Bill 1 expected to pass Wednesday night or early Thursday morning Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s sovereignty bill galloped toward the finish line Wednesday, with the government using debate time limits to rebut what it called Opposition delay tactics. Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley said the government was on pace to pass the bill Wednesday night or in the early hours Thursday, saying Smith’s United Conservatives are desperate to take the controversial bill out of the spotlight. “I suspect we’ll see them jam it through today in order to try toRead more

Retired senator Murray Sinclair combined competing resolutions and ushered in new position Assembly of First Nations chiefs agreed to set their differences aside and demand Canada immediately compensate people harmed by the underfunded on-reserve child-welfare system, in an 11th hour show of unity on Wednesday night in Ottawa. Delegates gathered for the AFN’s annual winter assembly heard impassioned pleas as they mulled whether to back a $20-billion class-action settlement agreement or the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, which refused to approve the deal. But following an intervention from retired senator and former TruthRead more

‘This is March 2020 for kids,’ warns B.C.-based family physician B.C. recorded at least five influenza-related deaths in children in November, a marked increase from previous years, triggering warnings from doctors across Canada about the severity of this year’s influenza season. The B.C. Coroners Service confirmed five deaths, but Wednesday afternoon, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) said it is aware of six influenza-associated deaths among children and youth. Numbers between agencies can vary based on how deaths are tracked and reported. For example, the cause of death in anRead more

How long the event lasts depends on where you are in Canada If you happen to have clear skies on Wednesday night, you’ll be able to catch a planet disappearing behind the moon. The event occurs at a special time for Mars. On Wednesday night, Mars will be directly opposite the sun’s position in the sky, rising as the sun sets and setting as the sun rises. This is called an opposition and is when Mars is at its brightest in the night sky. “Having the moon hide a bright planetRead more

Jeremy Skibicki was accused of rape, death threats, violence by former spouses Alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki threatened to kill two previous partners in the last seven years, according to a court hearing involving one woman and a protection order filed by the other. In June 2015, the Winnipeg man — now charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of four women — was convicted of assaulting his common-law partner. After spending about two months behind bars, he was sentenced to two years probation. According to a statement of facts agreed to by Crown and defence attorneys,Read more

Increasing number of students putting pressure on teaching, support resources The number of students at public schools in Nova Scotia is on the rise following decades of declining enrolment as the province has welcomed a record number of immigrants and seen a substantial increase in Canadians from other parts of the country moving to the province. New figures released by the Education Department show enrolment increased this fall at every regional centre for education in the province. It’s a sea change for the province, where enrolment has steadily dropped from over 200,000 in the early 1970s due toRead more

Mail carrier helped Santa with 1.5 million letters last year and is ready for a busy season While many are rushing around preparing for a busy holiday season, one group of students in Windsor, Ont., has been busy writing the big guy in red — just in time to hear back, according to his official Canadian mail carrier. This year, Canada Post says to send your Santa letter by Friday Dec. 9, so that he has time to write back. Grade 2 students at St. James Catholic Elementary School in West Windsor took some timeRead more

Police say they plan to adopt the new name out of respect, at request of community A previously unnamed woman known only as the sole unidentified victim of an alleged serial killer in Winnipeg now has a name given to her by the community: Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman. The name came after discussions among a group of advocates, knowledge keepers and grandmothers who found it didn’t sit well with them that the slain woman, who police are trying to identify, was only being referred to as an unknown victim,Read more

Iconic play bringing back several members of original cast for new showing A new mounting of the smash hit ‘da Kink in My Hair is returning to the stage this month to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Set in a hair salon, the play brings back several members of the original cast and is helmed by Soulpepper Theatre artistic director Weyni Mengesha, who oversaw the first full production in 2003. Mengesha said returning to ‘da Kink in My Hair moved her because she grew up alongside the original cast members and fostered long-lasting friendships. She saidRead more

‘They don’t leave you, even when you’re at your worst,’ says mother applauding program in Manitoba There was a moment in Cara Courchene’s life when reuniting with her children seemed out of reach. The child welfare system seems stacked against parents like her, but one Indigenous-led program has had remarkable success in trying to change that. In 98 per cent of cases, the Family Group Conference program either reunited children with families who love them, or prevented a child from entering the child welfare system in the first place. Courchene is one successRead more