Ottawa’s ‘new nuclear renaissance’ ignites debate over Canada’s energy future
By Anushka Yadav, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Pointer “There is no credible plan for Canada to become an energy superpower if we choose not to build upon one of the strongest energy advantages we have.” While unveiling a new national strategy for nuclear power on June 22, Energy minister Tim Hodgson made it clear that under the Mark Carney government, Canada was entering a “new civilian nuclear renaissance” with the country’s electrical grid capacity expected to double by 2050, “driven by digitalization, electrification and artificial intelligence”. “If our goal is to double our grid and build a low-carbon economy in less than 25 years, there is no credible plan to do that without nuclear energy and the clean, reliable baseload power it provides.” For decades, nuclear energy has remained...
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Tribes hope Farm Bill can feed more people and preserve Indigenous culture
By Joshua A. Bickel And Jennifer Mcdermott HOPKINTON, R.I. (AP) — At Ashawaug Farm in southwest Rhode Island, Dawn and Cassius Spears preserve their Indigenous knowledge of agriculture through the cultivation and keeping of three Narragansett heritage crops: white corn, succotash beans and crookneck squash. They would like to expand their farm’s reach beyond their farm stand, but it’s challenging. Like many small food producers, the Spears have sought financial assistance through federal programs. Some have been cut or significantly scaled back under the Trump Administration, including U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that helped tribal farmers. Tribes relied on these programs to grow and distribute culturally-significant foods locally. “When we go into these federal programs, we’re hoping that they’ll last long enough,” Cassius Spears said. “They usually start out with...
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Hajdu expresses optimism on new First Nations water legislation
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SNnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY — The Liberals failed in their first attempt at getting a First Nations Clean Water Act passed, but Thunder Bay–Superior North MP Patty Hajdu has reasons to be optimistic about success this time around. Hajdu, who was Indigenous Services minister when the ill-fated first bill was in the House, told Newswatch this week that some changes bode well for the new bill introduced last month by current Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty. “Well, I would say that we have a majority (now), so that will be helpful,” said Hajdu, the jobs and families minister since May 2025. “It was not helpful to see both NDP and Conservative opposition despite the pleading of the AFN (Assembly of First Nations) and other...
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Saskatchewan flooding forces more local states of emergency, some evacuations
By Jeremy Simes Flooding in Saskatchewan has forced more communities to declare states of emergency, while one First Nation has evacuated some residents. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says 11 communities issued alerts over the past week following torrential rainfall. The agency’s Tyler Harrison says nine people from the Cote First Nation, 280 kilometres northeast of Regina, were forced to flee the community. He says the evacuees are considered vulnerable and would need easy access to medical services in case of an emergency. Other communities dealing with flooding are in the province’s east-central region, including Canora, Kamsack and Norquay. Heavy rain had overwhelmed sewer systems, leaving many homes with over a foot of water in basements, while also washing out nearby highways. Leah Clark, the executive director of irrigation at...
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Saskatchewan flooding forces more local states of emergency, some evacuations
By Jeremy Simes Flooding in Saskatchewan has forced more communities to declare states of emergency, while some residents were evacuated from a First Nation near the Manitoba boundary. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says 11 communities issued alerts over the past week following torrential rainfall. Tyler Harrison, manager of the agency’s emergency services, says nine people from the Cote First Nation, 360 kilometres east of Saskatoon, were forced to flee the community. He says the evacuees are considered vulnerable and would need easy access to medical services in case of an emergency. Other communities dealing with flooding are in the province’s east-central region, including Canora, Kamsack and Norquay. Heavy rain had overwhelmed sewer systems, leaving many homes with over a foot of water in basements, while also washing out nearby...
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Flooding leaves 13 Saskatchewan communities under emergency
By Nicole Goldsworthy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SaskToday.ca REGINA — Saskatchewan emergency officials say widespread flooding caused by recent heavy rainfall is affecting communities across the province, even as crews continue responding to dozens of active wildfires. During a media briefing Thursday, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said 62 wildfires were active across Saskatchewan as of 12:30 p.m., while localized flooding has prompted 13 communities to declare local states of emergency. Of the active wildfires, four are contained, eight are not contained, 38 remain under assessment and 12 are classified as protecting values, said SPSA. The six fires of note include: Border Fire near Mary Lake — nine hectares, protecting values. Church Fire northeast of Sandy Bay — 12 hectares, contained. Gulak Fire east of Southend — 309 hectares, not...
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What people are saying about the B.C.-Ottawa ‘prosperity agreement’
Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Columbia Premier David Eby have signed a “prosperity agreement” they say will help unlock billions of dollars in new investment. The deal includes a promise by the federal government to not change the northern oil tanker ban and to accelerate construction of LNG projects. It touches on multiple other projects, including plans for the North Coast Transmission Line and Newmont’s Red Chris mine expansion. Here is what some people are saying about the deal: — “This agreement is comprehensive. It is ambitious. And it will help transform the entire Canadian economy and fund the public services on which all Canadians rely.” — Prime Minister Mark Carney — “This deal will deliver faster commutes as we build critical infrastructure, less pollution as we power growth with clean...
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Paddling to the past: Building birchbark canoe brings history to life for First Nation youth
Several young people in Membertou First Nation are getting together almost daily during the summer to build a traditional birch bark canoe — and for some, it’s personal. Above, from left, are: Samara Paul; Anastasia Kabatay; and Miracle Johnson. Paul and Kabatay are related to Edward Kabatay, one of the paddlers of the Expo ’67 expedition that saw two canoes paddled by Mi’kmaq men from Cape Breton all the way to Montreal in a 31-day voyage. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton Post By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post A young Membertou woman has a good reason to be showing up almost every day to help build a traditional Mi’kmaw birch bark canoe — thought to be the first in Unama’ki (Cape Breton) in about a hundred years. Anastasia...
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Overland flooding washes out roads, damages homes across Prairies
By Ian Bickis and Brittany Hobson Emergency teams worked into the early hours Thursday to make sure an expectant mother, a cardiac patient and others were transferred to health facilities across Manitoba after rapid rain and flooding closed the only medical centre in the western city of Dauphin. To the north, where the town of Swan River was battered by rising water levels for the second time in less than a month, the province requested military support from the federal government. Premier Wab Kinew toured both areas Thursday. He said he reached out to Ottawa after Swan River’s mayor requested help to relieve volunteers and other workers. “The idea is to get some more boots on the ground,” said Kinew at an airport outside of Winnipeg after his tour. “You...
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Hudson’s Bay closes auctions with sale of Norval Morrisseau paintings
By Tara Deschamps Hudson’s Bay has completed the final auction in a series that found new owners for its trove of art — this one featuring six paintings with ties to Norval Morrisseau. The sale was hosted online by Heffel Fine Art Auction House. Three of the pieces sold in the auction were created by the late Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau and three came from his studio. Studio paintings are typically completed by assistants in an artist’s workshop. The top Morrisseau painting was a vibrant acrylic on canvas attributed to his studio. It sold for $27,500. The Morrisseau works were up for auction alongside vintage HBC signs, a basketball and jersey signed by former Toronto Raptor Pascal Siakam and various other pieces of memorabilia and art that belonged to the...
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Alberta seeks First Nations’ collaboration on pipeline amid separation feud
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is promising to work with Indigenous groups on a new pipeline to the B.C. coast, but it comes at a time of tense relations. Her government and First Nations chiefs have been in a war of words for more than a year over a referendum on Alberta leaving Confederation. The disagreement stems from the duty to consult over Alberta’s separation from Canada. Alberta’s government is fighting in court over the issue, with First Nations saying Smith’s government has not properly consulted them. First Nations leaders have said Smith’s behaviour amounts to treason, while one of Smith’s senior advisers has publicly said the chiefs should be more focused on poverty in their communities. Smith and Mark Carney announced a formal plan on Thursday to run a new...
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Alberta submits plans, announces partners for new pipeline to B.C. coast, 125 First Nations yet to be consulted
By Chuck Chiang and Jack Farrell Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced Thursday that her government has a route – and builders – for a new pipeline to the B.C. coast, just hours after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a deal with B.C. to make it possible. Smith and Carney stood together in Calgary to announce that Alberta has formally submitted a proposed route to Ottawa’s major projects office. “The profits from this pipeline will generate billions in revenues over the coming decades for the provincial and federal governments, and will enrich Indigenous communities that choose to partner with us,” said Smith. “This is transformational wealth, an opportunity neither Canada nor Alberta can afford to leave unrealized.” A submission package shared by the province says the project will follow closely along...
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New agreement reached between Osoyoos and OIB for fire protection services
By Lexi McFarlane, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Times Chronicle An agreement between the Town of Osoyoos and the Osoyoos Indian Band(OIB) surrounding fire protection and firefighting services has been extended for another five-year term. The agreement, first reached in 2002, sees the Town offer its fire protection from the Osoyoos Fire Rescue Department, to the OIB in exchange for monetary capital contributions. The OIB is one of two entities outside of Town limits that Osoyoos offers its fire protection services to, along with the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen. Generally, the agreements are supposed to be renewed every five years; however, the previous term of agreement renewal expired at the end of December 2025. Nicolette Keith, the Town’s Director of Financial Services, explained that it was a minor delay to...
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Baffinland secures $660M federal loan
By Arty Sarkisian, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News After a months-long litigation, Baffinland has secured a federal loan to continue operations at its Mary River iron mine through 2027. The company announced it had received the loan Tuesday in a news release. The Oakville, Ont.,-based Baffinland Iron Mines Corp., which operates the mine on northern Baffin Island, announced in May it had filed for creditor protection. The $660-million loan from Export Development Canada, a Crown corporation, is intended to provide “liquidity” to keep the mine operational, said Celeste van Tonder, the company’s chief financial officer, in a sworn affidavit. At the time, van Tonder said if Baffinland didn’t get the loan, the mine would be “forced to curtail or cease operations entirely and a significant number of employees may...
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Nova Scotia approves plans for the province’s largest onshore wind farm
The Nova Scotia government has granted environmental assessment approval for plans to build what it describes as the province’s largest wind energy project. The Environment Department issued a statement today saying the Ocean Lake Wind Project proposed for Guysborough County calls for the construction of 158 turbines on or near Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore. Construction is expected to start in 2029 with completion slated for five years later. The project developers are EverWind NS Holdings Ltd., a Canadian energy infrastructure company, and the Membertou Development Corp., the development arm of the Membertou First Nation in Cape Breton. Meanwhile, Everwind Fuels is developing one of North America’s first large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia projects in Cape Breton, which it says will be powered by 650 megawatts of electricity from four wind...
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Sweeping fire ban across North and South Slave regions in effect
By Dylan Follett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Yellowknifer The GNWT has implemented a fire ban for all public and private lands within the North and South Slave regions. The ban went into effect in North Slave late Tuesday night, and at will go into effect at midnight on Wednesday for communities in the South Slave. The North Slave communities include Yellowknife, Dettah, N’Dilo, Gameti, Wekweètì, Behchoko and Whati, while Łutselkʼe, Fort Providence, Hay River, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Kakisa and surrounding areas are the communities in the South Slave under the ban. “This is being implemented due to continued extreme fire danger and extraordinary weather conditions to protect communities and protect wildfire fighting resources by limiting avoidable person-caused fires,”stated a release from Tuesday evening. It follows fire...
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Heat wave hits, Six Nations Elected Council late in setting up cooling stations
By Alex Murray Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER-While public cooling spaces and heat relief centers opened up across Brantford and Brant County in time for residents in need to escape the extreme heat Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) was late in providing heat relief. SNEC cooling centres didn’t open until Thursday, July 2, after the first heatwave of summer 2026 already hit. Cooling centres are accessible locations available to provide people with a spot to rest, cool down, and rehydrate. Millions of Canadians across the country were hit with heat advisories this week. In Ontario, the first heatwave of the 2026 summer resulted in an orange heat advisory from Environment Canada, the second-most severe on their colour-coded weather alert system. Orange means a heat event is major, widespread,...
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Wildfires continue to burn around Kasabonika, despite rainfall
By Maya Ekman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWOnewswatch.com KASABONIKA – Recent rainfall has been helpful to wildland firefighters working to protect Kasabonika First Nation. The community “is currently being affected by a cluster of six wildland fires of varying sizes, and located between six kilometres to the south and as far as 20 kilometres away to the north-west of the community,” Chris Marchand, regional fire information officer, told Newswatch. “The Kasabonika Lake Weather Station recorded approximately five to ten millimetres of overnight rainfall, which definitely temporarily lowers fire behaviour and supports our suppression efforts,” he said. Although Monday night rain helped, he said, the fires are still not under control. The community is continuing to evacuate its most vulnerable members. Kasabonika Chief Matthias Anderson expects a total of 400 mothers...
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Ottawa revives First Nations water legislation with new rights language, raising new questions
By Jacqueline St.Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor LAKE HURON—For generations, the struggle for clean drinking water in First Nations has never been simply about pipes, pumps or treatment plants. It has been about jurisdiction, responsibility and whether one of life’s most fundamental necessities will finally be recognized not as a promise, but as a right. That conversation returned to Parliament Tuesday as the federal government reintroduced long-awaited legislation aimed at replacing the former Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, reviving a bill that died on the order paper when Parliament was prorogued earlier this year. The proposed First Nations Clean Water Act, introduced as Bill C-37, establishes a new legal framework governing drinking water, wastewater, source water protection and related infrastructure on First Nation lands. Yet...
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MTS petition on residential school denialism garners 2,500 signatures
By Maggie Macintosh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Free Press The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is petitioning Ottawa to make it illegal to deny, downplay or justify the harms of residential schools. Its e-petition — formally known as “e-7191” on the House of Commons website — will close mid-morning Thursday, after a 120-day campaign to collect signatures in support of updating the Criminal Code. “We won’t tolerate the denialism or the distortion of history,” said Lillian Klausen, who represents 17,000 public school teachers across the province. The union leader said listening to the voices that have long been excluded from history textbooks “is part of trying to reconcile.” More than 2,500 people have signed the national petition she initiated to bolster federal funding for initiatives to combat “anti Indigenous hate” and...
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