Town council one step closer to municipal police committee
By Pearl Lorentzen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeside Leader The Town of Slave Lake council will eventually have to establish a municipal policing committee, but will wait to pass a bylaw until it has ministerial permission. In August, council asked for clarification from the Government of Alberta on several issues related to this requirement. The situation is that the Government of Alberta has mandated that municipalities, that are the size of the town, must either join the regional policing committee or start their own. However, as all other municipalities of this size in northeastern Alberta have opted for the municipal model, that is the only option for Slave Lake. Council already meets with the detachment commander to set policing goals, so doesn’t see the point. However, if a committee is...
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y̓ilmixʷm Robert Louie honoured with Order of B.C. for lifetime of ‘bold leadership’ Slugline: LJI-BC-ROBERT-LOUIE-ORDER-OF-BC
By Aaron Hemens, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, IndigiNews y̓ilmixʷm (Chief) simo Robert Louie has been recognized with the province’s highest honour for his decades of work in Indigenous governance and business. Louie, who has served multiple terms as chief of the Westbank First Nation (WFN) across a 27-year-span, was awarded with the insignia for the Order of British Columbia on Tuesday. He was one of 17 leaders, artists and researchers to receive the honour at a ceremony at the Government House in “Victoria.” “His lifetime of service has inspired a national movement towards Indigenous equity and reconciliation,” said Jerymy Brownridge, the private secretary to B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor. “Chief Louie has demonstrated bold leadership, and created lasting, transformative change.” Louie was first named as a recipient in August. The province said...
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Saskatoon drop-in centres to get $3 million a year from province
Saskatchewan’s government says it’s providing $3 million annually for drop-in homelessness services in Saskatoon. Social Services Minister Terry Jenson says the province will work with the city and Indigenous partners to determine where the money goes. He says the goal is to ensure people have warm places to stay this winter, as Saskatoon is seeing a higher need for drop-in supports. Mayor Cynthia Block says having stable, year-round funding is vital to tackling the growing issue of houselessness. She says the money will allow the city to meet people’s needs throughout the year, rather than respond in times of crisis. Saskatoon had experienced a drug crisis earlier this year, causing two libraries and a safe drug consumption facility to temporarily close. The city had opened a temporary shelter earlier this...
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Carney taps top aide David Lametti to replace Bob Rae as UN ambassador
By Kyle Duggan Prime Minister Mark Carney is appointing his principal secretary David Lametti as Canada’s next ambassador to the United Nations. The Prime Minister’s Office announced Thursday that Lametti, a former federal justice minister, will replace former Liberal leader Bob Rae, 77, who has held the role since 2020. Lametti will step into the prestigious diplomatic posting on Nov. 17. He was brought into Carney’s office in July to take on the top role of principal secretary after serving as an adviser during the spring election. But Tom Pitfield has remained on board as principal secretary since the spring and shared the role with Lametti for weeks. Pitfield was chief digital strategist to former prime minister Justin Trudeau and is married to Quebec Liberal MP Anna Gainey. Adam Chapnick,...
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Alberta’s ban on police ‘carding’ expires, but province says practice still outlawed
By Jack Farrell The Alberta government has chosen not to renew a regulation banning the practice of “carding” by police officers, but the province says the practice is still prohibited under other laws. The provincial regulation enforcing the ban was due for renewal this past summer, but a government letter to the Alberta Association of Police Governance and shared by the Edmonton Police Commission says the province wouldn’t be renewing it. Carding refers to police officers stopping members of the public without reason and asking for identification. Advocates have said the practice largely amounts to racial profiling, as statistics across Canada have shown people of colour are more likely to be carded than white people. A 2016 freedom of information request made to the Edmonton Police Service found Indigenous people...
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Bearing the brunt of climate change in Nunatsiavut
By Frey Blake-Pijogge, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Independent Ron Webb says he and other community members don’t have a choice when it comes to dealing with Labrador’s rapidly changing climate, but they must adapt. “Years ago, we would get ice of the normal five to seven feet of ice – and now we’re lucky to have three feet and maybe two feet,” the Inuk elder from Nunatsiavut says, explaining that while much of the sea ice still freezes to a safe thickness in winter, there are areas around his community of Nain where the ice is soft and poses a significant risk to Inuit. Nain is the northernmost Inuit community in Nunatsiavut, the semi-autonomous region and government as defined in the Labrador Inuit Land Claim Agreement of 2005. It...
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Alberta’s ban on police ‘carding’ expires, but province says practice still outlawed
By Jack Farrell The Alberta government has chosen not to renew a regulation banning the practice of “carding” by police officers, but the province says the practice is still prohibited under other laws. The provincial regulation enforcing the ban was due for renewal this past summer, but a government letter to the Alberta Association of Police Governance and shared by the Edmonton Police Commission says the province wouldn’t be renewing it. Carding refers to police officers stopping members of the public without reason and asking for identification. Advocates have said the practice largely amounts to racial profiling, as statistics across Canada have shown people of colour are more likely to be carded than white people. A 2016 freedom of information request made to the Edmonton Police Service found Indigenous people...
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U.S. outdoor group in rough water as B.C. camping application upsets First Nations
By Nono Shen A U.S.-based outdoor group has been paddling in British Columbia’s coastal waters for almost 30 years, running sea-kayaking courses and camping along the coast. But an application by the non-profit National Outdoor Leadership School to renew and expand its licence in B.C. has run into choppy waters as residents and First Nations groups object, some citing concern about Canadian sovereignty. BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee said in a statement that it was “unthinkable” to consider “leasing” Crown lands to U.S.-based organizations at a time when Canada was asserting sovereignty amid American political threats. “Leasing our lands to foreign companies for commercial gain — without our free, prior, and informed consent — cannot be justified,” said Teegee in the statement issued by the First...
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CAQ member booted from cabinet quits party, says she has lost faith in leader Legault
A member of the Coalition Avenir Québec recently booted from cabinet has resigned from the party and says she no longer has faith in Premier François Legault. Maïté Blanchette Vézina says she will sit as an Independent and says Legault should reconsider his future as leader of the CAQ, adding that his policies have neglected Quebec’s regions. Her departure is the latest controversy to hit Legault and his party, both of which are deeply unpopular with electors one year away from the provincial election. Blanchette Vézina was elected in 2022 in the riding of Rimouski and was the natural resources and forestry minister until eight days ago. She had struggled steering a bill to protect the forestry industry but which triggered blockades from Indigenous people who said the legislation threatened...
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No tsunami threat to B.C. after 7.8-magnitude quake off Russia
-BC-Authorities say there is no tsunami risk to British Columbia’s coast after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in the same area hit in July by one of the biggest quakes ever recorded. The risk to B.C. had been under assessment after the quake struck around 11:58 a.m., Pacific time. The National Tsunami Warning Center says while a tsunami advisory is in effect for the Aleutian Islands and Amchitka Pass off Alaska’s coast, no other areas of the Pacific coast of B.C. or the United States face a threat. It says that while there is a risk of a tsunami close to the source of the quake, it is too early to say if Hawaii is threatened. The quake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, at a...
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B.C. Conservative Sturko is ‘deeply concerned’ about fake membership allegations
By Wolfgang Depner A Conservative MLA says she is “deeply concerned” about allegations of improper membership sign ups that were forwarded to her and others by the party’s executive, ahead of final voting on John Rustad’s leadership. Elenore Sturko says she won’t comment further on the review and Rustad’s leadership until she has had a chance to talk to her colleagues about a report that alleges “some concerning memberships” that were signed up as part of the leadership review with final results to be announced Monday. A statement from a party representative says that an internal audit identified and “promptly cancelled” what it believes were “manufactured memberships,” saying that it is “unfortunately, all too common in leadership races and reviews for most parties.” The Canadian Press has seen screenshots of...
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Brantford Police warn public phone scammers identifying as police
BRANTFORD, ONT- The Brantford Police Service (BPS) has issued a warning to area residents about a sophisticated phone scam that sees scammers claiming to be from the BPS. The BPS issued the warning after receiving over 100 calls in one day from area residents. Police said people received multiple missed calls that appeared to originate from the Brantford Police Service’s non-emergency number, some of which came up in their display information as the ‘Brantford Police Service.’ People who answered the call said the caller identified themselves as a police detective who told the homeowners they were a suspect in a fraud investigation. “These calls are fraudulent and are not originating from the Brantford Police Service,” police said in a media release. “This appears to be an instance of caller ID...
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Grief and Resilience in Island Lake After Tragic Floatplane Crash
By Steven Sukkau, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Sun The hum of floatplanes has long been heard during autumn in Island Lake. Families head out on the water to reach traplines and hunting grounds, preparing for the long winter. But this season, the familiar sound carries a weight of sorrow. On September 13, a floatplane carrying five people crashed near Makepeace Lake, about 40 kilometres south of St. Theresa Point First Nation. Four passengers, two men, ages 53 and 49, and two women, both 50, all from St. Theresa Point, were killed. The 20-year-old pilot survived with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. News of the tragedy rippled quickly through the Island Lake communities, where nearly every family has a connection to those lost. For many, the plane was not just a...
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Arctic security to be hot topic during trade show
By Darrell Greer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Kivalliq News The theme of the 2025 Kivalliq Trade Show in Rankin Inlet from Sept. 22 to 24 is ‘Kivalliq and the Changing North,’ and one of the most popular panels expected at the event is Arctic Sovereignty and Security, Kivalliq Trade Show Society president Robert Connelly said he expects the panel to be jam-packed. Scheduled to participate in the Arctic Sovereignty and Security panel are representatives of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. They will provide information about what the federal government and the navy are doing to protect Canadian interests in the North. Connelly said Nunavut Tunngavik President Jeremy Tunraluk is also going to speak to Inuit organizations on the viewpoints...
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Trade show presentation to focus on building homes, workforce Slugline: 250917-kiv-nubuildinghomes Source: Local Journalism Initiative Published: 17/09/2025 15:19 New item for followed topic: Innu OR inuit Category: Spare News Word count: 453 View this item in your account: https://cpnewspro.com/wire?item=urn%3Anewsml%3Alji-api.superdesk.pro%3A2025-09-17T15%3A15%3A12.230631%3A0893c886-a1f7-4b6d-bbc8-62c8bc759e05 By Darrell Greer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Kivalliq News One of the presentations people are looking forward to during the upcoming Kivalliq Trade Show in Rankin Inlet from Sept. 22 to 24 focuses on Sakku Innovative Building Solutions. Based in Arviat, Sakku Innovative Building Solutions is the first factory of its kind. It oversees the design, manufacture, supply, and erection of prefabricated and modular buildings. Kivalliq Trade Show Society president Robert Connelly said the factory being built in Arviat is in year four of construction and will create 40 jobs for Inuit. He said the jobs will include general labourers, carpenters, carpenters’ helpers and other trades. “They’re going to be presenting and talking about not just where they’re at with the project — the fact that they’re working on some things that I find really innovative and interesting,” said Connelly. “Because Sakku Investments is one of the partners in the project, they’ve insisted that the housing manufacturing facility act as a training facility. “So, it’s not just about building houses, it’s to provide tradespeople, not necessarily with a full-time, long-term job — although there will be those — it’s to be focused on allowing them to get their apprenticeship hours, which is a real challenge for anybody coming out of trade school. You need to partner with a red seal and get your hours in. “Sakku has really insisted on using this facility and they’re partnering with Nunavut Arctic College and other partners to make sure that the project is used as a training facility, as well, to allow Inuit apprentices to get their hours. “So, they’ve developed this comprehensive training plan that’s way beyond the scope of the facility itself. It’s about how we build capacity in the trades for Nunavummiut.” Connelly said the presentation won’t just examine housing in the future, it’s also about the present. Even though the facility is not fully operational in Arviat yet, he said once it is fully up and running, the capacity will increase to address part of the housing crisis in Nunavut. “There will still be a housing need all over Nunavut, but this enhances some of the work being done in housing. I find it fascinating and I’m looking forward to their presentation and hearing the update. “The long-term objective for Nunavut as a whole is to continue to build capacity in the territory. In the short-term and mid-term, obviously, we’ll continue to depend on a variety of building methods and approaches to meet our needs. We all understand how significant the housing needs are in Nunavut. “I think long-term the objective continues to be — and the message that comes out of Nunavut 3000 and the housing corp. — to eventually work towards building a model for housing development that’s focused on Nunavummiut building for Nunavummiut.” Regards, The Canadian Press Team Contact us at 1-800-268-8149 or help-aide@mycpnewspro.com Visit https://www.thecanadianpress.com/ for more services from Canada’s trusted news leader.
By Darrell Greer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Kivalliq News One of the presentations people are looking forward to during the upcoming Kivalliq Trade Show in Rankin Inlet from Sept. 22 to 24 focuses on Sakku Innovative Building Solutions. Based in Arviat, Sakku Innovative Building Solutions is the first factory of its kind. It oversees the design, manufacture, supply, and erection of prefabricated and modular buildings. Kivalliq Trade Show Society president Robert Connelly said the factory being built in Arviat is in year four of construction and will create 40 jobs for Inuit. He said the jobs will include general labourers, carpenters, carpenters’ helpers and other trades. “They’re going to be presenting and talking about not just where they’re at with the project — the fact that they’re working on some...
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New grocery store, motel and diner coming to Pikangikum FirstNation
By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com PIKANGIKUM — Ground was recently broken in Pikangikum on a pair of projects that aim to bring more services to the remote First Nation. Signage posted around the community, located about 500 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, shows what the two developments will look like. One is slated to be a grocery and general store, with the other being a motel and diner. A media release issued by the developers said the grocery store will be a 19,500 square foot modular unit and will include a pharmacy, general and hardware store, laundromat and prep kitchen. The motel and diner building will feature “multiple four-plex and tri-plex units, reception area and commercial kitchen.” The release listed Pikangikum First Nation, Bison Modular, ESB Construction...
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AFN urges federal government to increase efforts at implementing UNDA
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak is urging the federal government to “improve its efforts” at enacting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA). “We are concerned with the government’s planned reduction in spending towards First Nations’ priorities, including support for First Nations to meaningfully participate in implementing the UN Declaration,” Nepinak said last week. Chief Nepinak remarks followed the release of the fourth annual progress report on implementing UNDA by the Department of Justice Canada on August 21. According to David MacDonald, a professor at the University of Guelph, UNDA, passed in 2021, mandates all federal laws comply with the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). “So...
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“A candle at your window” remembering Mary Two-Axe Earley
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase Of her earliest memories, Brenda Gedeon recalls sitting in the windowsill of Mary Two-Axe Earley’s home, watching the ships snake down the St. Lawrence Seaway. Gedeon was introduced to the woman who would one day become her mother-in-law through her politically active parents, growing up in awe of the civil rights activist from Kahnawake. “They would sit in her kitchen, mom and dad, Mary, maybe a friend or two or family, and have a conversation,” Gedeon said. Despite her house being a gathering place for Indigenous women across Kahnawake and beyond, in her own words, Two-Axe Earley would always have to be a guest in that home. In 1938, after marrying Edward Earley — an American engineer and namesake of Gedeon’s late...
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CRTC launches hearing on Canadian content obligations for music streamers
By Anja Karadeglija The federal broadcast regulator begins a hearing today to look at which Canadian content obligations should apply to music streamers like Spotify. Streaming services argue their current efforts to promote Canadian culture — and the royalties they pay — are good enough. Radio broadcasters, meanwhile, say their sector is in serious decline and they want the CRTC to take a lighter regulatory touch for traditional players. Both sides are set to make their arguments during five days of hearings in Gatineau, Que., between now and Sept. 29. The hearings are part of a series of CRTC proceedings to implement the Online Streaming Act, legislation that updated broadcasting laws to capture online platforms. The federal government is under heavy pressure from the United States to scrap the legislation....
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Indigenous backlash pushes Carney to launch Indigenous Advisory Council alongside the Major Projects Office
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase After facing backlash from First Nations across Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the establishment of the Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) to oversee the newly founded Major Projects Office (MPO). The IAC is composed of 11 representatives from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities who will guide the MPO when it begins to implement its upcoming nation-building projects. But Peter Graefe, a political science professor with McMaster University, says it remains to be seen what powers this new committee will hold, or if this is an attempt to sidestep meaningful consultation. “A big question will be: do they really get to play a role in shaping decision-making, or is this just a form of whitewashing, trying to gain consent without really doing...
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