Canada sending patrol vessel to Greenland for opening of new consulate: Anand
By Dylan Robertson Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Canada’s “principled pragmatism” in foreign policy will be on full display next week in Greenland when she opens Canada’s new consulate in the Danish territory with Inuit representatives attending and a coast guard vessel in the background. “We will continue to be principled and we will be pragmatic at the same time,” Anand told The Canadian Press during a Monday interview in her ministerial office, where her desk was covered by a circular map of the Arctic. The opening of the new consulate in Greenland’s capital Nuuk was originally planned for last November but was postponed due to bad weather. Since then, U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated his threats to acquire the Danish territory. The White House refused to rule...
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B.C. issues environmental assessment certificate for Eskay Creek mine
The British Columbia government has issued an environmental assessment certificate to Eskay Creek Mining Ltd., to restart gold and silver mining at the site of the former Eskay Creek mine in Tahltan territory. The province says in a news release that its Environmental Assessment Office carried out a “collaborative assessment process” with the Tahltan Central Government, in what it says is the first of its kind to be guided by a consent agreement. The release says B.C.’s mining and environment ministers made the decision to issue the certificate after reviewing the office’s report and recommendations, as well as a risk assessment from the northwestern First Nation. It says the ministers also applied 38 legally binding conditions on the project, including ones that were co-developed with the nation to mitigate risks...
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Why two skulls unearthed in B.C. could be harbingers for future archeological woes
By Wolfgang Depner Last June, landscapers working on a site in Kamloops, B.C., came upon a troubling discovery — two human skulls and jawbones. Police and the coroner were informed, but after an inspection that swiftly determined the remains ancient, the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation was called in and the day after the find issued a press release, declaring the property owned by Park Place Seniors Living to be a sacred site. “The site is protected under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the BC Heritage Conservation Act. Any alteration or disturbance to the sacred site is illegal and punishable under provincial law,” the statement said, adding that the nation had put the property in a residential area of North Kamloops under “24-hour security.”...
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Air Inuit sets new cap on all routes for beneficiaries
By Dominique Gené, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News Air Inuit is introducing a $700 fare cap on all travel routes for Nunavik beneficiaries under the Ilaujuq program. The program is a partnership between Makivvik and Air Inuit. Beneficiaries currently receive four tickets each year for 70 per cent off round-trip Air Inuit flights or certain cargo shipments such as snowmobiles and ATVs, according to Air Inuit’s website. The discount can cover up to $900 per trip, with flights between Montreal and Kuujjuaq capped at $700. Starting Feb. 1, the $700 cap will apply to all routes. The four tickets for 70 per cent off round-trip flights will still apply. “The change means a standardized $700 cap under the program which means more savings for beneficiaries,” said Tim Duboyce, media...
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Air Inuit sets new cap on all routes for beneficiaries
By Dominique Gené, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News Air Inuit is introducing a $700 fare cap on all travel routes for Nunavik beneficiaries under the Ilaujuq program. The program is a partnership between Makivvik and Air Inuit. Beneficiaries currently receive four tickets each year for 70 per cent off round-trip Air Inuit flights or certain cargo shipments such as snowmobiles and ATVs, according to Air Inuit’s website. The discount can cover up to $900 per trip, with flights between Montreal and Kuujjuaq capped at $700. Starting Feb. 1, the $700 cap will apply to all routes. The four tickets for 70 per cent off round-trip flights will still apply. “The change means a standardized $700 cap under the program which means more savings for beneficiaries,” said Tim Duboyce, media...
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Carney skips question period on Parliament’s first day back, meets with Premier Ford
By Alessia Passafiume After a globe-hopping mission to secure new trade deals and foreign investment, Prime Minister Mark Carney was back in Ottawa Monday as Parliament resumed — but not for very long. Carney visited an Ottawa grocery store Monday morning where he announced a 25 per cent hike to the GST credit to help lower-income consumers deal with the high cost of groceries, before leaving town to meet with Ontario Premier Doug Ford in Toronto. Their meeting followed Carney’s trip to China earlier this month, where the prime minister announced the federal government would allow some Chinese-made electric vehicles to enter the Canadian market following a nearly two-year trade dispute. Ford, whose province has been hit hard by U.S. tariffs on autos from the United States, reacted angrily to...
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Carney pitches GST rebate boost as major plank of Liberal affordability agenda
By Kyle Duggan and Craig Lord Prime Minister Mark Carney kicked off the winter session of Parliament on Monday by unveiling a new plank in the Liberals’ affordability agenda. Making the announcement from an Ottawa grocery store, the prime minister unveiled plans for the “Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit” — a 25 per cent hike to the GST credit over the next five years to help lower-income consumers deal with the high cost of groceries. If the measure is passed, the federal government says it will also issue a one-time payment in the spring worth 50 per cent of the credit. “Canada’s new government is acting today to provide a boost to those Canadian families who most need one, while creating a bridge to longer-term food security and affordability,” Carney...
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MacKinnon says minority Parliament can work if Conservatives ‘get out of the way’
By Jim Bronskill and David Baxter Government House leader Steven MacKinnon said Monday he believes the minority Parliament can function and pass bills — if Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre agrees to “get out of the way.” When asked if the governing Liberals are considering a spring election, MacKinnon said Canadians voted for the current government’s plan last April and the priority is to implement it. “There is no way that plan should not receive the approval of this Parliament. There is a majority in that room for that plan,” MacKinnon told a press conference in Ottawa on Monday. “Mr. Poilievre has to get out of the way and allow his MPs to vote on an ambitious, crime-fighting agenda.” Ontario Conservative MP Costas Menegakis brushed off MacKinnon’s call. “Get out of...
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Premier touts further progress on Consensus Document with FirstNations
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — B.C. Premier David Eby said further progress had been made on a 2023 agreement between northeast B.C. First Nations in a speech at the B.C. Natural Resources Forum. The 2023 Consensus Document, signed by the province and four Treaty 8 First Nations – Doig River First Nation (DRFN), Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN), Halfway River First Nation (HRFN) and Saulteau First Nations (SFN) – outlined a plan for land and resource planning, according to a government press release. This included a shared management of wildlife, land-use and protective measures, natural resource landscape planning and restoration initiatives, a fund to help heal the land, a revenue-sharing approach to support Treaty 8 Nation communities and education about Treaty 8 through...
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Landfill search for remains of slain woman shows promising signs, premier says
By Steve Lambert Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says there are some encouraging signs in a landfill search for the remains of Ashlee Shingoose, one of four First Nations women slain by a serial killer. Kinew says the search at Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg has uncovered material from date ranges and trucking routes that appear to line up with Shingoose’s disappearance. Excavation started last month, and Kinew says while there are no guarantees of success, developments so far are positive. Jeremy Skibicki was convicted in 2024 of killing Shingoose and three other women two years earlier, and given a life sentence for first-degree murder. The remains of Rebecca Contois were discovered in a garbage bin and at the Brady Road landfill in 2022. The remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes...
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Carney stands by Plains of Abraham speech that rankled Quebec’s political class
Prime Minister Mark Carney is standing by his comments about the Battle of the Plains of Abraham that drew a swift rebuke from Quebec’s political class. The controversy erupted last week when Carney said the 1759 battle in Quebec City — during which the British defeated the French — symbolized the beginning of a partnership between two peoples. Carney said the battle became a symbol of collaboration rather than domination — comments that Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said reflected Ottawa’s “long tradition of colonialism.” Speaking today in Ottawa, Carney said the resilience of francophones created the Canada that we know today, where French, English and Indigenous peoples are considered the nation’s founders. After the defeat on the Plains of Abraham the French ultimately lost control of New France...
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Military mission complete in Manitoba First Nation dealing with frozen water damage
The federal government says a military mission to help a northern Manitoba First Nation in the aftermath of a water crisis brought on by a power outage is complete. A joint statement from the defence minister, the minister of Indigenous Services Canada and the minister of emergency management says all Armed Forces members deployed to Pimicikamak Cree Nation are to leave by the end of Friday. More than 1,300 homes in Pimicikamak, about 520 kilometres north of Winnipeg, were damaged after a days-long power outage last month led to the failure of critical infrastructure. Pipes burst, crawl spaces were filled with icy water and sewage was backed up, forcing at least 4,000 people out of the community. After repeated calls from the chief, the military deployed on Jan. 9 a...
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‘Dark day’: Former cop gets 7 years for selling drugs, photographing dead woman
By Brittany Hobson A former Winnipeg police officer who sold drugs to colleagues and took a photo of a dead woman has been handed a seven-year prison sentence in a case that rocked the force and had a judge questioning the extent of police corruption. “Today is a dark day for public confidence in the administration of justice,” Justice Kenneth Champagne told Court of King’s Bench Friday while sentencing Elston Bostock. “For eight years, Bostock committed criminal offences, operating with impunity under the cover of his uniform and badge. “The breach of trust is staggering.” Bostock, 49, previously pleaded guilty to an extensive list of criminal charges, including breach of trust, attempting to obstruct justice, drug trafficking and offering an indignity to human remains. The Crown had argued that a...
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Carney announces GST rebate boost to counter high cost of groceries
By Kyle Duggan and Craig Lord Prime Minister Mark Carney is announcing a 25 per cent hike to the GST credit to help lower-income consumers deal with the high cost of groceries across the country. Branded as the “Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit,” the boost will be temporary, starting this year and lasting for five years. The federal government will also issue a one-time payment this year worth 50 per cent of the credit. Carney is making the announcement at an Ottawa grocery store as MPs returned to the House of Commons after a winter break. The prime minister says the cost of essentials has been “too high for too long” and many Canadians are feeling daily financial pressure. Carney attributes the high prices to the after-effects of the pandemic...
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Renowned Ojibway artist John Williams unveils Indigenous mural at Ridgetown Adult Activity Centre
By Michael Bennett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Ridgetown Independent News A beautiful mural by John Williams was unveiled at the Ridgetown Area Adult Activity Centre during its monthly luncheon on Friday, Jan. 16. Williams, a renowned Ojibway artist from Aamjiwnaang First Nation near Sarnia, was commissioned by the Adult Centre to create a mural. “We’re thrilled to have John here as our artist; he did a beautiful job,” said Brian Doidge, president of the Adult Centre, during the unveiling. Williams’ mural symbolizes the region’s agricultural history. His creation highlighted the area’s current agriculture while incorporating the past, including the ‘Three Sisters’ – corn, beans and squash – crops the First Nations people grew. Williams also incorporated strawberries, which grow naturally in the area and are also important to First...
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Membertou acquires ship expert Genoa Design International
By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post Membertou First Nation and Horizon Naval Engineering are about to acquire one of the Canadian shipbuilding industry’s leading design firms. The deal to buy Genoa Design International, the Digital Ship Experts, a 30-year-old leading detail design and 3D modelling firm, is scheduled to be completed by Jan. 31. The acquisition is subject to the completion of purchase agreements and satisfaction of closing conditions. Chief Terry Paul of Membertou, whose community is focused on investment in the marine sector, says this investment represents a partnership that brings Indigenous leadership together with technical excellence to build long-term economic strength. “By acquiring Genoa Design, we are not only growing a strategic business but also creating opportunities for innovation and Indigenous participation in a...
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Brantford Police seize over $22,000 in Illegal Drugs After Traffic Stop
BRANTFORD, ONT-Brantford Police Service (BPS) has arrested two men after cannabis and cocaine were seen during a traffic stop. BPS said it seized a large quanitity of illegal drugs during a traffic stop at about 11:15 p.m., Friday, January 23, 2026, on House Avenue. Police said after speaking with the driver of the car they saw “cannabis in clear view, a violation of the Cannabis Control Act.” The men were arrested and the vehicle searched. Police seized: 232 grams of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $18,576 70 grams of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of $2,800 14 grams of crack cocaine, with an estimated value of $1,120 Large quantity of Canadian currency Cell phones A 19-year-old man from North Dumfries and a 20-year-old man from Flamborough each...
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Brantford Police will not be involved in Federal Assault-Style Firearm Compensation Program
BRANTFORD, ONT-The Brantford Police Service (BPS) says it will not be participating in the federal governments national declaraion period for Assault-Style Firearm Compensation Program (ASFCP) . The program launched Jan 19, 2026 with the intention of supporting the removal of certain firearms from circulation through a federally administered compensation process. BPS says it is not participating and avises the public they will not be offering firearm collection or storage appointments as part of the federal initiative. Instead BPS explains participation by local police services is not mandated in the program that is being administered at the federal level. Instead the Brantford Police Service will prioritize its “operational resources toward frontline policing responsibilities, including emergency response, criminal investigations, crime prevention, and victim support services. These priorities remain central to ensuring community...
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Carney announces GST rebate boost to counter high cost of groceries
By Kyle Duggan and Craig Lord Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday announced a 25 per cent hike to the GST credit to help lower-income consumers deal with the high cost of groceries. Branded as the “Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit,” the temporary boost takes effect this July and lasts for five years. The federal government will also issue a one-time payment this year worth 50 per cent of the credit. The government said a qualifying family of four will receive up to $1,890 this year and roughly $1,400 annually for the next four years. A single person would get up to $950 this year and about $700 for the next four years. The existing GST credit is paid out quarterly and is targeted at families with low and modest...
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Provincial police investigate after man, woman found dead in Manawan, Que.
Quebec provincial police are investigating an apparent case of domestic violence after discovering two bodies in an apartment in Manawan, a First Nations community northeast of Montreal. Police say the deceased are a 44-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman. Manawan police had responded to a call late Sunday afternoon in the Atikamekw community and the case has since been handed over to the provincial police major-crimes unit. Sgt. Marc Tessier of the provincial police says investigators and a forensic identification technician were on the scene. The Atikamekw Council of Manawan said in a statement that a “major incident” had occurred in a residence resulting in the deaths of two individuals. The council expressed its solidarity with those affected by this situation. “In these difficult times, it is important to remember...
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