Ottawa’s response to crisis won’t save Atlantic salmon, warn FirstNations
By John Chilibeck, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Daily Gleaner An Indigenous people whose history and culture are woven with wild Atlantic salmon is criticizing Ottawa for doing more to save Pacific salmon than their own east coast variety. The North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council has slammed the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, or DFO, for recently announcing only $1.2 million for four projects to help recover wild Atlantic salmon. By comparison, the feds dedicated $647 million over five years to the Pacific salmon strategy initiative in 2021. The Mi’kmaq group, along with other conservation partners, presented a robust recovery plan to the federal fisheries minister in April of last year that called for $38 million in spending over five years. “Atlantic salmon in the Miramichi watershed are in...
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Nunavut Inuit association establishes chair of Circumpolar Council in Canada
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) is spending $100,000 to establish the role of chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council in Canada, the organization announced on March 25. The position will be held by an Inuk from Canada and chosen following NTI’s general assembly in Iqaluit in July. “Hosting the Office of the Chair in Canada presents a significant leadership opportunity for Canadian Inuit during a period of major global and Arctic policy shifts,” said NTI acting vice-president Adamee Itorcheak. The decision was made following a board of directors meeting in Nuuk, Greenland. The board also approved an increase to the harvesters’ support program and passed an expansion of pension benefits. The budget for the Nunavut Harvesters Support Program is increasing by...
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Local Métis organization to host Indigenous awareness event
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A local organization dedicated to the Métis community will host an upcoming event focused on cultural awareness of Indigenous peoples. Hosted by the Peace Region Métis Community Association (PRMCA), an Indigenous awareness session will take place on Tuesday, May 5th in Fort St. John. The PRMCA was founded in 2023, and organizes several Métis events throughout the year, including the Métis Family Jamboree. According to Jocelyn Eisert, the PRMCA’s volunteer director, the session is designed to educate not only the Indigenous, but newcomers to Canada as well. “We designed a program for people moving to Canada to just be aware of the foundations of how the country came to light 155 years ago,” Eisert told Energeticcity.ca. “From...
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First Nations call for audit of Human Rights Commission following death of 3-year-old
By Alessia Passafiume A First Nations group is calling on the federal auditor general to investigate the Canadian Human Rights Commission, arguing its delay in hearing a case about funding for on-reserve fire services is resulting in unnecessary death. On Monday, a house fire in a northwestern Ontario community took the life of Chief Donny Morris’s three-year-old grandson and left two others with serious injuries. The federal minister responsible for funding on-reserve fire services is expected to address those chiefs during a public Nishnawbe Aski Nation meeting in Toronto on Thursday. The Independent First Nations Alliance, a group of five First Nations that includes Morris’s own community of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, filed a Canadian Human Rights Commission complaint in August 2025 alleging Indigenous Services Canada was systemically discriminating against their communities...
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Alberta town passes bylaw to ban decorative flags, crosswalks from government land
By Aaron Sousa Councillors in an Alberta town have become the latest community in the province to ban decorative flags and crosswalks from public land, a move that effectively forbids symbolic artistic statements, such as rainbow-hued Pride crosswalks. It’s a decision opponents say is a step toward erasing the voices of marginalized communities. On Tuesday, Didsbury councillors passed the “public spaces neutrality bylaw.” It restricts the town north of Calgary to only flying government flags and maintaining standardized road and crosswalk markings. Didsbury, a town of 5,200, does not currently have special flags or crosswalks, such as those recognizing the LGBTQ+ community, First Nations or veterans. The bylaw, introduced March 10, was the result of feedback gathered from residents during the election campaign. The decision was close. Mayor Chris Little...
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New leaders excited to chart path for MMF Portage Local
By Renee Lilley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Portage Graphic Leader The Portage Local of the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) has elected a new leadership team, marking the first time the local has implemented a strictly modernized verification process for its grassroots governance. During the election held March 23 at the Herman Prior Activity Centre, 122 citizens cast ballots under new security protocols. For the first time at the local level, citizens were required to present valid MMF citizenship cards, which were scanned into a digital system upon entry and verified again before a ballot was issued for contested positions. Kim Chipman, a 20-year veteran of the local and a retired 40-year provincial government employee, was elected as the new chairperson after defeating candidate Dean Calder in a contested vote. “I...
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Gun control group criticizes Ottawa over ‘poor participation’ in firearm buyback
The Liberal government says it is carrying out a broad review of Canada’s firearms classification regime that will include consultations with Indigenous communities on the SKS rifle . By Jim Bronskill Gun control advocacy group PolySeSouvient blames “weak political leadership” for what it calls “poor participation” in a federal compensation program for banned firearms. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Tuesday that gun owners had reported more than 52,000 firearms to the government with one week left to go in the program to provide compensation for banned guns. That figure is well short of the 136,000 firearms for which the Liberal government set aside compensation money when the buyback for individual owners opened in January. In a media statement issued Wednesday, PolySeSouvient said weak messaging about the program has failed...
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Enbridge’s plan to fund policing costs of pipeline reroute in U.S. raises concerns
By Jordan Omstead Enbridge has agreed to funnel money to U.S. law enforcement in anticipation of protests against its Line 5 pipeline reroute project, a move that has raised concerns about the depth of the company’s influence in policing issues. The Calgary-based company says it volunteered the public safety fund to help governments in Wisconsin cover the extra costs related to the rerouting of the pipeline opposed by Indigenous communities. The proposed deal has alarmed some local residents and observers in Canada who say it smacks of a conflict of interest and fear it could incentivize police to act as the company’s hired security. “It’s hard to think that there’s not some kind of transactional benefit to paying the bills,” said Jeffrey Monaghan, a Carleton University sociologist who’s written extensively...
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Small population, big infrastructure needs: Northern Canada facing power struggles
By Ashley Joannou Representatives from all three Canadian territories say the need to improve their aging electricity grids has reached a critical level requiring billions of dollars from the federal government to update, and in some cases, keep the lights on. Yukon’s energy minister says the need is “no longer theoretical” after a frigid week in December nearly required rolling blackouts in Whitehorse. Temperatures nearing -50 C saw demand hit 90 per cent of what could be generated, at a time outside of peak hours, Ted Laking said. Industrial consumers like mines were already disconnected and officials with the city and the territory were trying to decide what could go next. In the end, the blackouts weren’t required, but Laking said the experience was a sign of problems on the...
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N.S. legislature closed to the public after singing protesters delay budget vote
By Lyndsay Armstrong The Nova Scotia legislature has been closed to the public after singing protesters disrupted a budget vote Tuesday night. Saf Haq says she and about 40 others broke into song before midnight Tuesday when the legislature moved to vote on a budget-related bill that would result in a series of cuts to government programs, delaying the vote. Instead, it was voted on Wednesday afternoon, without members of the public in the gallery. The Progressive Conservatives used their dominant majority to pass the appropriations act, which authorizes government spending included in the new budget. Haq said she protested Tuesday because the cuts approved in this budget will hurt vulnerable Nova Scotians and the province’s vibrant arts and culture scene. “I’m concerned for the future of Nova Scotia …...
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Portage la Prairie plans combined city-school 2026 vote
By Renee Lilley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Portage Graphic Leader The City of Portage la Prairie will once again “combine forces” with the local school division to conduct their upcoming 2026 elections, a move officials say will streamline the voting process and potentially cut costs for taxpayers. City council approved a resolution Monday to hold the municipal and school board elections jointly. Under the agreement, the two entities will split the estimated $32,000 in election expenses 50/50, with each contributing approximately $16,000. Joe Masi, the city’s finance chair, noted the collaboration has been a long-standing practice in Portage la Prairie. “People vote for the city and the school board at the same time,” Masi said. “It’s a great potential to save costs for both of us because we’re each paying...
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First Nations call for audit of Human Rights Commission following death of 3 year old
By Alessia Passafiume A First Nations group is calling on the federal auditor general to investigate the Canadian Human Rights Commission, arguing its delay in hearing a case about funding for on-reserve fire services is resulting in unnecessary deaths. On Monday, a house fire in a northwestern Ontario community took the life of Chief Donny Morris’ three-year-old grandson and left two others with serious injuries. The Independent First Nations Alliance, a group of five First Nations which includes Morris’ own community, filed a Canadian Human Rights Commission complaint in August 2025, alleging Indigenous Services Canada was systemically discriminating against their communities by underfunding on-reserve fire services. The First Nations say that case has been languishing ever since and they have not received communications from the commission since October. The Canadian...
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Ottawa raises catch limit for juvenile eels in the Maritimes, but complaints linger
Ottawa has increased the allowable catch for juvenile eels by 22 per cent this year, citing evidence of a healthy population and the success of last year’s relatively peaceful season in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The fishery for young American eels, known as elvers, was shut down in 2024 after illegal fishing driven by soaring prices led to violence and arrests on many rivers. Last year, the federal Fisheries Department announced new possession and export regulations aimed at improving management of the fishery, which saw buyers paying as much as $5,000 per kilogram a few years ago. As well, Ottawa confirmed in 2025 that 50 per cent of the allowable catch would be redistributed from non-Indigenous commercial fishers to First Nations entering the fishery for the first time to...
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Emo council meeting: Raised caps on building permit fees, new landfill rates and collaboration on drinking water
By Liam Oliver Neilson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Fort Frances Times The Township of Emo will increase the maximum fee for building permits, implement additional user rates at the local landfill and collaborate with Chapple and Rainy River First Nation on water services, the township’s council decided at its Tuesday meeting. Building permit fees in Emo are based on the estimated dollar value of construction, which remains at $8 per $1,000. The minimum building permit fee for Emo was unchanged at $50; however, the maximum fee was increased to $2,500 from the prior $2000. That still sits below the average permit costs for projects within Ontario towns. The Town of Fort Frances, for example, has a minimum of $65 on building permits and uses a rate of $13 per $1000...
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Haudenosaunee Nationals lacrosse program still hopeful of Olympic inclusion
By Sam Laskaris Writer LAS VEGAS-Claudia Jimerson is involved in plenty of behind-the-scenes work trying to get the Haudenosaunee Nationals women’s and men’s lacrosse teams to the Los Angeles Olympics. Jimerson, who is the Haudenosaunee Nationals’ director of lacrosse operations, was a featured speaker at a session at this year’s Reservation Economic Summit, which began Monday and continues until Thursday at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. More than 5,000 delegates, primarily from Canada and the United States, have converged for the conference, the largest Native American economic development event, which is annually held in Las Vegas. Jimerson spoke at a Monday session called The Haudenosaunee Journey to the 2028 Olympics. “This is about building something bigger than the moment,” Jimerson said. “It’s about building trust between nations, strengthening relationship and...
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Federal review now needed for nuclear waste burial plan
By Carl Clutchey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Chronicle-Journal A proposal by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization to bury millions of spent and radioactive fuel rods from the country’s nuclear reactors in a specialized underground facility near Ignace is going to be subject to a federal independent review panel process. The decision by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to refer the project to a review panel — which appeared on the agency’s website late Monday — is based on a number of factors, including recent feedback from the public, Indigenous people and First Nations, the agency said. “(The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada) is satisfied that the carrying out of the designated project may cause adverse effects within federal jurisdiction or direct or incidental adverse effects, including effects on...
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N.S. legislature closed to the public after singing protesters delayed budget vote
By Lyndsay Armstrong The Nova Scotia legislature has been closed to the public after singing protesters disrupted a budget vote Tuesday night. Saf Haq says she and about 40 others broke into song before midnight Tuesday when the legislature moved to vote on a budget-related bill that would result in a series of cuts to government programs. Haq said she was there because she is concerned the planned cuts will hurt vulnerable Nova Scotians and the province’s vibrant arts and culture scene. “I’m concerned for the future of Nova Scotia … I love the arts, my partner is a filmmaker … I care about Indigenous sovereignty and African Nova Scotian rights and I’m pissed at how this government is going about this budgetary process,” she said. The protesters’ song begins:...
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Thunder Bay Police board updates include 810 missing persons reports in 2025
By Carrie Ivardi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY – Of the 810 total missing persons cases investigated by the Thunder Bay Police Service last year, there have been none where foul play was suspected. The annual missing persons report was presented to the Thunder Bay Police Services Board on Tuesday. Police Chief Darcy Fleury said that most of these situations can be explained as, “people that are reported missing because maybe they just don’t show up from home, from school, they run away from home or those types of things. Those are classified as missing persons.” “The real, significant piece is when they’ve been gone for some time and there’s a lack of contact or there’s some concern that they may be in a situation that they might...
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Treaty celebrations across Nova Scotia get strong federal support
By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post The Eskasoni First Nation is receiving $79,500 from the Government of Canada to support a project marking the 300th anniversary of the 1726 Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament (Cape Breton–Canso–Antigonish), recently announced funding for two projects in Nova Scotia that will provide commemorative activities. He also commented on the difficult times the Mi’kmaq are currently having with the provincial government and assured the Mi’kmaq Grand Council in attendance that the federal government is committed to supporting the reconciliation process as it goes forward. Battiste announced that the government has allocated $229,125 through the ‘Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage’ program, including $79,500 to the Eskasoni Band...
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Ashern hospital expansion adds beds, expands emergency care capacity
By Steven Sukkau, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Sun A major expansion and renovation at Lakeshore General Hospital is now complete, increasing inpatient capacity and significantly expanding emergency care services for residents in Ashern and surrounding communities. The project, delivered in phases, has increased the hospital’s inpatient beds from 14 to 26 and expanded the emergency department from five treatment spaces to 13. Health officials say the upgrades will improve patient flow, enhance care delivery and allow more people to receive treatment closer to home. “For our inpatient unit, we had gone from 14 to 26 inpatient beds. Each of these rooms are private rooms,” said Candace Blahey, Director of Acute Care. “So you have that privacy and the rooms are a little bit larger… there’s room to have your...
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