Environmentalists have mixed reactions to Quebec-Ottawa caribou funding deal
By Morgan Lowrie Environmentalists are divided on whether a new funding deal reached between Quebec and the federal government will help save the province’s dwindling caribou herds. The executive director of environmental group SNAP Québec says the agreement announced earlier this week is a step in the right direction. Alain Branchaud says the deal signals an openness by the Quebec government to collaborate with Ottawa on caribou protection, which includes the province agreeing to publish reports on how it’s using the money. But he says more action is still needed, as is compensation for Quebec logging communities whose activities would be disrupted by meaningful conservation action. The agreement will see Ottawa send Quebec $25 million over five years for caribou conservation initiatives, as well as another $15 million to Indigenous...
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Hudson’s Bay closes auctions with sale of Norval Morrisseau paintings
By Tara Deschamps Hudson’s Bay has completed the final auction in a series that found new owners for its trove of art — this one featuring six paintings with ties to Norval Morrisseau. The sale was hosted online by Heffel Fine Art Auction House. Three of the pieces sold in the auction were created by the late Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau and three came from his studio. Studio paintings are typically completed by assistants in an artist’s workshop. Hudson’s Bay has completed the final auction in a series that found new owners for its trove of art — this one featuring six paintings with ties to Norval Morrisseau. (July 3, 2026) The top Morrisseau painting was a vibrant acrylic on canvas attributed to his studio. It sold for $27,500. The...
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Planned work can ‘take root now’
By Sandi Krasowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Chronicle-Journal With the federal parliamentary session adjourned for the summer, the minister of jobs, family and labour welcomes the break. “It’s a very busy time, but I’m really enjoying this portfolio, and I think for me this is a very optimistic, positive portfolio,” Patty Hajdu said. “It’s about helping people, no matter what stage of life they’re in.” The Thunder Bay-Superior North member of Parliament says they had a productive end of session. Hajdu said they passed several different pieces of legislation on community safety and online safety and were working to make sure their spring economic update passed, which it did. “That means that all of the work that we have planned, in terms of building communities up, in terms of...
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Quarterly payments of Ottawa’s boosted grocery and essentials benefit start today
By Craig Lord Eligible Canadians will find a bit more cash in their bank accounts starting today as quarterly payments begin for the federal Liberals’ boosted affordability benefit. The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit is paid out to lower-income households every three months and was previously called the GST/HST credit. Eligible households got a one-time payment worth 50 per cent of the benefit’s annual value in early June. The quarterly payments are also getting a 25 per cent boost for the next five years. Annual amounts can range between a few hundred dollars to more than a thousand dollars per family, depending on marital status and the number of children in the household. Prime Minister Mark Carney pitched the affordability measure in January as a way to help Canadians cope...
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Opening Indigenous eyes to a career ‘they’ve never heard of before’
By John Chilibeck, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Daily Gleaner Stanley Barnaby had a thought. If young Indigenous people aren’t attending university in big numbers to learn about science, technology, engineering, arts or math, why not bring those advanced-level subjects to their communities, where they’re more comfortable? Three years and many funding partners since, a new mobile trailer has been set up to do just that in those close-knit First Nations across New Brunswick. Branded Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars, the idea is to get young local Indigenous people hooked on learning that they may never have considered. For instance, less than one per cent of engineers in Canada are Indigenous, even though they make up five per cent of the country’s population and are the fastest growing...
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Niagara Falls mayor apologizes for comments about Kashechewan evacuees
By Marissa Lentz-McGrath, Local Journalism Initiative, TimminsToday.com NIAGARA FALLS — Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati has apologized after comments made about Kashechewan evacuees were widely criticized by First Nations leaders in Northern Ontario. Earlier this week, Diodati met with Kashechewan Chief Hosea Wesley to talk about the June 23 presentation on the city’s Unhoused and Vulnerable Populations Action Plan, during which it was said people assume First Nations evacuees are homeless. SEE: First Nations leaders reject ‘homeless’ label for Kashechewan evacuees in Niagara Falls In a statement issued today (July 3), Diodati said the meeting gave both leaders a chance to talk openly about how the recent comments were received. “Our intentions to gain support for families and for the community were good, but comments can be misinterpreted,” he said....
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Oka gas station forced to cancel tax exemption
By Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has determined the Belisle Gas Station in Oka can no longer grant the exemption for sales tax for Kanehsata’kehró:non after July 1, The Pines Reporter has learned. In a statement, Revenue Quebec shared they were informed by the CRA in January that after a new validation was conducted by the national agency “an address containing one or more businesses had been incorrectly located within the geographic boundaries in 2015 and was actually outside the territory covered by the Decree.” Revenue Quebec is responsible for administering the tax exemption for First Nations in Quebec, but the geographic scope for Kanehsata’kehró:non tax exemption is established by the federal government. This new analysis was done at the request...
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Kahnawake moving forward as land returned
By Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door The Canadian government has announced $1.2 million in funding to remediate the Old Radar Site that straddles St. Remi and St. Isidore, a 162-acre parcel of land that is being returned to Kahnawake, a milestone for the community years in the making. Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) grand chief Cody Diabo said it’s just the first example of land that is slated for return and that there are currently more parcels being looked at for return to Kahnawake. “We’ve talked about land back for many years – not one more inch. Now we’re talking about actually getting that back, so it’s definitely something very dear for the community,” Diabo said. The effort to acquire the land, which is being returned...
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Ottawa’s ‘new nuclear renaissance’ ignites debate over Canada’s energy future
By Anushka Yadav, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Pointer “There is no credible plan for Canada to become an energy superpower if we choose not to build upon one of the strongest energy advantages we have.” While unveiling a new national strategy for nuclear power on June 22, Energy minister Tim Hodgson made it clear that under the Mark Carney government, Canada was entering a “new civilian nuclear renaissance” with the country’s electrical grid capacity expected to double by 2050, “driven by digitalization, electrification and artificial intelligence”. “If our goal is to double our grid and build a low-carbon economy in less than 25 years, there is no credible plan to do that without nuclear energy and the clean, reliable baseload power it provides.” For decades, nuclear energy has remained...
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Tribes hope Farm Bill can feed more people and preserve Indigenous culture
By Joshua A. Bickel And Jennifer Mcdermott HOPKINTON, R.I. (AP) — At Ashawaug Farm in southwest Rhode Island, Dawn and Cassius Spears preserve their Indigenous knowledge of agriculture through the cultivation and keeping of three Narragansett heritage crops: white corn, succotash beans and crookneck squash. They would like to expand their farm’s reach beyond their farm stand, but it’s challenging. Like many small food producers, the Spears have sought financial assistance through federal programs. Some have been cut or significantly scaled back under the Trump Administration, including U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that helped tribal farmers. Tribes relied on these programs to grow and distribute culturally-significant foods locally. “When we go into these federal programs, we’re hoping that they’ll last long enough,” Cassius Spears said. “They usually start out with...
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Hajdu expresses optimism on new First Nations water legislation
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SNnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY — The Liberals failed in their first attempt at getting a First Nations Clean Water Act passed, but Thunder Bay–Superior North MP Patty Hajdu has reasons to be optimistic about success this time around. Hajdu, who was Indigenous Services minister when the ill-fated first bill was in the House, told Newswatch this week that some changes bode well for the new bill introduced last month by current Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty. “Well, I would say that we have a majority (now), so that will be helpful,” said Hajdu, the jobs and families minister since May 2025. “It was not helpful to see both NDP and Conservative opposition despite the pleading of the AFN (Assembly of First Nations) and other...
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Saskatchewan flooding forces more local states of emergency, some evacuations
By Jeremy Simes Flooding in Saskatchewan has forced more communities to declare states of emergency, while one First Nation has evacuated some residents. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says 11 communities issued alerts over the past week following torrential rainfall. The agency’s Tyler Harrison says nine people from the Cote First Nation, 280 kilometres northeast of Regina, were forced to flee the community. He says the evacuees are considered vulnerable and would need easy access to medical services in case of an emergency. Other communities dealing with flooding are in the province’s east-central region, including Canora, Kamsack and Norquay. Heavy rain had overwhelmed sewer systems, leaving many homes with over a foot of water in basements, while also washing out nearby highways. Leah Clark, the executive director of irrigation at...
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Saskatchewan flooding forces more local states of emergency, some evacuations
By Jeremy Simes Flooding in Saskatchewan has forced more communities to declare states of emergency, while some residents were evacuated from a First Nation near the Manitoba boundary. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says 11 communities issued alerts over the past week following torrential rainfall. Tyler Harrison, manager of the agency’s emergency services, says nine people from the Cote First Nation, 360 kilometres east of Saskatoon, were forced to flee the community. He says the evacuees are considered vulnerable and would need easy access to medical services in case of an emergency. Other communities dealing with flooding are in the province’s east-central region, including Canora, Kamsack and Norquay. Heavy rain had overwhelmed sewer systems, leaving many homes with over a foot of water in basements, while also washing out nearby...
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Flooding leaves 13 Saskatchewan communities under emergency
By Nicole Goldsworthy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SaskToday.ca REGINA — Saskatchewan emergency officials say widespread flooding caused by recent heavy rainfall is affecting communities across the province, even as crews continue responding to dozens of active wildfires. During a media briefing Thursday, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said 62 wildfires were active across Saskatchewan as of 12:30 p.m., while localized flooding has prompted 13 communities to declare local states of emergency. Of the active wildfires, four are contained, eight are not contained, 38 remain under assessment and 12 are classified as protecting values, said SPSA. The six fires of note include: Border Fire near Mary Lake — nine hectares, protecting values. Church Fire northeast of Sandy Bay — 12 hectares, contained. Gulak Fire east of Southend — 309 hectares, not...
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What people are saying about the B.C.-Ottawa ‘prosperity agreement’
Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Columbia Premier David Eby have signed a “prosperity agreement” they say will help unlock billions of dollars in new investment. The deal includes a promise by the federal government to not change the northern oil tanker ban and to accelerate construction of LNG projects. It touches on multiple other projects, including plans for the North Coast Transmission Line and Newmont’s Red Chris mine expansion. Here is what some people are saying about the deal: — “This agreement is comprehensive. It is ambitious. And it will help transform the entire Canadian economy and fund the public services on which all Canadians rely.” — Prime Minister Mark Carney — “This deal will deliver faster commutes as we build critical infrastructure, less pollution as we power growth with clean...
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Paddling to the past: Building birchbark canoe brings history to life for First Nation youth
Several young people in Membertou First Nation are getting together almost daily during the summer to build a traditional birch bark canoe — and for some, it’s personal. Above, from left, are: Samara Paul; Anastasia Kabatay; and Miracle Johnson. Paul and Kabatay are related to Edward Kabatay, one of the paddlers of the Expo ’67 expedition that saw two canoes paddled by Mi’kmaq men from Cape Breton all the way to Montreal in a 31-day voyage. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton Post By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post A young Membertou woman has a good reason to be showing up almost every day to help build a traditional Mi’kmaw birch bark canoe — thought to be the first in Unama’ki (Cape Breton) in about a hundred years. Anastasia...
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Overland flooding washes out roads, damages homes across Prairies
By Ian Bickis and Brittany Hobson Emergency teams worked into the early hours Thursday to make sure an expectant mother, a cardiac patient and others were transferred to health facilities across Manitoba after rapid rain and flooding closed the only medical centre in the western city of Dauphin. To the north, where the town of Swan River was battered by rising water levels for the second time in less than a month, the province requested military support from the federal government. Premier Wab Kinew toured both areas Thursday. He said he reached out to Ottawa after Swan River’s mayor requested help to relieve volunteers and other workers. “The idea is to get some more boots on the ground,” said Kinew at an airport outside of Winnipeg after his tour. “You...
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Hudson’s Bay closes auctions with sale of Norval Morrisseau paintings
By Tara Deschamps Hudson’s Bay has completed the final auction in a series that found new owners for its trove of art — this one featuring six paintings with ties to Norval Morrisseau. The sale was hosted online by Heffel Fine Art Auction House. Three of the pieces sold in the auction were created by the late Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau and three came from his studio. Studio paintings are typically completed by assistants in an artist’s workshop. The top Morrisseau painting was a vibrant acrylic on canvas attributed to his studio. It sold for $27,500. The Morrisseau works were up for auction alongside vintage HBC signs, a basketball and jersey signed by former Toronto Raptor Pascal Siakam and various other pieces of memorabilia and art that belonged to the...
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Alberta seeks First Nations’ collaboration on pipeline amid separation feud
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is promising to work with Indigenous groups on a new pipeline to the B.C. coast, but it comes at a time of tense relations. Her government and First Nations chiefs have been in a war of words for more than a year over a referendum on Alberta leaving Confederation. The disagreement stems from the duty to consult over Alberta’s separation from Canada. Alberta’s government is fighting in court over the issue, with First Nations saying Smith’s government has not properly consulted them. First Nations leaders have said Smith’s behaviour amounts to treason, while one of Smith’s senior advisers has publicly said the chiefs should be more focused on poverty in their communities. Smith and Mark Carney announced a formal plan on Thursday to run a new...
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Alberta submits plans, announces partners for new pipeline to B.C. coast, 125 First Nations yet to be consulted
By Chuck Chiang and Jack Farrell Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced Thursday that her government has a route – and builders – for a new pipeline to the B.C. coast, just hours after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a deal with B.C. to make it possible. Smith and Carney stood together in Calgary to announce that Alberta has formally submitted a proposed route to Ottawa’s major projects office. “The profits from this pipeline will generate billions in revenues over the coming decades for the provincial and federal governments, and will enrich Indigenous communities that choose to partner with us,” said Smith. “This is transformational wealth, an opportunity neither Canada nor Alberta can afford to leave unrealized.” A submission package shared by the province says the project will follow closely along...
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