Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston reverses some budget cuts amid public backlash
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston apologized Tuesday as he reversed a portion of $130-million in cuts to government grants amid a public outcry over his latest budget. The premier announced Tuesday that he would reinstate $53.6 million in cuts to grants and programs for people with disabilities and seniors, as well as African Nova Scotian and Indigenous students. “On some of the (budget) decisions, I got it wrong, and I’m sorry,” Houston told a news conference. After Houston’s Progressive Conservative government tabled its cost-cutting budget last month, the provincial legislature has been the scene for a series of boisterous protests. Houston and his ministers have also been booed and heckled at other public events. “Nova Scotians have spoken,” he said in a statement. “These are grants that help people meet...
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U.S. museum returns remains of 12 Canadian soldiers
By Kyle Duggan An American medical museum has returned the partial human remains of 12 Canadian soldiers from the First World War. The Department of National Defence says the remains were collected originally for medical study after the war but ended up on display at the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia after being sent there in 1919. The department says the Canadian Armed Forces has been taking part in an international effort led by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to reclaim soldiers’ remains. The collected remains will be interred in the individual soldiers’ graves, most of which are in a cemetery in Le Tréport, France. The museum, which features a prominent wall of human skulls, has attracted controversy over its displays of the remains of Indigenous people and of soldiers from...
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‘A better place for our children’: Jim Tovey Conservation Area set to open this spring
By Anushka Yadav, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Pointer “The most important work we can accomplish is to leave our community a better place for our children,” late Mississauga Ward 1 councillor Jim Tovey said. His words have since become the guiding principle for the Lakeview community he loved dearly and for the Jim Tovey Conservation Area that is set to welcome kids and families starting May 30 — more than eight years after his death. Born in Malton and raised in Victory Village in Mississauga to World War II veteran John Tovey and his wife Joan Munn, Tovey’s life was stitched together by creativity and community. After spending 15 years as a vocalist, he sought refuge in carpentry, the local arts community and heritage restoration. It was in 1989...
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Breakwall upgrades in the works in Wallaceburg, Ont.
By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice Preliminary work to upgrade a section of breakwall in Wallaceburg’s river basin is set to begin. Chatham-Kent council approved the Sydenham Fork Breakwall Assessment project in the consent agenda at a recent meeting, awarding the $414,337 contract to Delta Science and Engineering Inc. According to a staff report, the area to be assessed is located between the Lord Selkirk Bridge and the forks where the north and east branches of the Sydenham River meet. The project includes inspecting approximately 800 metres of breakwall and 650 metres of pedestrian infrastructure in the designated area, as well as the camera inspection of all adjacent storm and sanitary sewers. The assessment project is in line with Wallaceburg South Side Secondary Plan, which council approved...
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RCMP in N.S. continue cannabis crackdown with more searches at First Nations stores
Nova Scotia RCMP have continued their crackdown on unlicensed cannabis stores, with most of the targeted sites having Indigenous ties. The Mounties say they inspected five operations last week, four of which were on First Nations territory. They include searches in the communities of Eskasoni, Waycobah, Potlotek and Paq’tnkek. Another store was searched near Digby, N.S., where the Indigenous-owned Peace and Friendship Trading Post has seen several raids in recent months. RCMP say some of the cannabis seized resembled candy, which “increases the risk that children could accidentally consume the cannabis.” Police say they issued six summary offence tickets and seized cannabis and hash as part of inspections that took place last Tuesday. They say they issued notices to three people to appear in court at a later date on...
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Tse’k’wa cave wins B.C. tourism award for Indigenous experience
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca CHARLIE LAKE, B.C. — Charlie Lake’s national historical site has taken home an award for being an outstanding Indigenous experience. Last month, Tse’k’wa Heritage Society was on the shortlist for nominations for ‘Indigenous operator or experience’ in industry awards presented by the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC). The announcement of its win came during TIABC’s conference, which took place from March 4th to 6th in Kelowna. The site, which is one of the only Indigenous-owned and operated heritage sites in Canada, was purchased by three Treaty 8 nations – Doig River First Nation (DRFN), Prophet River First Nation (PRFN) and West Moberly First Nations (WMFN) – in 2012. President of the Tse’k’wa Heritage Society, Garry Oker, spoke to Energeticcity.ca about being...
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Planned burns scheduled along Waasigan Transmission Line route
By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWOnewswatch.com DRYDEN — A series of controlled burns is scheduled along stretches of the Waasigan Transmission Line throughout the coming weeks. Hydro One and nine First Nations are heading the power line project, which proponents say will increase the capacity to transmit electricity throughout its footprint. The utility told Newswatch in an email that “routine” burning will be done intermittently along the project route until this spring. Waasigan’s first phase, which has already seen construction begin, runs from Shuniah to Atikokan, with a second phase from Atikokan to Dryden. “Impacted fire districts have been engaged by Valard (the contractor) and have communicated that control measures, including monitored burning, are in place,” Bianca Pizzo, a spokesperson for Hydro One, said in an emailed statement....
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World leaders eye oil reserves, but so far hold off on tapping them
By Matt Sedensky NEW YORK (AP) — A widening war in Iran has halted oil tankers, made targets of refineries and spooked investors worried about the cascading impact of spiking energy prices. If it might seem like the ideal time to dip into the world’s emergency oil stockpiles, global leaders have so far responded with reluctance. Here is a look at the energy supplies that countries hold and when they tap them: Many countries have reserves of oil Since war erupted in the Middle East on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, the flow of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz has all but stopped, cutting off a vital passageway for a huge amount of the world’s oil. That has sent prices of oil soaring. Brent...
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Marc Miller says Musqueam deal has ‘nothing to do with’ private property
Culture Minister Marc Miller says a rights acknowledgment agreement between the federal government and the Musqueam First Nation has “nothing to do with” private property. He says instead that the agreement signed last month is a small step forward for a First Nation that has been fighting for its rights ever since British Columbia was settled. The government says the agreement recognizes Musqueam Aboriginal rights “including title within their traditional territory,” which the nation asserts is an area encompassing much of Metro Vancouver. Critics have suggested the agreement could affect private property ownership, but Miller says right-wing parties have been using the issue in a “cynical attempt to try to whip up votes.” He singles out B.C. legislature member Dallas Brodie and her OneBC party, saying they walked into an...
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Manitoba Tories say minors may have access to planned drug consumption site
By Steve Lambert Minors will not be allowed to use Manitoba’s supervised drug consumption site, although staff may have to use their own judgment for young-looking people without identification, the province’s addictions minister said Monday. “They know their community, obviously, they’ve been working in and around community for over 30 years … and if they deem that that person is not of the appropriate age, they will refer them to the appropriate services,” Bernadette Smith told reporters. The site is expected to open within a few weeks in central Winnipeg and has attracted controversy since it was initially proposed in 2024. The NDP government originally planned another location, east of Main Street, but backed off after area residents complained it was too close to a school and homes. The new...
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Squamish Nation program helps women learn the trades
By Abby Luciano, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, North Shore News A Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) program is helping Indigenous women get opportunities in the trades industry. The Nexw7áỷstwaỷ Training and Trades Centre offers a range of programs like the Women in Trades program, allowing students to explore different trades that interest them. “There’s been such an under-representation of women in the skilled trades. We feel that it’s a great opportunity to give them a safe space to learn and to meet with industry partners and to explore what that looks like,” said Milissa Lewis, director of employment and future skills at Squamish Nation. The program, running since 2017 gives students the opportunity to try trades like carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting and floor installation over a six-week period. The program is...
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Indigenous chiefs go to Alberta legislature, pressure province to nip separatism push
By Jack Farrell and Lisa Johnson More than a dozen First Nations chiefs and even more band councillors and elders were at Alberta’s legislature Monday, calling on Premier Danielle Smith’s government to stomp out the push for the province to quit Canada. “Our rights are being minimized,” Confederacy of Treaty 8 First Nations Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi told reporters. “Our people are being minimized at every level.” The comments came after First Nations chiefs across the province unanimously called on members of the legislature to hold a non-confidence vote against the government in part for how it has handled the budding separatist movement. Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi tabled a motion to hold such a vote Monday, but it was promptly shut down by Smith’s majority United Conservative Party government....
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Six Nations Police Restore Order After Gun-Related Disturbance
By Alex Murray Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER-Six Nations Police (SNP) were on the scene at Chiefswood and Second Line on Six Nations territory On the morning of March 9 for an active investigation. SNP was able to restore order calmly and quickly, however. SNP received reports of gunshots in the area of Chiefswood and Second Line at about 11:30 a.m. Monday ( March 9). SNP officers arrived on the scene shortly after. According to SNP Detective Sergeant Rob Monteforte, police identified an adult male with a hunting rifle who was on his property but outdoors. Based on the investigation, Monteforte says, SNP had grounds to charge the man. SNP says the man appeared to be intoxicated. SNP sent out a notice to the community about the increased...
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Medicine on the Move – Cree Health Board holds joint exercise with Canadian Red Cross for Mobile Health Unit
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nation The Cree Health Board and the Canadian Red Cross held a milestone winter exercise in Chisasibi February 18 to demonstrate how the Nâtimâchâukimikw Mobile Health Unit (MHU) can improve medical response in northern communities. The exercise included the Canadian Rangers, Waswanipi’s public safety team and first responders from Chisasibi, where the initiative first originated in 2018. Chief Daisy House emphasized that working together helps ensure that Cree cultural perspectives are integrated into regional healthcare solutions. The MHU builds competency in winterized infrastructure, equipment and clinical setups that can respond to medical emergencies in extreme subarctic conditions. A newly acquired tent can withstand temperatures below -60°C and winds up to 120 mph. “We were testing all that equipment while also providing training...
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A multimillion-dollar pitch for shale gas without fracking
By John Chilibeck, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Daily Gleaner A new proposal is on the table to tap into New Brunswick’s vast natural gas reserves, without using the controversial method that’s been off-putting to many people – fracking. It’s a plan that could eventually unlock hundreds of millions in wealth, make the province less dependent on handouts from Ottawa, enrich First Nations and create jobs. But it would also likely displease people concerned about burning more greenhouse gases and dangerously warming the planet. The pitch is from veteran oil and gas executive Jim Livingstone, who owns RC Energy in Alberta and says he has developed a cleaner method of drilling than fracking. Hydraulic fracturing, which uses vast quantities of water and chemicals to break up deep, tight shale beds...
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Scrap And Start Over – Cree leaders criticize ‘ridiculous’ Quebec constitution process
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nation The Cree Nation has joined other First Nations leaders, civil liberties groups and legal experts in condemning legislation that would establish a Quebec constitution. On February 12, Cree leadership appeared before the Parliamentary Committee in Quebec City to express grave concerns regarding the proposed document’s failure to recognize Indigenous rights. The Quebec Constitution Act, known as Bill 1, has drawn intense criticism since even before it was tabled in October for the governing Coalition Avenir Québec’s failure to consult the public before releasing a draft. Legal experts warn it would centralize power, weaken judicial oversight and infringe on individual freedoms. Indigenous leaders denounce the legislation as assimilationist and colonialist, only mentioning “ancestral and treaty rights” in a brief preamble. The document...
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Poetic Dreams – La Plume et la Tortue shares power of Indigenous legends
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nation As a symbol of creation and wisdom, the turtle is a natural character to introduce young audiences to First Nations cultures. In La Plume et la Tortue (The Feather and the Turtle), Montreal’s Orchestre Métropolitain (OM) accompanies selected stories from a collection published by Wendake-based Indigenous publisher Éditions Hannenorak. Wolastoqey director Dave Jenniss, who served as artistic director of francophone Indigenous theatre company Ondinnok from 2017 until recently, was asked to develop the family show two years ago. The central tale revolves around a clever turtle who takes a magical eagle feather, which grants both the power and responsibility to pass down stories. “The project is drawing inspiration from this collection to create accessible poetic stories around the themes of courage,...
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Toronto Film Critics Association aims to bring members back after mass resignations over Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers’ edited speech
By Alex Nino Gheciu The Toronto Film Critics Association says it will make changes to its awards process in an effort to bring back members who resigned en masse over the editing of a speech by actor Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers at its gala. In a statement Monday, acting president Pat Mullen apologized to Tailfeathers after her recorded acceptance speech was edited to remove remarks that expressed support for Palestine. Last week, Tailfeathers returned her TFCA Award for best supporting actor in “Sweet Angel Baby,” noting she felt the trophy was tainted due to what she referred to as “censorship” of her words. So far, the controversy has prompted at least a dozen members of the critics group to resign, with several criticizing the organization for attempting to silence the Canadian actor....
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Inuit association promises to build eight new marine monitoring stations, nine additional houses
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) is promising new infrastructure and housing developments using existing funding. The organization is committing to build marine monitoring stations, known as nauttiqsuqtiit centres, in Kimmirut, Kinngait, Iglulik, Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq, Sanikiluaq, Sanirajak and Iqaluit. QIA is receiving $270 million for the facilities from the federal government, Pew Charitable Trust and the Aajuraq Conservation Fund Society as part of the SINAA Agreement, a conservation finance model. The announcement was made at the QIA board meeting in Iqaluit on March 4. Resolute Bay and Arctic Bay already have nauttiqsuqtiit centres. Construction is ongoing for stations in Clyde River and Grise Fiord, while another facility is due to break ground in Pond Inlet in the near future. “There are...
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RCMP in N.S. continue cannabis crackdown with more searches at First Nations stores
Nova Scotia RCMP have continued their crackdown on unlicensed cannabis stores, with most of the targeted sites having Indigenous ties. The Mounties say they inspected five operations last week, four of which were on First Nations territory. They include searches in the communities of Eskasoni, Waycobah, Potlotek and Paq’tnkek. Another store was searched near Digby, N.S. where the Indigenous-owned Peace and Friendship Trading Post has seen several raids in recent months. The RCMP says some of the cannabis seized resembled candy which “increases the risk that children could accidentally consume the cannabis.” Police say they issued six summary offence tickets and seized cannabis and hash as part of inspections that took place last Tuesday. They say they issued notices to three people to appear in court at a later date...
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