Trump threatens increased tariffs on Canada over wildfire smoke in U.S. cities
By Kelly Geraldine Malone President Donald Trump threatened Friday to increase tariffs on Canada due to smoke from wildfires in Ontario blanketing parts of the United States as Republican lawmakers escalated their complaints about air quality. “We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!” Trump posted on social media. Wildfires are ripping through northwestern Ontario, forcing residents in several First Nations communities to evacuate. One remote community has been destroyed, with residents forced to flee in small boats. Smoke from those fires is triggering air quality warnings across Ontario and in multiple states, including Michigan, Ohio,...
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What is an Urban Reserve? Edmonton’s Plan to Open New Economic Corridors
By Troy Dumont, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News Urban reserves are not a new idea in Canada, but the term may still be unfamiliar to many Albertans. An urban reserve is reserve land located within or next to an urban center. In many cases, these reserves are created when First Nationsuse settlement funds from specific claims or Treaty Land Entitlement agreements to purchase land. That land can then move through the federal Addition-to-Reserve process, where it may be added to a First Nation’s reserve land base. Indigenous Services Canada outlines the process on its urban reserves page at sac-isc.gc.ca. The concept has a long history in Canada. The first formal example, and the most often cited, is Muskeg Lake Cree Nation’s urban reserve in Saskatoon, established in 1988...
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Abandoned on the road to the Ring of Fire
By Jon Thompson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ricochet Wet ash is falling through a slight mist over the fly-in northern Ontario community of Eabametoong (Fort Hope First Nation), 370 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay. On Wednesday, a high column of smoke plumed over the lake. By Friday, Chief Sol Atlookan found fires surrounding his community, and now they’re burning right across the bay. “It doesn’t matter where the wind’s coming from,” Atlookan says. “If it comes from the east, from the west, we’re still going to be smoked out. A lot of people are very nervous, of course. At this point in time, getting us out doesn’t seem to be a high priority.” Saturday marked the third day Eabametoong’s elders and vulnerable have waited for evacuation as the smoke has...
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Ontario expanding emergency message system as nearly 200 wildfires rage
Ontario is giving local authorities access to Canada’s national public alerting system as wildfires continue to burn across the province and prompt evacuations. Emergency Preparedness Minister Jill Dunlop said Sunday that mayors, First Nations chiefs, police chiefs and other government and emergency management officials can now request that Alert Ready messages be sent to residents via television, radio and mobile devices. The Alert Ready system is used nationwide to alert the public to emergencies such as tornadoes, wildfires and Amber Alerts. In a letter to Ontario’s heads of council, Dunlop said access to the system is being expanded because of this year’s significant wildfire season and that Alert Ready messages can be sent for situations that present a threat to life or public safety. Nearly 200 active wildfires are raging...
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More people flee fires, destruction in northern Ontario as blazes rage across Canada
By Kathryn Mannie Another Ontario First Nation was razed by fire and more people fled their northern communities over the weekend as Prime Minister Mark Carney said more than 5,000 firefighters were battling blazes across the country. Carney said he visited federal workers in Ottawa on Sunday morning who are helping with wildfire response efforts in northwestern Ontario and other provinces. Extreme heat waves and dry conditions have made this year “one of the most intense wildfire seasons in Canadian history,” the prime minister said in a social media post. Nearly 1,000 wildfires are blazing from coast to coast and almost 200 of them are in northern Ontario, causing more destruction. Chief Pauline Drake of Whitewater Lake First Nation said Sunday that a wildfire destroyed much of the remote community...
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Tsleil-Waututh Nation sees early success after finishing shoreline restoration project
By Abby Luciano, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, North Shore News Another shoreline restoration project led by the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) is in the books, and it’s already showing signs of success. The Nation just wrapped up work on roughly 500 metres of shoreline from the western boundary of their reserve land near Dollarton Highway up to the west bank of George Creek. The project was planned with nature-based solutions such as sand and gravel beach nourishment, rock walls below the shoreline and salt marsh plantings to help mitigate wave action and protect the shoreline against coastal erosion and flooding. Project lead Sarah Dal Santo said the hard work is paying off, with seaweed now establishing on rock headlands and otters, heron and deer returning. “There have been some very exciting...
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Close to 200 wildfires are active in northern Ontario, as communities evacuate
By David Augustine Nearly 200 wildfires are currently burning across Northern Ontario, with 57 said to be out of control. The majority of the fires are burning in the Northwest region. This comes as Northern Ontario communities prepare for further evacuations as officials warn increased wildfire activity and worsening smoke conditions could continue into the foreseeable future. Neskantaga First Nation is planning another evacuation flight today, with evacuees heading to Toronto as Thunder Bay faces limited hotel space. The Whitewater Lake First Nation reported widespread destruction, including homes, belongings and vital infrastructure, deepening concern and loss across remote communities. Crews say they will prioritize lives, property and critical infrastructure, while restricted fire zones and open-air burning bans remain until further notice across the northwest. Recent rain has slowed some blazes,...
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Government investigating CN’s actions after rail crew caught in wildfire
By Christopher Reynolds Federal authorities are looking into whether Canadian National Railway Co. broke the law after a crew had to be evacuated from a train engulfed in flames in northwestern Ontario. The government is “conducting followup oversight” to determine if CN failed to comply with rules under the Railway Safety Act, said Transport Canada spokesperson Hicham Ayoun. “Transport Canada will not hesitate to implement operational restrictions or protective measures when necessary,” he said in an email Friday. The department is also working with Employment and Social Development Canada to determine whether health and safety violations occurred, he said. The Transportation Safety Board said it was “gathering information” as well. “It’s too early to say what the next step will be,” said watchdog spokesperson Liam MacDonald in an email. A...
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Trump threatens increased tariffs on Canada over wildfire smoke in U.S. cities
President Donald Trump is threatening to increase tariffs on Canada due to smoke from wildfires in Ontario blanketing parts of the United States. Trump says on social media he is “holding Canada responsible” for not properly maintaining forested areas and that he will call Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss the issue. He says Canada’s forest management is leaving the U.S. with unnecessary pollution and poor air quality that is “totally unacceptable.” He says it has become a yearly occurrence. Wildfires are ripping through northwestern Ontario, forcing residents in several First Nations communities to evacuate. One remote community has been destroyed, with residents forced to flee in small boats. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2026. ...
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Fire-ravaged First Nations community accuses Ottawa of denying it federal aid
By Alessia Passafiume A small Ontario First Nations community that was burned to the ground by a raging wildfire on Monday is being deprived of necessary help because the federal government doesn’t recognize it as a First Nation, the community’s lawyer said. Residents of Collins First Nation, a remote community without road access more than 200 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, were forced to self-evacuate earlier this week in advance of fast-moving fires. Videos show community members fleeing on small boats as the flames encroached upon the shoreline. Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige told The Canadian Press the community members made a narrow escape. She said they took care of each other after provincial and federal agencies failed to warn them of the blaze and provide evacuation supports....
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First Nation, Yukon unveil region’s first wildfire roadmap
By Noah Korver, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Yukon News The Carcross/Tagish First Nation and the Yukon government have launched the region’s first wildfire resiliency framework to strengthen wildfire preparedness and help protect the two communities. The framework outlines 36 priority actions to reduce wildfire risk, improve community resilience and guide long-term planning for future wildfire threats. “Those actions include a kind of full suite of mitigating measures,” said manager of prevention and mitigation for Yukon Wildland Fire Management (WFM), Luc Bibeau. “Everything from public education and awareness of what folks can do on their private property to reduce their risk, out to potential changes in how we develop new places, to how we manage the forest around the community, and how we work together to respond effectively in the case...
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Study links Yukon chinook salmon decline to marine heat waves in the Bering Sea
By Noah Korver, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Yukon News There is reason to be hopeful, says the Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee, in light of a new study published by Alaska researchers that sheds more light on the mystery of shrinking chinook Salmon returns on the Yukon River. Co-authored by researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the U.S. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) the study identifies significant and prolonged marine heatwaves in the Bering Sea as a contributing factor to the massive drop in the number of Salmon migrating up the Yukon River to return to spawning beds in the Yukon. A marine heatwave is defined a period of increased ocean water temperatures that meet or exceed the upper limits of the historical average for a period of five or...
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Penticton starts planning to give downtown a glow-up
By Keith Lacey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Penticton Herald A new long-term plan to guide the future growth and development of downtown Penticton is moving ahead. Housing and policy initiatives manager Steven Collyer told council Tuesday that downtown is the city’s cultural and economic heart and that a new comprehensive plan is needed to guide future investment and decision-making. The city’s last downtown plan was completed in 2013 and led to projects such as the Main Street revitalization, Penticton Creek naturalization and other public space improvements. Its policies were later incorporated into the city’s 2019 Official Community Plan. Since then, numerous initiatives have been proposed or launched downtown, including land-use changes, infrastructure projects, new developments and community safety measures, without an overarching plan to guide them, Collyer said. The new...
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Medicine Wheel Warriors Helps Indigenous Youth Discover Their Inner Superheroes
By Chevi Rabbit, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News For 40 Indigenous youth in Calgary, becoming a superhero was about much more than creating a 3D-printed action figure. It was about discovering their own strengths, connecting with culture, and recognizing the power they already carry within themselves. The Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) created the Medicine Wheel Warriors project to bring together Indigenous teachings, technology, and youth creativity while helping participants see themselves as leaders and heroes within their communities. The inspiration behind the project came directly from youth. LeeAnne Ireland, Executive Director at USAY, said the idea began years ago after youth visited a makerspace at Red Deer College and were introduced to 3D printing technology. “They had this amazing, innovative makerspace where they were 3D printing...
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Government investigating CN’s actions after rail crew caught in wildfire
By Christopher Reynolds Federal authorities are looking into whether Canadian National Railway Co. broke the law after a crew had to be evacuated from a train engulfed in flames in northwestern Ontario. The government is “conducting followup oversight” to determine if CN failed to comply with rules under the Railway Safety Act, said Transport Canada spokesperson Hicham Ayoun. “Transport Canada will not hesitate to implement operational restrictions or protective measures when necessary,” he said in an email Friday. The department is also working with Employment and Social Development Canada to determine whether health and safety violations occurred, he said. The Transportation Safety Board said it was “gathering information” as well. “It’s too early to say what the next step will be,” said watchdog spokesperson Liam MacDonald in an email. A...
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AFN Blasts Government Response to Namaygoosisagagun Wildfire Crisis: “Absolutely Ridiculous & Disgusting”
By Alex Murray Writer The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) tabled an emergency resolution on the ongoing wildfire crisis in northern Ontario on Thursday (July 16). The resolution, titled “Support for Namaygoosisagagun First Nation,” called on the federal government to provide immediate support and commit to rebuild homes and infrastructure in the First Nation that has been one of the hardest hit by the wildfires in the area. Residents of Namaygoosisagagun, also known as Collins First Nation, fled in boats across Collins Lake as the wildfire approached this week. Some only had time to bring the clothes on their backs as the flames quickly encroached on the community. Residents said the scene went from smoke to flames in a matter of minutes. The about two dozen community members on the...
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Ontario crews battling about 190 wildfires, half out of control: officials
By Kathryn Mannie Ontario’s premier says approximately 190 wildfires raging across the northern part of the province have already burned through more land than all of last year’s fire season total. Premier Doug Ford and other provincial officials in an update today gave a sense of the massive and rapidly changing scope of the fires and the efforts to bring them under control with more than 150 fire crews and over 80 water bombers and helicopters battling the blazes. Ford says about 81 of those fires are out of control and information from the Ministry of Natural Resources shows that 20 new fires were confirmed today in the northeast region alone. The premier is praising the emergency responders for ensuring no fatalities, as 10 northern communities have already been evacuated...
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Fires from coast to coast: A look at the wildfire situation across the country
Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks in front of a live map of smoke movement during a press conference updating media on ongoing forest fires in Ontario, in Toronto, Friday, July 17, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston Just over 900 fires are burning across Canada according to the national wildland fire summary. Of those, 122 are listed out of control. Smoke from those fires is choking out millions in major cities across North America. Here’s a brief look at what is happening around the country: ONTARIO Ontario Premier Doug Ford says approximately 190 wildfires are raging in the province’s north. Those fires have already burned through more land than all of last year’s fire season total. Provincial officials say more than 150 fire crews and more than 80 water bombers and...
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Fire-ravaged First Nations community accuses Ottawa of denying it federal aid
By Alessia Passafiume A lawyer representing a small Ontario First Nations community that was burned to the ground by a raging wildfire says it’s being deprived of necessary help because the federal government doesn’t recognize it as a First Nation. Residents of Collins First Nation, a remote community without road access, more than 200 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, were forced to self-evacuate earlier this week in advance of fast-moving fires. Videos show community members fleeing on small boats as the flames encroached upon the shoreline. Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige told The Canadian Press on Thursday community members made a narrow escape. She said they took care of each other after provincial and federal agencies failed to warn them of the blaze and provide evacuation supports. The...
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Osoyoos and RDOS allocate funds towards strengthening Indigenous relations
By Lexi McFarlane, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Times Chronicle The Town of Osoyoos has entered into an agreement with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen to ensure funds recently obtained for Indigenous outreach can reach more of the local Indigenous community. Funds received by Osoyoos from the Province were distributed from the Indigenous Engagement Requirements Funding Program (IERFP), and cover expenses related to relationship strengthening with local First Nations groups such as the Osoyoos Indian Band, collaborative initiatives, and building a stronger capacity to deal with emergency situations. All local First Nations groups and municipalities are considered eligible to apply. Osoyoos successfully applied for and received IERFP funding in 2024 and 2025, for amounts of $40,000 and $42,000 respectively. However, the RDOS’s summary on the proposal stated that the Town was...
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