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...
Register
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...
Register
Ontario crews battling about 190 wildfires, half out of control: officials
By Kathryn Mannie and Allison Jones Nearly 200 wildfires are blazing across northern Ontario, officials say, already burning a larger swath of land than all of last year’s fires, quickly destroying at least one remote community and leaving some with little time to flee. Premier Doug Ford and other provincial officials in an update Friday gave a sense of the massive and rapidly changing scope of the fires and the efforts to bring them under control. More than 150 fire crews and over 80 water bombers and helicopters are battling the blazes, Ford said, but still there are about 190 wildfires across northern Ontario, with 81 of those fires out of control. Information from the Ministry of Natural Resources shows that 20 new fires were confirmed Friday in the northeast...
Register
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. A video of the incident shared widely on social media showed orange-red flames closing in on the train near Armstrong, Ont., earlier this week as trees burned on both sides of...
Register
Funds to combat organized crime in Indigenous communities announced
By Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door Federal Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree announced $2 million in funding towards fighting organized crime in Indigenous communities across Quebec. “This will lead to increased collaboration between the Surete du Quebec and Indigenous police forces and enhance intelligence sharing and joint investigations targeting organized crime, while respecting the unique priorities of indigenous communities across Quebec,” wrote Anandasangaree in a June 15 post on X following a press meeting. It remains unclear if a portion of the funding will be allocated to Kanesatake. But Mohawk Council of Kanesatake caretaker council member Brant Etienne said the announcement is laying important groundwork to tackle an issue that infects many Indigenous communities across the province, even if it won’t mean boots-on-the-ground in Kanesatake....
Register
Fires from coast to coast: A look at the wildfire situation across the country
Wildfires are burning in several provinces, forcing thousands of people from their homes. Smoke from those fires is choking out millions in major cities across North America. Here’s a brief look at what is happening in different parts of the country: ONTARIO Dozens of forest fires continue to burn across the northern part of the province, with the worst ones happening in the northwest. Flames have already razed the Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, also known as Collins First Nation, north of Thunder Bay. Officials say there are 129 active fires in the northwest region, 62 of them burning out of control, and another 61 fires in the northeast. The Ontario government and the Assembly of First Nations have called on Ottawa to provide immediate support. BRITISH COLUMBIA Fire crews in the...
Register
Parts of Ontario may get brief relief from wildfire smoke as northern blazes continue
Smoke from devastating northern Ontario wildfires may only briefly improve today before poor air quality returns. Environment Canada says the hazy, smoky conditions will return this evening in all regions and could persist into the weekend. A slew of forest fires continues to burn across the north with flames already razing communities such as Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, also known as Collins First Nation, north of Thunder Bay. The Ontario government and the Assembly of First Nations have called on Ottawa to provide immediate support, while other provinces such as Alberta have deployed firefighters and water bombers to help. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his government is in close contact with officials in Ontario and is ready to help as needed. Officials say there are 136 active fires in the...
Register
Some Whitesand residents return home despite evacuation order
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SNnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY — More than two dozen residents of Whitesand First Nation and the adjacent community of Armstrong returned to the area Wednesday evening “after concluding that insufficient resources were in place to protect the communities,” the First Nation told news media Thursday. “Chief and council recognize the seriousness of their concerns and continue to pray for their safe return,” Whitesand incident commander Devon Wanakamik said in a news conference at a Thunder Bay hotel where Whitesand evacuees are staying while giant wildfire labelled Thunder Bay 36 is being battled near their homes. “However, all other residents are strongly urged not to return until the evacuation order is lifted.” An evacuation order was issued for Whitesand, about 220 kilometres north of Thunder...
Register
B.C., Simpcw First Nation sign consent deal for proposed copper mine near Kamloops
British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment Office has signed an agreement with the Simpcw First Nation on how a proposed open-pit copper mine will be assessed, including the requirement for the nation’s consent for the project to proceed. The consent agreement covers the Yellowhead Copper project proposed by Trekor Metals Limited about 150 kilometres northeast of Kamloops as well as possible future mining projects in Simpcw territory. A statement from the province says the agreement allows co-ordinated environmental assessments by the office and Simpcw, while recognizing that the First Nation’s consent and a provincial environmental assessment certificate are required for the mine to go ahead. The Yellowhead project entered the Simpcw’s assessment process in May 2024 and B.C.’s environmental assessment process began in July 2025. The provincial government has said that the...
Register
Aroland fire evacuees resting after ‘long ride’ to Sudbury
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SNnewswatch.com AROLAND — Most on-reserve members have made the long trip to Sudbury as a large forest fire continues burning near Aroland First Nation, Chief Sonny Gagnon said Thursday. “Out of 405 that were in the community, we took out 252 people,” he told Newswatch from a hotel in Sudbury. Gagnon said 226 were taken to Sudbury “and 26 went to other places — (to stay with) relatives in Thunder Bay and so forth.” The people transported to Sudbury by bus and van were those who were especially vulnerable, the chief said — “the ones that are sick and the ones who are having respiratory issues and the babies and their mothers.” He said the Aroland members remaining at home are “holding strong,...
Register
Fort Frances reiterates bylaw to save water for emergencies
By Maya Ekman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWOnewswatch.com FORT FRANCES – The town is reminding people of its non-essential water-use bylaw after they found reservoir levels to be very low on Tuesday. In order to save water in case of emergencies in relation to the forest fire situation nearby, the town also shut off water to the Legion Park Splash Park from about 8 a.m. to 1 p.m for the day. “On our regular checkup on Sunday, we figured that our reservoir levels were way, way lower than we anticipated, which is significant to any major water break around the town,” said Ram Dokala, environmental superintendent for the town. He continued that no breaks were found upon searching, and they then figured that the low levels in the reservoir were...
Register
‘Brutal’: Ontario outdoor workers stay home, others mask up amid wildfire smoke
By Christopher Reynolds Outdoor workers donned masks, took more breaks or stayed home altogether Thursday as wildfire smoke continued to waft across Ontario and health officials raised concerns. Environment Canada said the air quality in Toronto continues to be “very high risk,” with warnings in place from Thunder Bay to Windsor and Kingston. An orange air quality warning continued to blanket a wide swath of the province, signalling “very poor air quality,” the department said, as dozens of forest fires burn out of control across northwestern Ontario. Chris Smith, who runs Toronto home building company Woodsmith Construction, said he’s cancelled work on two of his company’s four projects for the day, calling the weather “brutal.” “My eyes were burning all day on the job sites yesterday. I had a massive...
Register
Michigan issues Line 5 permits despite conceding its ‘significant impacts’
By Kelly House/bridge Michigan State agencies on Wednesday issued key permits for the controversial Line 5 tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac, concluding the project’s benefits outweigh drawbacks that include disruption to Native American burial sites and harm to wetlands and rare species. The permits issued by the departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Great Lakes and Energy also make way for the US Army Corps of Engineers to sign off on the project, which supporters and foes alike expect to happen soon. The project’s future remains unclear, however, as other permits remain tied up in state and federal court and one Great Lakes tribe promised a new lawsuit over Wednesday’s decision. “Even in death we cannot know peace,” said Whitney Gravelle, president of the Bay Mills Indian Community, which...
Register
Energy Minister says proposed pipeline will protect Canadians, put Sarnians to work
Petrolia Lambton Independent Local Journalism Initiative Ontario’s Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce was in Sarnia Wednesday rallying support for a new all-Canadian pipeline from Alberta to Ontario that would remove dependency on the U.S. for crude oil delivery. The 3,300-kilometre Northern Shield Energy Corridor is proposed from Hardisty Alberta to Sarnia-Lambton’s refining hub, and would travel through Saskatchewan, Manitoba and northern Ontario without crossing into American territory as existing pipelines do. Saskatchewan has already thrown support behind the project and Manitoba has said the province will work with Ontario if the pipeline is connected to Churchill, Lecce said. “The study we’ve undertaken has already explored this path,” he said. “In good faith we’ll work with Premier (Wab) Kinew and the people of Manitoba.” Lecce made his remarks at Kel...
Register
U.S. lawmakers press Canada on wildfires as Carney defends environmental record
By The Canadian Press Some U.S. lawmakers on Thursday threatened to sanction Canada – or even possibly annex it entirely – as they raged about wildfire smoke blanketing many parts of Canada and swaths of the United States. Dozens of fires burning in northern Ontario have forced people from their communities and destroyed homes in Namaygoosisagagun First Nation north of Thunder Bay. Smoke from those fires is causing air quality warnings including across Ontario, and in multiple states including Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, New York and Indiana. “Hey Canada, ‘just let it burn’ is not a solution. Unless you want to become the 51st state, learn to manage your forests,” Aric Nesbitt, a Republican state senator in Michigan, said in an online post. Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno said in a post...
Register
Port of Vancouver’s ‘transformational’ upgrade is referred to Major Projects Office
By Darryl Greer The federal government has referred a plan to vastly expand the Port of Vancouver to Canada’s Major Projects Office for possible fast-tracking, boosting a project that environmentalists have fought for years. Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said at a news conference at the Roberts Bank port terminal in Delta, B.C., on Thursday that the expansion is a “transformational strategy” to grow and diversify trade. MacKinnon said the upgrades known as the Gateway Strategy will aim to boost trade capacity and allow Canada to reach more global markets such as the Indo-Pacific region. “Canada needs modern transportation infrastructure that helps our businesses compete, gets Canadian goods to new markets, and creates good jobs across the country,” MacKinnon said in a statement. “By investing in our ports and transportation...
Register
Hodgson pitches major projects to First Nations as wildfires scorch communities
By Alessia Passafiume As Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson pitched First Nations chiefs in Ottawa on Thursday on the federal government’s major projects push, chiefs in Ontario and Quebec were scrambling to secure federal help for communities forced to evacuate due to wildfires. One small northwestern Ontario community, Namaygoosisagagun First Nation — also known as Collins First Nation — has burned to the ground. Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict and Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige said the community is being left behind by Indigenous Services Canada because it isn’t recognized as a First Nation by the federal government. Anishinabek Nation has been fundraising on Collins First Nation’s behalf. Chiefs and officials gathered in Ottawa this week for the Assembly of First Nations annual meeting held a blanket dance...
Register
Ontario asks Ottawa for wildfire help amid calls to rebuild destroyed First Nation
By Kathryn Mannie and Elissa Mendes The Assembly of First Nations called on the federal government to provide immediate support to a northern Ontario First Nation razed by wildfire, as the province also sought help from Ottawa to evacuate communities threatened by out-of-control blazes. A fast-moving forest fire destroyed homes and buildings on Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, also known as Collins First Nation, more than 200 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. Dozens of wildfires were bearing down on other communities, forcing widespread evacuations and blanketing much of the province with hazardous smoke. The council of First Nations said at its annual general meeting Thursday that it’s seeking an independent review of the Collins First Nation evacuation as the community was left to fend for itself. It called on Ottawa to commit...
Register
Ontario could see relief from wildfire smoke as blazes continue across north
People who have been wheezing and sneezing at the sight and smell of northern Ontario wildfire smoke this week could be in for some relief. Environment Canada says the hazy, smoky conditions in some areas could temporarily improve today, but for others, they could persist into the weekend. A slew of forest fires continues to burn across northern Ontario, with flames already razing communities such as Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, also known as Collins First Nation, north of Thunder Bay. The Ontario government and the Assembly of First Nations have called on Ottawa to provide immediate support, while other provinces such as Alberta have deployed firefighters and water bombers to help. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his government is in close contact with its counterparts in Ontario and is ready...
Register
China warns of reciprocal countermeasures after US shortens foreign journalist visas
By Didi Tang WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration announced Thursday it will drastically shorten visas for foreign journalists in the U.S. to 240 days, down from years, and cut those for Chinese journalists to only 90 days, raising concerns over press freedom in the United States and prompting China to warn of possible reciprocal countermeasures. The rule announced by the Department of Homeland Security will do away with the “duration of status” system, which allows foreign journalists to stay and work in the United States as long as they meet eligibility requirements. That will be replaced with a fixed period of time, though the visas may be extended. The agency says it’s necessary to better vet the visa holders. But advocates for foreign journalists oppose the change, saying the...
Register
