‘A good news budget’ Sask Rivers passes balanced budget without dipping into reserves
By Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince Albert Daily Herald The Saskatchewan Rivers School Division passed a balanced 2025-2026 budget without dipping into reserves for the first time in four years. The division also benefited from provincial funding to offset inflationary costs for a second consecutive year. Financial Officer Jerrold Pidborochynski presented the budget during Monday’s school board meeting. “The increase to inflationary costs that were addressed, it allowed us to do some things that we haven’t in the past,” Director of Education Neil Finch said. “It was a good a good news budget for sure.” Finch gave the example of purchasing new school buses as something that benefitted from the inflationary offsets. “School buses are a great example, there’s been a significant increase in the cost of a...
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First Nations leaders oppose Bill C-5
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source ONIGAMING – Chief Jeffrey Copenace wasn’t in Ottawa Tuesday for a rally against Bill C-5, but he was following its progress. “The Ojibways of Onigaming, we’ve been very clear to both the federal government as well as to the provincial government that we have concerns about Bill 5 as well as C-5,” Copenace said in a phone interview. The provincial Bill 5 passed in the legislature and received royal assent earlier this month against strong objections and protests from First Nations across Ontario. It enables the Ontario cabinet to create “special economic zones” for speedy approval of mines and other projects. Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, is in federal Parliament and would grant the federal cabinet authority to...
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Highlights from Day 2 of the G7 meeting in Kananaskis
By Catherine Morrison Canada hosted the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., with the agenda on Day 2 focused on foreign policy. The summit continued without U.S. President Donald Trump, who left early due to the conflict in the Middle East. Prime Minister Mark Carney was set to meet with several leaders, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Here are some highlights from the second day of the summit. Canada pledges $4.3 billion in support for Ukraine While meeting with Zelenskyy, Carney condemned “in the strongest terms” the latest Russian attacks on Ukraine and outlined $4.3 billion in new support for Ukraine’s defence. That sum includes $2 billion for weapons like drones, ammunition and armoured vehicles — which Canada will count...
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Brazil auctions off several Amazon oil sites despite environmentalists and Indigenous protests
By Fabiano Maisonnave BRASILANDIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil auctioned off several land and offshore potential oil sites near the Amazon River on Tuesday as it aims to expand production in untapped regions despite protests from environmental and Indigenous groups. The event came months before Brazil is to host the U.N.’s first climate talks held in the Amazon. The protesters outside Tuesday’s venue warned of potential risks that oil drilling poses to sensitive ecosystems and Indigenous communities in the Amazon. A luxury Rio de Janeiro hotel hosted the auction conducted by the National Oil Agency. Most of the 172 oil blocks for sale are located in areas with no current production, such as 47 offshore locations close to the mouth of the Amazon River and two sites inland in the Amazon...
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‘Canada is not for sale’ — but new Ontario law prioritizes profits over environmental and Indigenous rights
By Martina Jakubchik-Paloheimo Despite provincewide protests, Ontario’s Bill 5 officially became law on June 5. Critics warn of the loss of both environmental protections and Indigenous rights. The law empowers the province to create special economic zones where companies or projects don’t have to comply with provincial regulations or municipal bylaws. Bill 5, also known as the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, reduces the requirements for environmental assessment. By doing so, it weakens ecological protection laws that safeguard the rights of Indigenous Peoples and at-risk species. Indigenous rights and Indigenous knowledge are critical for planetary health. But the bill passed into law with no consultation with First Nations. Therefore, it undermines the duty to consult while seemingly favouring government-aligned industries. Indigenous Peoples have long stewarded the environment through...
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Liberal MP wants to see major projects bill amended, studied further
Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith warned Tuesday that Parliament is hastily plowing ahead with the government’s major projects bill when it should be in listening mode. Erskine-Smith told reporters Tuesday he’s never seen a bill of this magnitude pushed through the House at such a pace in his 10 years as a Toronto MP. He was the only Liberal MP to vote against his government’s motion limiting debate on the major legislation on Monday. The Liberals and Conservatives passed a closure motion that will push Bill C-5, the Building Canada Act, through the House of Commons this week with limited committee study. Erskine-Smith said he supports getting new projects built quickly but he wants to see the bill studied more thoroughly and amended to remove contentious clauses that grant the executive...
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Chiefs of Ontario meeting opens with call to action…Parliament Hill rally against governments’ bills
By Turtle Island News staff HIAWATHA FIRST NATIONS- The three-day Chiefs of Ontario (COO) 50th anniversary meeting opened here this morning amid a call to action to descend on Parliament Hill after First Nations were hit by both Ontario and federal bills including Ontario’s Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act and Ottawa’s proposed Bill C-5, One Canadian Economy Act without consultation. Both bills are expected to hit First Nations hard. Ottawa’s proposed bill C-5 will grant sweeping powers and allowing fast-tracking of major infrastructure projects while undermining Indigenous rights, environmental protections and democratic authority, Chiefs said. The proposed law would allow a single federal minister to approve projects, bypass regulatory safeguards, and override constitutional obligations all without further parliamentary review. At the same time the bill will allow...
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128-year-old shipwreck on Vancouver Island charred by fire
By Nono Shen A shipwreck that has been part of Vancouver Island’s history for more than a century is a charred skeleton after a fire earlier this month. Photographer Geoff Johnson said he went to look after hearing of the fire at the wreck that has been sitting on Big Beach in Ucluelet for almost 130 years. “It was really dramatic,” recalled Johnson in an interview, adding that the wooden wreckage seemed to be “more corpse-like now than it was before.” Ucluelet fire Chief Rick Geddes said crews attended the fire in the early morning of June 10 and the cause of the blaze is being investigated. The shipwreck suffered “significant damage” from the fire, although it’s still very much intact, Geddes said. “It’s not uncommon for us to get...
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Air Inuit announces Aug. 6 ‘early’ takeover of Kuujjuaq-Montreal route
By Jeff Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News Air Inuit will take over Canadian North’s route between Kuujjuaq and Montreal starting Aug. 6. The transfer of the route was announced in February when it was revealed that Makivvik Corp. and Inuvialuit Regional Corp. had tentatively sold Canadian North, which currently operates the route, to Exchange Income Corp. of Winnipeg for $205 million. As part of the deal, Canadian North would go to Exchange Income Corp. with the exception of the Kuujjuaq-Montreal route, which Makkivik Corp. retained and would operate through its other airline, Air Inuit. The companies originally aimed for an Oct. 1 date for that transfer. But in a news release Friday, Makivvik announced the change would happen sooner than expected. “Makivvik and Air Inuit want to reassure...
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Alberta doctors association raises concerns over premier limiting free COVID vaccines
By Lisa Johnson The organization representing Alberta doctors is joining health-care unions in raising concerns over Premier Danielle Smith’s decision to charge most Albertans for a COVID-19 vaccination this fall. Dr. Shelley Duggan, president of the Alberta Medical Association, says the policy leaves behind many seniors and health-care workers, and doesn’t even mention pregnant individuals, First Nations, Inuit, Métis or members of other racialized groups. The association head noted that goes against recommendations from Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization. “Being unclear about policy and creating barriers to vaccination for the most high-need groups are counterproductive measures,” Duggan said in a statement. “We need a structured, substantial strategy, one that makes it as easy as possible for those who need vaccine the most to get it.” Smith has said the...
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Ring of Fire road to bring prosperity to First Nation, problems for caribou: report
By Liam Casey A proposed road to the mineral-rich Ring of Fire in northern Ontario will bring economic prosperity to Webequie First Nation, though it may endanger caribou in the region, a newly released assessment finds. Webequie First Nation is leading an environmental and impact assessment of the Webequie Supply Road that would connect to mining exploration activities in the Ring of Fire. That road will connect to two other proposed roads that would link the remote First Nation to the provincial highway system hundreds of kilometres south. “This is a critical milestone for our people and our project,” Chief Cornelius Wabasse said in a statement. “We are proud of this important work and the respectful approach taken to get it done. We are also grateful for all those who...
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Minister says all federal bills should be analyzed through an Indigenous lens
By Alessia Passafiume As First Nations leaders prepare to rally on Parliament Hill against Ottawa’s controversial ‘major projects’ legislation, the federal minister for Indigenous services says she’s asked Prime Minister Mark Carney to screen new federal bills for their impacts on Indigenous communities. Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty says other ministries — including labour, industry and natural resources — touch on Indigenous rights in different ways and the legislation they introduce should be analyzed through an Indigenous lens. Her comments come as First Nations prepare to protest on Parliament Hill against C-5, legislation that would allow the federal government to override certain laws — including the Indian Act and the Species at Risk Act — to get major projects approved. First Nations leaders say C-5 could trample on their rights...
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City governance review puts anti-racism committee on the chopping block
By Clint Fleury, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY – City staff will present proposed changes to how city council operates later this year, including a recommendation to dissolve the anti-racism and equity advisory committee. It’s one of 10 advisory committees city staff are proposing to dissolve as part of a broader restructuring of city council governance. Chris Krumpholz, chair of the anti-racism and equity advisory committee, said dissolving these committees is the wrong move for council. Monday’s committee of the whole meeting, Krista Power, director of legislative services and city clerk, will present a first reading of the city governance structure report, which, if passed by council on June 23, would replace council’s committee of the whole meeting with smaller standing committees and dissolve 10 advisory committees. Also...
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Brazil auctions off several Amazon oil sites despite environmentalists and Indigenous protests
By Fabiano Maisonnave BRASILANDIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil auctioned off several land and offshore potential oil sites near the Amazon River on Tuesday as it aims to expand production in untapped regions despite protests from environmental and Indigenous groups. The event came months before Brazil is to host the U.N.’s first climate talks held in the Amazon. The protesters outside Tuesday’s venue warned of potential risks that oil drilling poses to sensitive ecosystems and Indigenous communities in the Amazon. A luxury Rio de Janeiro hotel hosted the auction conducted by the National Oil Agency. Most of the 172 oil blocks for sale are located in areas with no current production, such as 47 offshore locations close to the mouth of the Amazon River and two sites inland in the Amazon...
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In Oklahoma, Juneteenth highlights tribal slavery descendants’ fight for recognition and citizenship
By Graham Lee Brewer Juneteenth may mark the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas found out they had been freed, but thousands of people in Oklahoma are still fighting for full citizenship in the tribal nations that once held their ancestors in bondage. Several tribes practiced slavery, and five in Oklahoma — The Cherokee, Seminole, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Muscogee nations — signed reconstruction treaties with the U.S. in 1866 abolishing it three years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. They granted the formerly enslaved, known commonly as Freedmen, citizenship within their respective tribes. Only one of those tribes, the Cherokee Nation, continues to fully grant the rights of citizenship. For descendants of people who were enslaved by tribal nations, Juneteenth is both a celebration of freedom for...
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Minister says all federal bills should be analyzed through an Indigenous lens
By Alessia Passafiume As First Nations leaders gather on Parliament Hill to protest Ottawa’s controversial major projects legislation, the federal minister for Indigenous services says she has asked Prime Minister Mark Carney to screen new federal bills for their impacts on Indigenous communities. Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty says other ministries — including labour, justice, industry and natural resources — touch on Indigenous rights in different ways and the legislation they introduce should be analyzed through an Indigenous lens. Her comments come as First Nations prepare to protest C-5, legislation that would allow the federal government to override certain laws — including the Indian Act and the Species at Risk Act — to get major projects approved. First Nations leaders say C-5 could trample on their rights and accuse Carney’s...
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Conservatives vote with Carney government to rush Bill C-5
By Natasha Bulowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer The federal Conservatives voted with the Liberals on a special order to push a massive piece of legislation on major project approvals through the House of Commons before the week’s end. The proposed legislation would grant the federal government broad powers including the option to override laws related to projects deemed “in the national interest.” Three hundred and five Conservative and Liberal MPs voted in favour of the government’s time allocation motion to limit debate on the bill, while 30 Bloc Québécois, Green and NDP MPs and lone Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith voted against it. The federal government is determined to get Bill C-5 — dubbed the One Canadian Economy Act — through the House of Commons before MPs leave...
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Winnipeg School Division honours Indigenous graduates in the city and beyond
By Brittany Hobson Parker Ledoux never imagined spending the last month of her Grade 12 school year cooped up in a Winnipeg hotel room far from her home. But when an out-of-control wildfire encroached on Creighton, Sask., at the end of last month and forced its some 1,200 people to flee, that’s exactly what happened. With graduation celebrations supposed to take place next week and community members still displaced, Ledoux is not sure what the quintessential teenage experience will look like for her and her classmates. The Winnipeg School Division recognized the uncertainty high school evacuees may be facing and opened up its own ceremony honouring Indigenous graduates to students forced out of their homes by the wildfires. “I am so grateful to be here today,” said Ledoux, a Red...
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Alberta man convicted of manslaughter for stabbing woman in head with knife
By Aaron Sousa An Alberta judge has convicted a man of manslaughter in the 2023 killing of a woman who was stabbed in the head with a steak knife. Blake Bird was initially charged with second-degree murder, after Saundra Bearhead was discovered on a couch with the knife in her head outside a home on the Paul Band First Nation She died in hospital three days later. Court of King’s Bench Justice Kent Teskey says he had doubts as to whether Bird had the intent to commit murder. Court heard Bearhead had been drinking with Bird and another woman earlier in the day and that Bird confessed the killing to police and his family. The judge’s written decision says Bird told police he was blackout drunk and accidentally stabbed the...
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Fire evacuees begin returning home to Manitoba First Nation after cool, wet weather
A First Nation in Manitoba is welcoming residents back, almost three weeks after the community of more than 6,000 people was evacuated due to wildfires. The chief of Pimicikamak Cree Nation says a fire in the area is now largely contained and the community has begun a gradual repatriation of evacuees that includes flights today from Winnipeg. Chief David Monias reposted a video on social media showing a steady rain in the region. He says the community’s infrastructure is intact and water systems have been tested by health officials. Elsewhere in the province, people in Snow Lake, Sherridon and Herb Lake Landing were allowed to return on the weekend. Officials with the City of Flin Flon say those running critical businesses there have begun to re-enter but the general community...
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