for billions in funding as the clock ticks down on a deadline. Last month, the Liberals made a request for Parliament to approve $21.6 billion in spending. The money will go to fund the First Nations child and family services program, and to compensate the Quebec government for services for asylum seekers, among other programs. But there had been uncertainty over whether the vote would even happen before today’s deadline. Parliament has been paralyzed for months as the Conservatives press the Liberals to hand over documents relating to hundreds of millions of dollars of misspending on a green-tech fund. The issue is the focus of an ongoing privilege debate, which the Conservatives have pledged to keep going until...
AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton to receive Nobel Prize in physics today
British Canadian computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton and co-laureate John Hopfield are set to receive their Nobel Prize for physics at a ceremony in Stockholm today. Hinton and Hopfield are being given the prize because their use of physics developed some of the underpinnings of machine learning, a computer science that helps artificial intelligence mimic how humans learn. The accolade handed out by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is valued at 11 million Swedish kronor, which is about C$1.45 million. Hopfield and Hinton will split the money with half of Hinton’s share going to Water First, a Creemore, Ont., organization training Indigenous communities to develop and provide access to safe water systems. Hinton is a professor emeritus of computer science at the University of Toronto but is often referred to...
Métis National Council elects new president after months of internal turmoil
Canadian Press-The Métis National Council says it has elected a new president after months of turmoil that saw the once-united organization splinter and have its legitimacy questioned. In a news release, the council announced Victoria Pruden will be its new president, replacing Cassidy Caron, whose term expired in September. The Métis National Council has been in a state of flux after the Manitoba Métis Federation pulled out of the organization in 2021, followed by the recent departures of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan and the Métis Nation of British Columbia. It’s unclear who was heading the council before the election, and the only two remaining members are the Métis Nation of Alberta and the Métis Nation of Ontario. The Métis National Council says Pruden will work toward advancing the rights...
B.C. selects nine wind power projects to boost energy supply by eight per cent a year
Canadian Press-British Columbia has given the green light to nine wind energy projects that will boost the province’s hydro-electric grid by eight per cent a year, enough to power 500,000 homes. Premier David Eby says BC Hydro, a Crown utility, has selected the projects following a strong response to its call for new renewable power-generation operations. He says the development and construction will generate between $5 billion and $6 billion in private spending on the projects, four of which will be located in the B.C. Interior, four in the North and one on Vancouver Island. The power supply announcement comes as the Business Council of B.C. issues a report outlining concerns about the province’s economic future due to a potential decline in private sector investment and the completion of mega-projects...
Numerous drone sightings in New Jersey frustrating but don’t pose safety concern, governor says
PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — Dozens of drones have been spotted across New Jersey in recent weeks, including near sensitive sites such as a military research facility, which can be frustrating but don’t appear to pose a public safety concern, Gov. Phil Murphy stressed Monday. The FBI has been investigating reports about several mysterious nighttime drone flights that started occurring last month across central New Jersey and has asked the public for help. Since then, residents have reported seeing drones in other areas. While speaking at an unrelated bill signing event in Princeton, Murphy noted there were 49 reports of drones on Sunday, mostly in Hunterdon County. The Democratic governor said those numbers included possible sightings and potentially the same drone being reported more than once. “This is something we’re taking...
Liberal government survives third Conservative non-confidence vote
OTTAWA-CP-Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s latest attempt to topple the minority Liberal government in a non-confidence vote has failed, with the New Democrats and Liberals voting against the motion. The Conservative motion quoted NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s own criticism of the Liberals, and called on the House to agree with Singh and vote non-confidence in the government. The New Democrat leader said he would not be supporting the motion last week. Singh was not present in the House of Commons for most of the voting period, and there were jeers from the Conservative benches as NDP MPs cast their votes against the motion. MPs also voted on an NDP motion, calling on the government to permanently remove GST from what they call essentials. The NDP and Green members were the only...
‘My name is Taqqiq, I can read text’: Microsoft Translator adds Inuktitut text-to-speech
By Jeff Pelletier Local Journasm Initiative Reporter IQALUIT-Users of Microsoft Translator’s Inuktitut translation tool can now listen to the text they’re translating. Microsoft Canada and the Government of Nunavut announced Dec. 5 that Inuktitut text-to-speech is available now on Microsoft Translator. “With just a phone or a computer, text can come to life in Inuktitut,” said Chris Barry, president of Microsoft Canada, in a presentation at Iqaluit’s Aqsarniit hotel. The feature comes out of a partnership between Microsoft and the GN. It builds on the rollout of Inuktitut translations in 2021, followed by the additions of Inuinnaqtun and romanized Inuktitut in 2022. “My name is Taqqiq, I can read text,” said one of the voices users can choose in Inuktitut, during a demonstration. Taqqiq is the artificial intelligence-generated male voice...
Ottawa is set to spend more than $1 billion on growing N.B.’s clean electricity grid
Canadian Press-Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says Ottawa will spend more than $1 billion on growing New Brunswick’s clean electricity grid. The federal minister told a media event in Dieppe, N.B., that Ottawa will support up to 670 megawatts of Indigenous-led wind projects with almost $1 billion in spending. It will also spend $25 million on the 25-megawatt Neweg Energy wind project in Kings County through a partnership with New Brunswick Mi’kmaq First Nations. The federal government will put another $25 million toward NB Power’s early development work to create up to 600 megawatts in energy capacity at the existing Point Lepreau Nuclear Generation Station. Guilbeault also said Ottawa has committed to supporting the conversion of the Belledune Generating Station from coal-fired power to biomass. The minister said Sunday that...
Inuit call on federal government to end to postal strike
By Evan Careen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Inuit governments and the national advocacy group for Inuit rights are calling for an end to the Canada Post strike. They say the stoppage of mail services is disproportionately impacting Inuit communities across the north. Both Nunatsiavut Government in Labrador and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the national organization representing Inuit across Inuit Nunangat, say the strike is having far-reaching impacts on Inuit since Canada Post is the only mail carrier service in much of the north. “Canada Post is a lifeline to each of the four regions of Inuit Nunangat,” ITK said in a Dec. 3 statement shared on social media. “No other carrier serves our communities, so Canada Post is the only provider of all mail and parcel delivery to tens of...
In once tranquil N.S. town, intimidation in the lobster industry now all too common
Canadian Press-Standing by a bullet hole in his dining room wall, lobster buyer Geoffrey Jobert says such attacks have become an all-too-familiar reality in Nova Scotia’s largest fishery. Overnight on Nov. 23, someone fired a single shot that passed through three rooms in his Mavillette, N.S., home, with the shell ending its journey in a rocking chair where Jobert occasionally sits during the daylight hours. “It was pretty intense in the morning when I noticed the shot. My heart was beating … but at the same time it’s commonplace around the community for this to happen,” he said at his residence, as two security guards from his company Lobster Hub Inc. kept watch outside. The 30-year-old and his younger brother came to the area from Halifax to take over his...
Two North Shore, Indigenous artists donate bentwood box for charity auction
By Abby Luciano, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Two North Shore artists thought outside the box when crafting pieces to donate for a charity auction in Vancouver Saturday evening. The Bentwood Box Charity Auction features 20 unique bentwood boxes created by Indigenous artists across B.C., with all proceeds collected supporting the Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA). Sammy Dawson is one of the artists who donated a box for the auction. Dawson is a Kwakwaka’wakw artist known for carving miniature and ceremonial masks, drums and bentwood boxes. “Crane,” the name of his piece of art, came from the inspiration of a mask carved by Mungo Martin at the Denver Art Museum. He always wanted to recreate the design and saw this as the opportunity. “It’s always a good feeling to help and...
Canada’s Arctic policy draws on international collaboration to face emerging threats
Canada has unveiled an Arctic foreign policy that commits to increasing domestic and international collaboration to combat emerging foreign threats in the North. The policy, released by Global Affairs Canada on Friday in Ottawa, says the North American Arctic is “no longer free from tension” because of increased geopolitical instability following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has “shaken the foundations of international co-operation in the Arctic.” While the policy doesn’t commit to any new defence spending, it is aimed at helping Canada work more closely with its allies. “Canada is an Arctic nation, and we are at a critical moment. We live in a tough world, and we need to be tougher in our response,” Foreign Affairs Minister Joly said at a press conference on Friday. “I don’t think the...
Federal fisheries proposal would slash commercial elver quota in 2025
Commercial elver fishers in the Maritimes are dismissing new quotas for the 2025 season, saying they would significantly cut their share of the lucrative baby eel fishery. In a letter obtained by The Canadian Press, the federal Fisheries Department said Thursday it wants to hand 50 per cent of the total allowable catch — 4,980 kilograms — to First Nations fishers. However, in a potentially contentious move, the department is proposing that another 28 per cent of the allowable catch — 2,812 kilograms — should go to a new pilot project. The department’s plan calls for distributing that 28 per cent among people who are already involved in the fishery, including those who are working for commercial elver fishing enterprises. That means the nine existing commercial licence holders will be...
Remnants of COVID disruption could be driving rural Manitoba homicide spike: prof
By Dave Baxter Local Journalism Initiative A significant spike in rural homicides this year is raising alarm bells in rural Manitoba, but a local criminology professor says the numbers we are seeing might not be cause for panic just yet. “The questions are all the same, it’s, ‘what’s going on?’ And generally the answer is probably nothing is going on,” University of Manitoba Instructor of Sociology and Criminology Frank Cormier said on Friday. “The vast majority of homicides are disorganized kinds of crimes, it’s different if there’s a gang war going on and people are knocking off their rivals, but the majority of homicides in Manitoba are interpersonal issues.” According to RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Paul Manaigre, so far this year in areas serviced by Manitoba RCMP, there have been 55...
Separated from their kids, this Dakelh couple journeyed across ‘B.C.’ for justice
By Amy Romer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter After what they say has been months of refused visits with their four children in foster care, Kimberly and Jordan Joseph packed their bags and decided to walk more than 1,500 kilometres from “Prince Rupert, B.C.” to “Victoria.” The couple — both Dakelh (Carrier) — say they’re raising awareness about the lack of support for birth parents resulting in too many kids in the country’s child welfare system. During their 75-day journey, they met dozens of people with lived experience of the child welfare system, visited a number of Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) offices, and earned the encouragement of hundreds of supporters. The Josephs live in Yekooche, a remote community of 87, northwest of “Fort St. James.” They said they...
Federal fisheries proposal would slash commercial elver quota in 2025
Canadian Press-Commercial elver fishers in the Maritimes are dismissing new quotas for the 2025 season, saying they would significantly cut their share of the lucrative baby eel fishery. In a letter obtained by The Canadian Press, the federal Fisheries Department said Thursday it wants to hand 50 per cent of the total allowable catch — 4,980 kilograms — to First Nations fishers. However, in a potentially contentious move, the department is proposing that another 28 per cent of the allowable catch — 2,812 kilograms — should go to a new pilot project. The department’s plan calls for distributing that 28 per cent among people who are already involved in the fishery, including those who are working for commercial elver fishing enterprises. That means the nine existing commercial licence holders will...
B.C. minister wants new safety plan for Victoria schools, threatens board removal
Canadian Press-British Columbia Education Minister Lisa Beare has appointed a special adviser to help the Victoria school board “revise and improve” its safety plan after it barred police from schools except in emergencies. Beare says former Abbotsford, B.C., school superintendent Kevin Godden will help with the changes, and if a plan isn’t reached by Jan. 6, she will consider using the School Act to replace the current school board. Police haven’t been allowed at district schools except in special circumstances since last year, and the board says it based that decision on reports that some students and teachers — particularly those who are Indigenous or people of colour — don’t feel safe with officers in schools. Victoria police Chief Del Manak has repeatedly criticized the board’s decision, citing concerns that...
Canada’s Arctic policy draws on international collaboration to face emerging threats
Canadian Press-Canada has unveiled an Arctic foreign policy that commits to increasing domestic and international collaboration to combat emerging foreign threats in the North. The policy, released by Global Affairs Canada on Friday in Ottawa, says the North American Arctic is “no longer free from tension” because of increased geopolitical instability following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has “shaken the foundations of international co-operation in the Arctic.” While the policy doesn’t commit to any new defence spending, it is aimed at helping Canada work more closely with its allies. “Canada is an Arctic nation, and we are at a critical moment. We live in a tough world, and we need to be tougher in our response,” Foreign Affairs Minister Joly said at a press conference on Friday. “I don’t think...
Government faces third Tory non-confidence vote ahead of potential fiscal hurdle
OTTAWA(CP)-The Liberals are set to face a third Conservative non-confidence vote today, but the government is likely to survive with the support of the NDP. Members of Parliament are supposed to vote on a motion that quotes NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s criticism of the Liberals and asks the House to agree with Singh and vote to bring down the government. Singh said last week he is not going to support the Conservatives, so the motion will likely fail. The House is also supposed to vote on an NDP motion calling on the government to expand the GST break and the $250 “working Canadians rebate” to fully retired seniors and people who rely on disability benefits. Those votes will come after MPs deal with a debate on a point of privilege...