Fulmer says B.C. Conservatives must be a grand coalition as he enters leadership race
By Wolfgang Depner Yuri Fulmer said the Conservative Party of B.C. needs to be a “grand coalition” that refrains from “undisciplined” behaviour if it wants to govern, as he becomes the first high-profile candidate to run for the party’s leadership. Fulmer, the chancellor of Capilano University who made his fortune with fast food franchises, said that means that the Conservatives have to “welcome a lot of people” into the party who don’t feel comfortable there now — including former B.C. Liberals. “Let me very clear,” he said in an interview. “I’m running to be the leader of the B.C. Conservatives. I am a Conservative. What I will do, though, is welcome into the Conservative tent people who are conservatively minded, and they may have called themselves B.C. Liberals in the...
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Federal, provincial leaders to tour Manitoba First Nation hit by outage, frozen pipes
By Brittany Hobson Federal, provincial and Indigenous leaders are expected to travel today to a beleaguered Manitoba First Nation that has been crippled by a frozen water system due to a days-long power outage. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, federal Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs Rebecca Chartrand and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak are scheduled to be part of a delegation that visits Pimicikamak Cree Nation to survey damage that has prompted the community to declare a state of emergency. Damage to critical infrastructure has forced thousands out from the nation, about 530 kilometres north of Winnipeg, with no timeline on when they can return. Chief David Monias says it’s unclear how many of the more than 1,300 homes in the community have been affected by...
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Six Nations School bus in ditch
OHSWEKEN, SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER- Six Nations motorists need to take care on local roads this morning. Some roads are slippery. Slippery spots on Fifth Line between Seneca and Chiefswood Road caused a school bus to slide in the ditch . (Turtle Island News photo)...
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At least 24 Venezuelan security officers killed in US operation to capture Maduro, officials say
By Regina Garcia Cano, Aamer Madhani And Megan Janetsky CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — At least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed in the dead-of-night U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro and spirit him to the United States to face drug charges, officials said Tuesday. Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab said overall “dozens” of officers and civilians were killed in the weekend strike in Caracas and that prosecutors would investigate the deaths in what he described as a “war crime.” He didn’t specify if the estimate was specifically referring to Venezuelans. In addition to the Venezuelan security officials, Cuba’s government had previously confirmed that 32 Cuban military and police officers working in Venezuela were killed in the raid. The Cuban government says the personnel killed belonged to the Revolutionary...
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‘More work to be done’ on marine border crossing rules: CAO
By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com SIOUX NARROWS-NESTOR FALLS — The pending end to the remote area border crossing program is one step in a “multifaceted situation” of border enforcement in the region. That’s according to Heather Gropp, the chief administrative officer for the Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls. The municipality is one of several stakeholders in a coalition who has long been concerned about what it says is a need for tighter regulations and better enforcement on Northwestern Ontario’s border waters. One of several concerns, the group says, is the ease with which U.S.-based anglers can cross into Canadian waters on Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake without having to check in at the border. “I think there’s more work to be done,” Gropp said of...
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Traffic stop leads to drug charge for woman
By Carl Clutchey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Chronicle-Journal A 39-year-old Whitesand First Nation woman started the new year on a sour note last week after provincial police charged her with drug-trafficking. Provincial police said officers encountered the accused Thursday afternoon while conducting a traffic stop involving a pickup truck on Armstrong’s Airport Road. “Officers seized suspected crack cocaine, (cash) and various drug-related paraphernalia,” a provincial news release said. Police pegged the street value of the seized drugs at about $2,500. In addition to the drug-trafficking offence, Tammy Shapwaykeesic was charged with possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000, the news release said. Shapwaykeesic, who has been released from custody, is to appear in Armstrong court on Jan. 20, the news release said. None of the charges...
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R.O.P.E . Squad seeking public’s help in locating federal offender
Sima Doban Caledonia, ON – The Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (R.O.P.E.) Squad is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a federal offender wanted on a Canada Wide Warrant as a result of a breach of Statutory Release. Sima Doban is described as Caucasian male, 44, 5’10” (180 cm), 205 lbs (93 kgs) with brown hair and brown eyes. Sima Doban is serving two years, one month for; Possession of Prohibited / Restricted Firearm with Ammunition Fail To Comply with Probation Order Possession of Weapon Contrary to Prohibition Order x 2 Theft Under $5000 Escape Or Being At Large Without Excuse The offender is known to frequent Hamilton and Caledonia, Ontario. Anyone having contact with this offender or information in regards to their whereabouts is asked to contact the Provincial R.O.P.E....
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Proposed ‘planned community’ would add 2,500 homes to Caledonia
By J.P. Antonacci, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Hamilton Spectator Haldimand County residents will soon have the chance to weigh in on a large housing development proposed for Caledonia. A public meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 13 at council chambers in Cayuga to discuss a proposal from Corragreen Properties Limited for a “planned community” in the northeast end of town. Corragreen’s project would turn just under 200 acres (80 hectares) of farmland into nearly 2,500 homes, plus about 2,000 square metres of retail space and a series of parks. The development is proposed for two adjoining properties within Caledonia’s urban boundary at McClung Road and Haldimand Road 66. Haldimand council would need to rezone the agricultural land to permit residential and commercial uses before the developer can...
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Caledon residents furious after FOI documents uncover gaps in Town record-keeping around opposition to mega-blasting quarry proposal
By Anushka Yadav, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Pointer Caledon resident Tony Sevelka’s days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and now years since he started digging into the details of a proposed blasting mega-quarry steps away from his home. His quest led him to file a freedom of information request this summer, seeking access to all public objections to the contentious project. Instead, what he received revealed a systemic failure. Out of the 73 pages the Town of Caledon sent him in response to the specific public information he had asked for, Sevelka found dozens of submissions against the quarry proposal were missing, including many formal objections that Sevelka and his neighbours had assumed would have been entered into the public record. For a proposal that could reshape...
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Carney says Canadian oil will be competitive after Maduro’s ouster
By Sarah Ritchie and David Baxter Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government is working to expand access to oil markets in Asia now that Canada faces the prospect of Venezuelan oil displacing Canadian product in the American market. His remarks came after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre urged Carney to “immediately approve a pipeline to the Pacific Coast” in an letter shared on social media Tuesday morning. In Paris for talks on Ukraine Tuesday, Carney was asked if U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to take control of Venezuela’s oil industry heightens the need for a pipeline to B.C.’s northwest coast. “We welcome the prospects of greater prosperity in Venezuela. But we also see the competitiveness of Canadian oil,” Carney said. “And in that context, a pipeline and exports to Asia,...
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Haldimand OPP charge driver in single vehicle collision
HALDIMAND COUNTY – An Ohsweken man is facing charges after a single vehicle collision Jan., 5, 2026 on New Credit Road in Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Haldimand Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said the collision, at about 1:45 p.m., saw a passenger vehicle, with the driver and one passenger, had left the roadway at that location. No injuries were reported. Jordan General, 33, from Ohsweken was charged with: Operation While Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus) Drive Motor Vehicle – No Licence Use Plate Not Authorized for Vehicle Operate a Motor Vehicle Without Insurance The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Cayuga on February 3, 2026....
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A chance to ‘be involved’: Nuclear waste site assessment begins
By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com IGNACE — The years-long process for regulators to decide whether a proposed nuclear waste storage site gets the green light has begun. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada has posted the initial project description for the deep geological repository being proposed in the Ignace area by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, or NWMO. The public posting officially kicks off the assessment done jointly between the impact assessment agency and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. The first chance for people to comment on the NWMO’s proposal to federal regulators has also begun, with initial submissions being accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 4. “It’s an opportunity for the public to be involved and to learn more about this, what I call, an incredibly...
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Alberta’s Danielle Smith says Maduro capture outlines urgency of West Coast pipeline
By Lisa Johnson Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the American capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro underlines the urgency of building oil pipelines to export Canadian oil to new markets. U.S. President Donald Trump sent political shock waves around the world with the weekend military raid, saying Washington aimed to seize the South American country’s oil reserves for American companies to exploit. “Recent events surrounding Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro emphasize the importance that we expedite the development of pipelines to diversify our oil export markets,” said Smith in a Monday statement. That includes a new pipeline to British Columbia’s West Coast to reach markets in Asia, she said. In November, Smith signed an agreement with Prime Minister Mark Carney paving the way to a potential Indigenous co-owned bitumen pipeline and...
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‘Dances with Wolves’ actor Nathan Chasing Horse disrupts court week before sex abuse trial
By Jessica Hill LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nathan Chasing Horse, the former “Dances with Wolves” actor accused of sexual abuse, was temporarily thrown out of court Monday after he disrupted proceedings with demands he be allowed to fire his defense attorney a week before trial. Judge Jessica Peterson in Las Vegas ordered his jury trial to proceed next week as planned. Chasing Horse has pleaded not guilty to 21 charges, including allegations that he sexually assaulted women and girls and that he filmed himself sexually abusing a girl younger than 14. Prosecutors allege he used his reputation as a spiritual leader and healer to take advantage of Native American women and girls over two decades. Peterson ordered him removed from court Monday for trying to speak over her. He argued...
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Poilievre calls for immediate pipeline approval following U.S. action in Venezuela
By Sarah Ritchie Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is warning the federal government that the possible end of American sanctions on Venezuelan oil could displace Canadian exports to the U.S. — and is urging the Liberals to “immediately approve a pipeline to the Pacific Coast.” In a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media Tuesday, Poilievre said the action taken by the United States over the weekend has “altered the global energy landscape.” U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a military raid on the Venezuelan capital, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and bringing him to New York to face charges. Trump also has openly said that he plans to take control of the country’s oil industry and encourage American companies to revitalize the sector. Canada and other democracies condemned Maduro...
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Trump says the US ‘needs’ Greenland for Arctic security. Here’s why
By Danica Kirka Location, location, location: Greenland’s position above the Arctic Circle makes the world’s largest island a key part of security strategy. But for whom? Increasing international tensions, global warming and the changing world economy have put Greenland at the heart of the debate over global trade and security, and U.S. President Donald Trump wants to make sure his country controls this mineral-rich island that guards the Arctic and North Atlantic approaches to North America. Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, a longtime U.S. ally that has rejected Trump’s overtures. Greenland’s own government also opposes U.S. designs on the island, saying the people of Greenland will decide their own future. The island, 80% of which lies above the Arctic Circle, is home to about 56,000 mostly Inuit people...
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Trump-Era Tariffs Hit Indigenous Tourism Hard: A Call for Action
By Chevi Rabbit, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News The Indigenous tourism sector in Canada is facing a crisis, with recent U.S. tariffs and the ongoing trade dispute threatening businesses, jobs, and reconciliation efforts. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) released its May 2025 U.S. Tariffs Survey Report, highlighting a potential 68% drop in U.S. bookings for 2025 – a devastating blow for a sector that relies heavily on international visitors. “The impact of tariffs has been significant, especially during our peak summer season in 2025,” said Keith Henry, President of Indigenous Tourism Canada and respected Métis leader in Indigenous cultural tourism. “Many tourism businesses faced a dual challenge – rising costs from the pandemic alongside these new barriers. Too often, Indigenous businesses aren’t even considered in tariff...
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B.C. title claim decision creates fear that resonates in New Brunswick
By John Chilibeck, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Daily Gleaner A decision last summer by a British Columbia court to recognize an Indigenous title claim on the lower Fraser River and in the city of Richmond has sent homeowners and business property owners into a panic. B.C. Premier David Elby has tried to calm fears by telling a business crowd in November he’d “go to the wall” to protect their private property rights. The NDP leader has pledged to appeal the court decision that was in favour of the Cowichan Tribes. He also says the provincial government will guarantee anyone’s mortgages that could be rejected by banks and other lenders who are worried about rightful property ownership. The uncertainty the Cowichan victory has created in B.C. sounds a lot like...
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No timeline for return to Manitoba First Nation after power outage, chief says
The chief of a Manitoba First Nation says there is no timeline for thousands of people to return home after they were forced out due to a power outage more than a week ago. Manitoba Hydro fully restored power Friday to Pimicikamak Cree Nation, 530 kilometres north of Winnipeg, but its water plants, pumps, tanks and pipes froze after an outage Dec. 28. Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias says the more than 4,000 people forced to leave the community are eager to go home after having to spend part of the holiday season in hotels in different parts of the province. He says the frozen water system, as well as the pipes that have burst, have destroyed homes and affected the community’s infrastructure, putting people’s well-being at risk. Monias...
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Quebec students must address teachers as ‘Mr.’ and ‘Ms.’ under new civility rules
By Morgan Lowrie Quebec students returning to class after winter break will now have to use formal language to address their teachers under new rules designed to foster civility. The province announced last year that public and private schools had until January to create a code of conduct that includes requirements for students to address teachers and staff as “Mr.” or “Ms.” and use the formal form of “you” in French. As well, elementary and high schools must also outline respectful conduct between students and toward school property, and specify that men and women are equal and faces must be uncovered on school property. The president of an association representing school principals and administrators says he’s generally in favour of requiring students to use formal language because he thinks it...
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