Kahnawake strikes major agreement with Quebec
By Miriam Lafontaine Local Journalism Initiative Quebec has signed a historic agreement with the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK), one both parties hope will pave the way for a more constructive relationship moving forward. “Today marks a new beginning in Quebec’s relationship with Kahnawake,” premier François Legault said as he addressed a room of journalists there to witness the signing of the document, the Statement of Understanding and Mutual Respect. “I’m hoping that this is more than just a symbolic gesture, and I truly feel that it’s more than that – that there’s actually a real commitment,” MCK grand chief Cody Diabo said. Quebec minister for Indigenous relations Ian Lafrenière and Council chief Jeffrey Diabo, who were both actively involved in the negotiations over the agreement, were also there for...
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Nova Scotia paper mill to be powered by wind farm with financing from federal agency
(Canadian Press)-A Cape Breton paper mill says a federal investment in 24 new wind turbines completes the financing of a project that will secure its future electricity needs. The Canada Infrastructure Bank has announced it will provide $224.2 million in loans for Port Hawkesbury Paper Wind Ltd., which will supply about 60 per cent of the average annual power needs of its sister company, Port Hawkesbury Paper. Nigel Cave, the vice-president of Stern Partners, which owns the two firms, said during a news conference in Mulgrave, N.S., that the $450 million project, called Goose Harbour Lake wind farm, is now fully financed. The wind farm, which will be 10 per cent owned by 13 Mi’kmaq First Nations, will be capable of generating 168 megawatts of electricity once the turbines begin...
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Justin Trudeau announced Monday he will step down as prime minister and Liberal leader once the party chooses his successor.
Here are some quotes: “Canadians deserve a real choice in the next election and it has become obvious to me, with the internal battles, that I cannot be the one to carry the Liberal standard into the next election.” — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ——— “Canadians desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved today that Justin Trudeau is finally leaving. But what has really changed? Every Liberal MP in power today and every potential Liberal leadership contender fighting for the top job helped Justin Trudeau break the country over the last nine years.” — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre ——— “The problem is not just Justin Trudeau. It’s every minister that’s been calling the shots. It’s every Liberal MP that looked down their...
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The Latest: Justin Trudeau says he will resign after Liberals choose new leader
OTTAWA-(CP)-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed media this morning from his residence in Ottawa to announce that he will step down as Liberal leader once his party selects a replacement. This was his first planned news conference in the three weeks since Chrystia Freeland’s resignation as finance minister and deputy prime minister, which rocked Trudeau’s government and ignited an even bigger push for him to step aside. Here’s the latest (all times Eastern): 2:20 p.m. Residents of the Montreal riding Justin Trudeau has represented since 2008 are reacting to his decision to step down as Liberal leader. Faisal Amin, the owner of a fruit and vegetable store, says he’s a big fan of Trudeau on a personal level but feels it was time for him to go. Amin says Canadians are...
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Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak Responds to the Resignation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
January 6, 2025 – Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, Ontario —Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak issued the following statement in response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation as Liberal Leader: “During his decade in office, Prime Minister Trudeau has taken meaningful steps to address issues that matter to First Nations. His leadership brought attention to longstanding challenges and resulted in important progress in areas such as clean water, housing, education, and child welfare. The passing of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act was a milestone in aligning Canadian law with the rights and self-determination of First Nations,” said National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. “While much work remains, these actions have laid a foundation for future governments to build upon. On behalf...
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With the House of Commons prorogued, some key Liberal legislation may not pass
OTTAWA-(CP) -Gov. Gen. Mary Simon granted Justin Trudeau’s request Monday to prorogue Parliament until Mar. 24, suspending activities of the House of Commons while the Liberals move to replace him as both Liberal Leader and prime minister. The move means the legislative agenda will be reset once the House of Commons reconvenes in March and some key pieces of legislation for the government may die on the order paper. Once the House of Commons resumes, there is the potential for work that ended due to prorogation be restored if opposition parties support a motion calling for them to resume debate where they left off. But there is no guarantee that ever happens as opposition parties are seeking to defeat the government entirely. The Online Harms Act, which was recently split...
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Timeline: Key moments in Justin Trudeau’s political life
OTTAWA-(CP)-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is stepping down as Liberal leader after almost a decade at the helm of the party. Here is a timeline of Trudeau’s rise to party leadership and prime minister, and the events that led him to give it all up. Oct. 14, 2008: Trudeau is elected as a Liberal member of Parliament in the Montreal riding of Papineau in a narrow victory over the Bloc Québécois. He served as an Opposition MP during the Conservative minority government. April 5, 2009: Trudeau is named Liberal critic for youth and multiculturalism. September 2010: Trudeau is appointed Liberal citizenship and immigration critic. May 2, 2011: Trudeau wins re-election in his riding, but the Liberals fall to third-party status in greatest defeat the party had ever known historically. The party...
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How the warming Great Lakes could herald a new era of supercharged snowstorms
(CP)-Sarah Bauer woke up to a shaking house. She thought maybe an earthquake had struck near her home in Torrance, a village in Ontario’s cottage country. But when she looked outside, she saw a massive tree had collapsed onto her driveway under the weight of rapidly accumulating snowfall, taking down a power line with it. “It was freaky,” she said. The storm that hit parts of central Ontario in late November and early December was the biggest in recent memory, meteorologists said, reportedly dumping a 140 centimetres on Gravenhurst, a town just south of Torrance. Another round of intense lake-effect snow hit areas off Lake Huron again this week, with further squalls expected into the weekend. Areas off the Great Lakes are used to big snowfall events, earning the title...
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‘It’s beautiful to see’: Regina non-profit looks to open ribbon skirt regalia library
(CP)-It’s not uncommon for Claire Tuckanow to hear a sewing machine whirring in the background while she works inside Regina’s mâmawêyatitân centre. The Métis-Cree woman from Okanese First Nation says it’s usually one of the three dozen young people she’s been working with to make their own ribbon skirts. “They’re like, ‘Can we just come and make a ribbon skirt?’” said Tuckanow. “It’s beautiful to see that.” Tuckanow is a co-ordinator with the Regina non-profit Growing Young Movers, which looks to mentor youth living on the margins. It was recently approved for a grant to help set the wheels in motion for a ribbon skirt regalia library in the community centre. Once it’s up and running, Tuckanow said, youth will be able to borrow ribbon skirts and ribbon shirts for...
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‘Support better care’: Advocates argue need for mental health emergency service
(CP)-Khalil Dorival knows what it’s like to feel lonely. The Toronto-based mental health advocate has struggled with social anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. “I really suffered in silence, and I used many ways to cope in unhealthy and toxic ways,” he says, adding he turned his life around and uses his story to try to help others. Dorival is a crisis worker with Toronto Community Crisis Service, a project launched in 2022 that responds to mental health crisis calls and wellness checks. The service has been dubbed the city’s fourth emergency response service — after police, paramedics and fire services. Other major cities are examining the benefits of an alternative model as they investigate police wellness checks that have led to fatalities. Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham has asked for the...
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B.C.’s new clean-energy czar is a climate ‘wild card’
By Rochelle Baker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Adrian Dix is B.C.’s new climate and clean energy czar, but it’s not clear whether his appointment signals a new commitment by the NDP government to tackle the province’s growing oil and gas emissions. Dix, the former health minister who once ran for premier himself, was appointed as the Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions during Premier David Eby’s cabinet shuffle. With the appointment, Eby also combined responsibility for energy and climate accountability under one roof. Dix’s appointment and changes to the ministry could be pivotal to B.C.’s clean energy future and low carbon economy, if the province weans itself off fossil fuels and prioritizes clean electricity for economic sectors aligned with climate priorities, say political and climate experts. However, unless the Eby...
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Kashechewan evacuees make best of a bad situation
By Clint Fleury Local Journalism Initiative THUNDER BAY — It’s been two weeks since the evacuees from Kashechewan First Nation arrived in the City of Thunder Bay. Community Liaison Victor Stephen told Newswatch that, for the most part, “everything has been running smoothly” despite nearly 160 community members not being able to be home for the holidays. “We arrived here during the holidays and everything has been ups and downs,” Stephen said. He noted that some community members are beginning to feel a little cooped up staying in their rooms and wandering the halls of the Superior Inn. “Everything’s been closed where people can be activated to go to activities and all that kind of stuff,” Stephen said. “So, now that the holidays are ending, we will be taking advantage...
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Politicians look back at 2024 and ahead to 2025
By Clint Fleury Local Journalism Initiative THUNDER BAY — As the calendar turns to a new year and the last one comes to its inevitable end, Dougall Media asked some of Thunder Bay’s political representatives to reflect of some of their highlights for the past year in office and their hopes for the year to come Thunder Bay–Superior North MP Patty Hajdu said her highlight of the year was working on First Nations water legislation. “It really imbues the desires and aspirations of First Nations communities around not just how to make sure that they can access clean water, but how to protect water for generations. I found working on this bill extremely fulfilling,” Hajdu said. Another highlight for the federal MP was advocating for Thunder Bay to get much-needed...
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50 Mission hits the stage in support of Stedman Hospice
By Kimberly De Jong Local Journalism Initiative The local Tragically Hip tribute band is gearing up to return to the stage for its Hip for Hospice event, held in support of the Stedman Community Hospice, on Saturday, January 4, 2025. The hospice, which serves residents living in Brantford, the County of Brant, Six Nations of the Grand River, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Norfolk and Haldimand counties, provides-end-of-life patient care through its ten bed in-residence program, community outreach, and grief and bereavement support programs. Julie Powell, President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation (the official fundraising organization for Stedman), explained that because the government only provides 50 per cent of funding for the hospice, the team there depends on the community to help cover the other 50 per...
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China slams Canada human-rights criticism as ‘hypocritical farce of double standards’
China is accusing Canada of hypocrisy for criticizing Beijing’s human-rights record, pointing to issues faced by Indigenous Peoples. The blowback comes after Ottawa sanctioned eight Chinese officials it accuses of “grave human rights violations” against ethnic and religious minorities, and voiced concern about democracy in Hong Kong. Ottawa issued a statement last month that cited reports of arbitrary and violent detainment of Uyghur people, as well as repression toward Tibetans and Falun Gong practitioners. Global Affairs Canada also says it “deplores” that authorities are issuing international bounties for Hong Kong democracy activists and former lawmakers from the territory, including Canadians. Beijing says those claims are baseless and it has sanctioned groups and activists in Canada who advocate for minorities in China, barring citizens from certain interactions with these activists. Since...
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Auditions being held in Iqaluit for feature film ‘In Alaska’
By Kira Wronska Dorward Nunavut News On the heels of a new Inuit series for Netflix and CBC, more Inuit representation in film is on the horizon with a new movie under a casting call in Iqaluit. Filmmakers Jaap van Heusden and Arviat’s Vinnie Karetak have been seeking actors for their feature ‘In Alaska.’ “We’ve expanded our search from some of the roles that we have that are Inuit, that we will need to fill for our filming to be done in Nunavut, hopefully at the end of April,” Karetak told Nunavut News. He became involved when van Heusden sought “an eye for an Inuit project” in the fall of 2019, “and to see if it was something that the Inuit community could stand behind… [Van Heusden] being a white...
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Former Banff superintendent releases new Alberta centric anthology book
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative BOW VALLEY – Former superintendent of Banff National Park, Kevin Van Tighem, released his new book, Wild Roses Are Worth It: Reimagining the Alberta Advantage, Nov. 5. “I have been writing a column for many years for Alberta News Magazine called ‘This Land,’ and so I dealt with nature conservation, sustainable ways of living, all that stuff — there was a theme of it,” said Van Tighem. “You have to write a column every couple of months and you have to keep on coming up with new ideas. After a number of years, I looked at that plus some future articles I had written… and I thought if I put those together, the sum would be greater than the parts.” Van Tighem described the...
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‘Twisted and sexy’: CBC’s new comedy ‘North of North’ redefines Inuit women’s stories
(CP)-In developing “North of North,” a new Inuk comedy co-produced by Netflix and CBC in partnership with APTN, the creators made one thing clear: it had to be “a horny show.” “So often Indigenous women don’t have any bodily autonomy in shows and aren’t allowed to enjoy sex. They’re often victims of it,” said Nunavut-born co-creator Stacey Aglok MacDonald during an interview last month in Toronto. “We really wanted to show Inuit women and Indigenous women being in control of their bodies, having feelings and wanting romance and wanting sex and all of that stuff.” Turning to star Anna Lambe and co-creator Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, who were sitting beside her at the CBC headquarters, she added: “It also felt real to us, and we’re all about authenticity.” The three burst into...
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Governor General urges Canadians to care for their mental, physical health
(CP)-Gov. Gen. Mary Simon is urging Canadians to treat their mental health with the same care as their physical health as they prepare for the year ahead. In a new year’s message, Simon says she is thinking of all the inspiring people she met in 2024. Simon praises them for working hard to improve their communities, protect nature, build bridges between cultures and give voice to the marginalized. She implores people to continue building the more inclusive world and sustainable environment Canada’s children deserve. Simon has asked Canadians to share their hopes for the future, and says she will share the responses in the coming days. She adds that she remains committed to working with people to advance climate action, foster reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and celebrate Canada’s diversity. “This...
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Lil’wat Forestry launches old-growth forest research project
By Luke Faulks, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter V) is leading a data-collection project to assess old-growth areas within the First Nation’s traditional territory. The Old Growth Stewardship Data Collection Project will give the Nation a snapshot of the forest to help promote wildfire management, wildlife habitats and the growth of traditional plants. The key to the project is old-growth forest management. Decades of fire suppression policies preventing forest fires have led to unnaturally dense forests that don’t leave enough space for native plants and wildlife to thrive. “I’m sure if you live in the Sea to Sky, you see how thick some of the forests are,” said Klay Tindall, general manager at LFV. “That’s not normal.” “Normally, a lot of our Lil’wat Nation forests without fire suppression would see fires...
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