ROPE Squad seeks public’s help in locating federal offender
Kingston, ON – The Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (R.O.P.E.) Squad is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a federal offender wanted on a Canada Wide Warrant as a result of a breach of their Statutory Release. Wesley Hall is described as an Caucasian male, 44, 5’6″(168 cm), 140 lbs (64 kg), with brown hair and hazel eyes. He has several tattoos; Right Side of Neck- ‘JASMINE’ Neck – Flaming Eyeball Left Forearm – Skull, Mickey Mouse with Knife and Severed Head Left Upper Arm- ‘WES’, Clown, Chinese Symbol Right Forearm-‘JAZZY’ Upper Torso Back – ‘WESLEY’ Hall is serving a 2-year sentence for; Possession of Weapons for Dangerous Purpose Utter Threats to Cause Death Theft Under $5000 (x3) Public Mischief Fail to Comply with Order – At Large (X2) The offender is...
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Some evacuees returning for spring hunt as water repairs continue
By Marissa Lentz-McGrath, Local Journalism Initiative, TimminsToday.com KASHECHEWAN – With the spring hunt coming up, some people are returning to a Far North community that’s been evacuated for months, though the majority of members remain displaced, says leadership. Kashechewan First Nation’s executive director Tyson Wesley said about 150 people are travelling back from five host communities — Niagara Falls, Kingston, Timmins, Cochrane and Kapuskasing — as part of preparations for the spring hunting season. The community of about 2,000 people was evacuated in January after its water supply and sewage systems failed, and the spread of cryptosporidium. The target timeline is to return all evacuees to the community within approximately 10 weeks. “I think the cryptosporidium has definitely run its course among our people,” he said. “We haven’t really had...
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Here’s what to know as the scope of damage from Hawaii’s floods becomes clearer
By Audrey Mcavoy And Gene Johnson HONOLULU (AP) — The worst flooding to hit Hawaii in two decades swept homes off their foundations, floated cars out of driveways and left floors, walls and counters covered in thick, reddish volcanic mud. Crews continued to assess the destruction Monday, but authorities said hundreds of homes had been damaged, along with some schools and a hospital. No deaths have been reported, but more than 230 people had to be rescued. Rain continued to the southeastern part of the state and a section of the Big Island was under a flash flood warning. Here’s what to know as residents begin to clean up. This was Hawaii’s worst flooding since 2004 Gov. Josh Green said the cost of the storm could top $1 billion, including...
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Provincial government approves funding to plan new Paddle Prairie School
By Jeremy Appel, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News Northland School Division is in the early stages of replacing the more than 50-year-old Paddle Prairie School after the provincial government approved funding for its planning stage. Division board chair Tanya Fayant told Alberta Native News that a new Paddle Prairie School has “been a priority for Northland for a number of years.” The Peace River-based public school board’s 2025-2028 capital plan identifies a replacement Paddle Prairie School as its number one capital priority. According to the plan, enrollment at the K-12 school on Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement increased from 114 students in 2019 to 126 students in 2023, representing a 10.5 per cent increase, although enrollment is expected to remain stable over the next decade. Northland superintendent Cal Johnson...
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How B.C.’s ‘Defective’ Land titles Are Spooking Banks and Freezing Richmond’s Industrial Heartland
By John Wirth, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News A Landmark August 2025 B.C. Supreme Court ruling (Cowichan Tribes v. Canada) declared Aboriginal title over 1,800 acres of Richmond’s industrial heartland. The Legal Shift: For the first time, the court ruled that Indigenous title and private “fee simple” property coexist. However, Aboriginal title is the “senior interest,” effectively “burdening” existing deeds. The Economic Fallout: Banks are freezing credit. With “clear title” no longer guaranteed, a $35-million loan for a major industrial hub has already been pulled, rendering prime land “unmarketable.” The Historical Context: The crisis traces back to 1859 and the “dishonourable” land-flipping schemes of Colonel Richard Moody, who sold unceded territory he was tasked to protect. The Bottom Line: This isn’t a “takeover” of homes; it’s a reckoning...
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Auditor general says RCMP’s staff shortage got worse in recent years
By Kyle Duggan Royal Canadian Mounted Police staff shortages worsened after officials bet wrong on their recruitment needs and let rookie officers choose the locations of their first assignments, says the auditor general. In a new report tabled in Parliament on Monday, Auditor General Karen Hogan said the force set targets that fell far short of its own needs, then failed to recruit as many officers as planned despite a flood of applicants. The audit found the federal police force was short about 3,400 officers in fall 2025. Hogan also said a flexible posting policy introduced to boost recruitment produced uneven staffing levels across the country and worsened shortages in the North, the Prairies and some Atlantic provinces. “Without fundamental changes, the RCMP will not be able to hire enough...
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Politicians praise Amanda Lathlin, first First Nations woman in Manitoba legislature
By Steve Lambert Politicians at the Manitoba legislature have paid tribute to Amanda Lathlin, a members of the NDP caucus who died after battling illness. Premier Wab Kinew sang an honour song in the chamber and praised Lathlin as a trailblazer and a caring representative of her constituents in the constituency of The Pas-Kameesak. Kinew and others laid flowers, a Manitoba flag and other items at Lathlin’s empty desk, and a book of condolences was set up at the bottom of the legislature’s grand staircase. Lathlin’s death was announced on Saturday and came a few weeks after she had taken a leave of absence due to health issues. Her father, Oscar Lathlin, was a longtime politician and NDP cabinet minister who died in 2008 while holding office. Lathlin was elected...
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Pipeline leak located more than a week after sheen first reported on Ontario river
By Jordan Omstead A pipeline leak in Sarnia, Ont., has been located more than a week after a sheen reportedly turned up on the St. Clair River. Sun-Canadian Pipe Line says it pinpointed the leak on Saturday morning, nine days after the company said it was made aware of it on March 12. Suncor, which operates a Sarnia refinery, told local media it had located a “hydrocarbon sheen” on the St. Clair River on March 11 and it had been contained. The major Canadian oil company later said the leak was believed to be from Sun-Canadian, which operates a refined oil pipeline between Sarnia and the Toronto area. Sun-Canadian says the impacted pipeline remains shut down and cleanup activities are ongoing to address the leak near Sun Avenue and St....
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Canadians plan to sail to Gaza despite detention risks
By Kathryn Mannie Canadians are planning to sail to Gaza again as part of a flotilla that aims to deliver aid and break a nearly 20-year naval blockade months after six Canadians were detained by Israel for attempting a similar mission. Safa Chebbi, spokesperson for the Canadian arm of the Global Sumud Flotilla, said more than 100 boats and 3,000 participants from around the globe are set to depart from Spanish and Italian ports on April 12, bound for Gaza. Chebbi said health-care workers, journalists and builders hoping to provide aid and help in Gazan reconstruction efforts will sail on the fleet of ships, along with medicine and other life-saving supplies. Hanging over the planned sailing is the possibility the boats will be intercepted by Israeli forces and passengers detained,...
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Bridgewater teen in court after threats to schools in Nova Scotia and Manitoba
By Devin Stevens A 15-year-old facing charges over threats to schools in Nova Scotia and Manitoba will remain in custody for at least another month. The teenager from Bridgewater, N.S., and a 14-year-old from Rivers, Man., were arrested last week with police alleging the two accused had talked online about simultaneously attacking schools in both provinces. Their arrest comes a few weeks after the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., where on Feb. 10, an 18-year-old girl shot and killed her mother and half-brother at home before gunning down five students and a teacher’s aide at a school. But while police allege the pair from Nova Scotia and Manitoba began talking online at the end of February, investigators say there’s no indication their alleged plans were spurred by the Tumbler...
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AI data centre near Regina will be largest data centre in Canada and largest investment in Canadian history
By Nicole Taylor, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The World-Spectator A $12 billion investment in an AI data centre near Regina will bring 1,600 jobs to Saskatchewan and is the third largest investment in Canadian history. The AI data centre would be the largest in Canada. On Monday, Premier Moe and Mirko Bibic, President and CEO of BCE Inc and Bell Canada, announced the data centre, saying it will be one of the largest projects in Saskatchewan’s history that will generate up to $12 billion in economic value. “The announcement of this facility is great news for Saskatchewan’s economy,” Moe said. “This investment by Bell Canada will create jobs, strengthen provincial research capacity and facilitate the creation of new businesses built on advanced capabilities.” Through the construction period, more than 800...
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Ontario to declare Toronto island airport a special economic zone
By Liam Casey and Allison Jones Ontario will declare Toronto’s island airport the province’s first special economic zone as it takes over land owned by the city, Premier Doug Ford said Monday in a move opposed by the mayor. This is the latest development in the Ford government’s push for an expansion of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to include jets. Ford said the “lefties” at city hall are in the way of expanding the island airport, which he called a “crown jewel for economic growth.” “This is long overdue, and this is the exact reason we’re doing it,” Ford said. “They don’t want to create more jobs. They don’t want to create economic development, they don’t want to create a competitive environment and convenience for the people of Toronto.”...
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Police Service Dog Mack Helps Brantford Police Locate Break-In Suspects
BRANTFORD ONT-Two people have been charged in connection with a break-in on Colborne Street after Brantford City Police brought in its canine unit. The Brantford Police Service (BPS) received information about a suspected industrial break-in near Colborne Street West and Canning Street at about 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 21. Upon arrival the BPS launched a full search including not just patrol officers but a BPS K9 handler and a Police Service Dog named Mack to help conduct the property search. The tip the BPS received regarded a group of individuals who were observed within a fully fenced and locked compound at an industrial property. Upon initiating the search, officers observed that the building’s copper wire had been stripped. The BPS team on site later located the suspects, who were...
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Gull-Masty Makes Progress – New funding announced for Jordan’s Principle as backlog evaporates
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nation Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty announced February 26 the federal government will budget $1.55 billion to renew Jordan’s Principle funding over the next year. The investment intends to protect access to essential supports for First Nations children. “As a First Nations Minister, I understand what it is like to be a client of Indigenous Services Canada,” Gull-Masty told the Nation. “I have friends and family who regularly apply to Jordan’s Principle and, as a young mother, I would have applied to Jordan’s Principle had it been around when my children were young.” The child-first principle was established in 2007. It is named after Jordan River Anderson, a five-year-old boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. He died in 2005 during...
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National survey finds Canadian business schools largely disconnected from Indigenous economies
By Aaron Walker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com A new national survey is shedding light on a long-standing gap in Canada’s business education system. Luminary, an Indigenous-led innovation and economic collaboration hub, found that many business schools remain disconnected from Indigenous economies, with limited partnerships with Indigenous businesses, economic development corporations and entrepreneurs. The Saskatchewan-based organization recently released its Canadian Business School Indigenous Engagement Report 2025, described as the first national benchmark of Indigenous engagement in Canadian business schools. The report points to uneven progress and gaps in areas of strategy, curriculum, research, and partnerships. Among the key findings, just 59 per cent of business schools surveyed said they had an Indigenous strategy in place, including plans to support Indigenous students, develop Indigenous-focused curriculum, or build partnerships with Indigenous communities...
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Nunavik police chief ‘honoured’ to step into permanent role
By Dominique Gené, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News Nunavik’s police chief Jean-François (Jeff) Bernier says he is “honoured” to step into the role permanently and is ready to tackle the challenges that come with the job. “It’s really the challenge that [this position] represents and the uniqueness of the North that grew on me,” he said in an interview. “I’m sure we can achieve very much for all the 14 communities. But I won’t lie, there are tough challenges ahead.” Bernier had served as interim chief since November as part of an agreement with the Quebec City Police Service. He recently announced his retirement from the Quebec service to take on the new role in Nunavik, and his appointment as permanent police chief was announced Tuesday by Kativik Regional...
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Essential Services – National friendship centre network faces funding uncertainty
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nation As the national friendship centre movement expands to support Canada’s growing urban Indigenous population, the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) is facing funding uncertainty that risks cutbacks to vital community services. “We’re trying to show what friendship centres are contributing,” said new NAFC CEO Jennifer Rankin. “It’s repositioning ourselves as an economic partner by telling how many jobs we’re creating, infrastructure projects we’re involved in, the emergency response we’re providing.” While the NAFC requested $65 million annually in long-term funding, the federal government has indicated that funding will be less than half of previous years, when it reached over $70 million. Core funding provided through the Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples (UPIP) program since 2017 is expiring after the March...
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Road tolls in Kahnawake inch forward
By Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door North of 100,000 commuters pour through Kahnawake’s territory every day, and the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) is proving that the announcement last year that it might toll infrastructure on the territory was no idle warning. That’s the signal sent with the announcement of a major feasibility study on road tolls, which will be led by Arcadis, the same company that worked on the tolling system for the high-profile Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit. The MCK believes the information yielded by the study will equip it to consider how tolls could best be implemented on the territory to achieve a range of goals. “The Council’s very supportive of this project and finally carrying it out,” said MCK...
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Nisga’a Nation members allege ‘heightened financial risk’ of B.C. LNG projects
By Darryl Greer Two members of the Nisga’a Nation have filed a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court alleging the First Nation failed to adequately consult its citizens before partnering with Western LNG on the development of the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project. Cecil Mercer and Stephen Nyce say in their lawsuit that the pipeline project is interconnected with the Ksi Lisims floating natural-gas facility and marine export terminal near Prince Rupert, B.C., which has been dubbed a nation-building project by the federal Liberal government. The lawsuit says the projects “rely on the export of LNG,” at a time of declining demand in target markets, and it argues infrastructure built to facilitate LNG exports could become obsolete as countries transition to low-carbon energy. The lawsuit says the pipeline’s cost was first...
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Poilievre pitches Canadian kindness on ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ podcast
By David Baxter and Sarah Ritchie Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre laughed off a conspiracy theory about Justin Trudeau in the opening minutes of his 2.5-hour sit-down with podcaster Joe Rogan, where he made a case for Canadians being America’s nice-guy neighbours. While talking about his early interest in politics, Poilievre mentioned that he read a biography of Fidel Castro. “Justin’s dad!” Rogan interjected. The Conservative leader shook his head and laughed, “No, no, not Justin’s dad,” adding later that it’s “a hell of a (conspiracy theory). I don’t think it’s a true one though.” Poilievre’s interview with “The Joe Rogan Experience” was released Thursday afternoon. The Conservative leader appeared on the show in his typical navy suit but sounded more laid back than usual — and even swore occasionally. The...
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