Alberta government pays out $95 million to end another coal policy lawsuit
By Jack Farrell The Alberta government is paying out $95 million to a coal mining company to end another one of the lawsuits launched against it over its policy flip-flop. The settlement with Evolve Power brings Alberta’s overall payout so far to nearly $240 million, as a separate agreement reached with another company earlier this year saw the government pay $143 million. A notice published by Evolve Power to its shareholders last week says it is surrendering two coal leases to the government as part of the deal. The company’s notice says it believes the settlement represents the best possible outcome and that its board will soon meet to vote on dividend amounts to be paid to shareholders. Energy Minister Brian Jean’s office says the province can’t provide details on...
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Ottawa falls short on emergency response for First Nations as climate disasters climb: audit
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer Indigenous Services Canada is still failing to fully address emergency response needs for First Nations communities as climate disasters intensify across the country, a new audit warns. The Auditor General found “unsatisfactory progress” on about half of 34 recommendations made since 2015. Despite nearly doubling spending on Indigenous programs — from $13 billion in 2019 to $24 billion in 2024 — the department continues to struggle with emergency management, housing, healthcare and safe drinking water. More than 560 emergencies, including wildfires and floods, hit First Nations between 2023 and 2025, forcing about 150 evacuations. But many communities still lack clear emergency agreements with provinces to get help with evacuations, firefighting, flood protection and emergency shelters, ensuring they receive the same...
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Canada’s first ‘nation-building’ nuclear project relies on US suppliers
By Abdul Matin Sarfraz / Canada’s National Observer / Local Journalism Initiative, Canada’s National Observer Canada’s first major “nation-building” investment is going toward a small modular reactor project that depends heavily on US suppliers for key technology and components. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Thursday that the federal government will invest $2 billionin Ontario’s Darlington New Nuclear Project — a plan that has stirred controversy since the eruption of a trade war with the US. During a joint announcement with Ontario Premier Doug Ford in Bowmanville, Carney described the project as a generational investment aimed at extending Canada’s leadership in clean energy while ensuring long-term prosperity for Ontario workers and communities. “This investment will strengthen Ontario’s power grid and represents the kind of nation-building projects that defines Canada’s new economic...
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Canada’s first ‘nation-building’ nuclear project relies on US suppliers
By Abdul Matin Sarfraz / Canada’s National Observer / Local Journalism Initiative, Canada’s National Observer Canada’s first major “nation-building” investment is going toward a small modular reactor project that depends heavily on US suppliers for key technology and components. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Thursday that the federal government will invest $2 billionin Ontario’s Darlington New Nuclear Project — a plan that has stirred controversy since the eruption of a trade war with the US. During a joint announcement with Ontario Premier Doug Ford in Bowmanville, Carney described the project as a generational investment aimed at extending Canada’s leadership in clean energy while ensuring long-term prosperity for Ontario workers and communities. “This investment will strengthen Ontario’s power grid and represents the kind of nation-building projects that defines Canada’s new economic...
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Most members of B.C.’s legislature vote against bill to stop land acknowledgements
By Wolfgang Depner A bill in British Columbia’s legislature to prevent publicly funded employees from making Indigenous land acknowledgements failed to pass first reading, but reveals a schism between provincial Conservative members. The bill proposed by One BC’s Dallas Brodie would have prohibited what it calls acknowledgements that “deny sovereignty of the Crown” and “attribute collective guilt based on race, ancestry or actions of Canadian historical figures.” Most members of the legislature voted against it, but Conservatives Heather Maahs and Harman Bhangu joined Brodie and Tara Armstrong, also of One BC, as well as Independent Jordan Kealy in voting for the proposed legislation. Conservative House Leader A’aliya Warbus, who is Indigenous, said after the vote that it “does not hurt anybody” to make the territorial acknowledgements and B.C. and Canada...
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Minister defends changes allowing Canada Post to shutter rural offices
By Craig Lord The federal minister in charge of Canada Post says recent changes to the Crown corporation’s mandate are not aimed at reducing any service to rural and remote communities where the post office is a considered a lifeline. Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound announced significant changes to the company’s mandate last month as the government looks to help Canada Post cut costs and salvage its flagging business. That included ending a decades-long moratorium on closing rural post offices. Lightbound told a parliamentary committee today some post offices covered by the moratorium when it was applied are no longer considered rural and there are now other points of service in the communities. He said he’s made it clear to Canada Post that it must maintain delivery standards to rural, remote...
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Liberals table crime bill to restrict access to bail, impose tougher sentences
By David Baxter The Liberal government tabled legislation Thursday morning, trying to make it harder to get bail for a variety of offences, including vehicle thefts, extortion and breaking and entering. The bill would impose a reverse onus on bail for certain offences. That would move the burden of proof from the prosecutor to the accused, meaning they would have to justify being granted bail. The Criminal Code already has a reverse onus for bail in place for many serious offences, including murder. “We are going to change the criminal law to ensure that the bail system is not viewed as some get out of jail free card. We’re going to ensure that bail hearings treat public safety as a paramount concern,” Justice Minister Sean Fraser said at a press...
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Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu candidates focus on families and food
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News The four candidates running to fill the Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA seat in the Nunavut territorial election told Nunavut News that support for families and food rank highly among their priorities. MLA David Akeeagok, who served as MLA for the High Arctic riding of Quttiktuq since 2017, has decided to run in the Iqaluit constituency in hopes of earning a third term in the legislative assembly. He said improving supports for families in the city are essential. “Family wellness needs to be a priority to our very people that choose to call Iqaluit home, enhancing and finding solutions to provide the right supports are critical,” Akeeagok said. Candidate Tatanniq Lucie Idlout mentioned a specific source of family support as her top issue...
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Minister defends changes allowing Canada Post to shutter rural offices
By Craig Lord The federal minister in charge of Canada Post told a parliamentary committee Thursday the recent changes to the Crown corporation’s mandate are not aimed at reducing any service to rural and remote communities where the post office is a considered a lifeline. Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound announced significant changes to the company’s mandate on Sept. 25 as the government looks to help Canada Post cut costs and salvage its flagging business. That included ending a decades-long moratorium on closing rural post offices — a move that sparked some concern about the future of mail delivery in remote communities that often aren’t well served by private couriers. Lightbound told the standing committee on government operations and estimates that some post offices covered by the moratorium when it was...
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North Shore nonprofit gives urban Indigenous people ‘ACCESS’ to trades training
By Abby Luciano, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, North Shore News A hands-on program based in West Vancouver is giving urban Indigenous women a boost in finding jobs in the trades sector. The non-profit Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services (ACCESS) has wrapped up their Try a Trade For Indigenous Women program, giving folks sample training in pipefitting, welding and electrical. The organization is one of the most comprehensive Indigenous training providers in Canada, offering a variety of training and employment programs and services while supporting 49 per cent of Indigenous trade apprentices in the province, according to their 2023/24 annual report. Recent data from ACCESS shows that 15 per cent of their learners are women, which is three times more than the national average. “Many of our people are in poverty,...
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Three’s company in Pangnirtung election race
By Jeff Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News Three men in Pangnirtung are vying to be the community’s next MLA, after Margaret Nakashuk announced last month she will not seek a third term in office. The three candidates are Andrew Nakashuk, Johnny Mike and Nathaniel Julai Alikatuktuk. Nakashuk, who is married to the riding’s outgoing MLA, enters the race with experience working at the municipal, territorial and federal levels of government and as vice-chairperson of Qulliq Energy Corp. Last year, he ran for president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and finished third behind winner Jeremy Tunraluk and runner-up Cathy Towtongie. Nakashuk said in an interview that Pangnirtung needs an upgraded arena, an elders’ home and a wildlife officer to work at the local wildlife office. He promises to be a...
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Trump issues disaster declarations for Alaska and other states but denies Illinois and Maryland
By Gabriela Aoun Angueira President Donald Trump approved major disaster declarations for Alaska, Nebraska, North Dakota and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe late Wednesday, while denying requests from Vermont, Illinois and Maryland and leaving other states still waiting for answers. The decisions fell mostly along party lines, with Trump touting on social media Wednesday that he had “won BIG” in Alaska in the last three presidential elections and that it was his “honor” to deliver for the “incredible Patriots” of Missouri, a state he also won three times. The disaster declarations authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support recipients with federal financial assistance to repair public infrastructure damaged by disasters and, in some cases, provide survivors money for repairs and temporary housing. While Trump has approved more disaster...
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B.C. First Nations make legal challenges to huge Ksi Lisims LNG project
By Darryl Greer Two British Columbia First Nations are taking the federal government to court to quash a decision approving the Ksi Lisims floating natural-gas facility and marine export terminal. The Lax Kw’alaams Band and the Metlakatla First Nation filed separate judicial reviews in Federal Court earlier this month, alleging the Minister of Environment and Climate Change ignored their concerns about the adverse impacts of the massive LNG project. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada announced last month that the minister had given the greenlight to the facility off the northwest coast of B.C. Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson hailed the decision — just hours after B.C. issued an approval — as an example of the federal government’s “one project, one review” system in which it relied on the province...
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Liberals table crime bill to restrict access to bail, impose tougher sentences
By David Baxter The Liberal government tabled legislation Thursday morning that would make it harder to get bail for a variety of offences, including vehicle thefts, extortion and breaking and entering. The bill would impose a reverse onus on bail for certain offences. That would move the burden of proof from the prosecutor to the accused, meaning they would have to justify being granted bail. The Criminal Code already has a reverse onus for bail in place for many serious offences, including murder. The legislation says judges would be required to impose weapons bans on people charged with extortion or offences related to organized crime when they do receive bail. The bill also would allow for consecutive sentences for violent and repeat offenders, so that multiple sentences could not be...
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MNR investigating incidents of deer shot in Brant County and Hamilton
The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is investigating two recent incidents of deer being shot at night in Brant County and Hamilton. Conservation officers are seeking assistance from the public regarding: One deer that was shot and retrieved on East River Road in the Glen Morris area of Brant County on Oct. 19, around 11:00 p.m. Another deer that was shot and abandoned on Ferguson Road in the Jerseyville area of Hamilton on Oct. 20, around 10:45 p.m. Officers are particularly interested in information related to a dark-coloured Dodge Ram, as it may be connected to both occurrences. Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation is encouraged to call the ministry’s TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 or contact their local ministry office. If they wish to remain anonymous, they...
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Legal-fees battle starts in title claim that will cost millions
By John Chilibeck, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Daily Gleaner The judges at New Brunswick’s highest court are wrestling with how to award costs in the first part of a massive and complex litigation that has entangled the province’s biggest landowners. The New Brunswick Court of Appeal heard arguments Tuesday from three timber firms that successfully argued their case in preliminary motions in a lower court in the Wolastoqey Nation’s big title claim for about 60 per cent of the province’s territory. In an unusual twist, the judges heard from the parties before issuing a ruling on their appeal, expected sometime before the end of the year. In most appeal court cases, the judges simply award basic legal costs of a few thousand dollars, along with their judgment. But this...
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First Nations leaders condemn Ontario legislation they say could backfire on major project development
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com First Nations leaders believe damage has already been done by the passage of controversial Ontario legislation Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025. But they remain hopeful that First Nations will have input into any project considered on their lands. The bill was passed by the provincial government this past June and works to speed up approvals for major infrastructure, mining and resource projects in Ontario by streamlining regulations. “The legislation has been passed,” said Marsha Smoke, Anishinabek Nation Southeast regional chief. She was speaking on a panel Oct. 16 at the Anishinabek Nation Economic Development Opportunities Forum held on Chippewas of Rama First Nation. “The regulations are already in the process of being drafted, so I don’t have...
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Montour named as MCK’s Justice Services Division’s new Complaints Officer
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase Martha Montour has been appointed as the new Complaints Officer of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake’s (MCK) Justice Services Division. Montour was appointed to the position through a resolution from the Kahnawake Justice Commission on October 13. She formally took her oath of office on Tuesday morning, with MCK’s Justice Services announcing her appointment to the public later that same day. Montour told Iorì:wase that she was encouraged to take the position by MCK’s Commissioner of Justice Kevin Fleischer. “Her background in law and ethics makes her well-suited to ensure a fair and transparent process for all parties involved in a complaint,” Fleischer said. Montour has an extensive background working in the legal field as both a lawyer and a mediator, spanning...
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Moose seized from Kahnawa’kehró:non harvesters by provincial wildlife protection officers
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase Quebec’s wildlife protection officers have allegedly seized two moose from a group of Kahnawa’kehró:non hunters in the Gaspé peninsula earlier this month. The incident has sparked outrage in Kahnawake, with many considering it a clear violation of Indigenous harvesting rights protected under both the Canadian Constitution and Quebec Common Law. Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) Chief David Diabo, who is coordinating MCK’s response to the incident, says the MCK unequivocally denounces the action. Diabo stressed these kinds of situations “have to stop.” According to Diabo, the incident took place on Friday, October 10, near the town of Matane, Quebec, and involved three Kahnawa’kehró:non hunters between the ages of 20 and 30. Officers approached the group in response to complaints from local residents...
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‘Wishes of Alma’s mother have been honoured and they rest together’
By Aastha Sethi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh MLA Richard Edjericon is asking the Northwest Territories government to change legislation to help families repatriate the remains of children who died at residential schools. At the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, Edjericon spoke about a service he attended to bring home the remains of a young Indigenous girl named Alma. Alma passed away more than 80 years ago while attending the former St Joseph’s Residential School, Edjericon said, and the repatriation marked the restoration of “a fundamental human right” that had long been denied to Indigenous families – the right to “lay loved ones to rest according to our own wishes and traditions.” While those rights are clearly outlined within the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous...
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