Local Journalism Initiative

Local Journalism Initiative


Fight For Farmland condemns region for freedom of information denials

The group behind the fight to deny the Region of Waterloo access to 770 acres of land in Wilmot Township for a future mega-site development has been dealt another blow in their fight get more details. Fight for Farmland has expressed deep disappointment and growing concern as the region has again denied a freedom of […]

Read More


28 months after FOI request, St. Catharines has not released chemical testing data for contaminated former GM site slated for residential development

Twenty-eight months after a Freedom of Information  request was submitted to the City of St. Catharines, officials have yet to release crucial reports detailing the presence of chemicals on the former GM site along Ontario Street that the previous mayor pushed to get developed behind the scenes.   These reports, Phase I and II Environmental Site […]

Read More


Q&A: Future of Marineland uncertain after abysmal season; conviction for poor treatment of black bears

Sunday, September 1st will mark the final day of the 2024 season for Marineland, the Niagara Falls theme park that has arguably been the second most noteworthy attraction in the municipality, only surpassed by the famous cataracts that give the city its name.  With dwindling attendance, persistent protests from animal rights activists and what the […]

Read More


Council appointees to Bonfield Medical Board will not see your records

It’s official, Bonfield’s council has appointed the Mayor and Deputy Mayor as members of the newly created Bonfield Medical Center Board. However, before Mayor Narry Paquette and Jason Corbett take their seats, Corbett wanted to assure residents that these new positions do not make any member of council or staff privy to confidential or medical […]

Read More


Quebec takes action on illegal dumping in Kanesatake

Months after a soil sampling attempt led to aggression against two Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) chiefs, prompting Quebec’s environment ministry to cancel the tests, the province has enacted interventions on dumping that could lead to massive fines. Kanehsata’kehró:non have long watched helplessly as hundreds of dump trucks a day have streamed into Kanesatake, bringing […]

Read More


Roadblock training against dumping planned in Oka for Kanesatake

After demands for a meeting with government officials went unheeded, a group of Oka residents pledging solidarity with Kanesatake whistleblowers are taking a step closer to enacting checkpoints to stop dump trucks carrying potentially contaminated soil from entering the territory. Other types of traffic would be allowed to pass, the group has said. “I think […]

Read More


1,000 wildfire evacuees now in Brandon

The number of wildfire evacuees in Brandon has reached about 1,000 people, according to Mayor Jeff Fawcett. That’s about five times the last figure provided by the Red Cross, which told the Sun on Aug. 7 that around 200 evacuees were staying in Brandon. At that time, there were evacuees in Brandon from Manto Sipi […]

Read More


Data shows evolving state of reproductive health care in Alberta

Since becoming available in 2017, Mifegymiso, commonly called the abortion pill, has transformed reproductive health care in Canada. Before the drug’s legalization, medical abortion was a relatively rare procedure, and surgical abortion services were often only available through hospitals and specialized clinics in major urban centres. Because any physician or nurse practitioner in Alberta can […]

Read More


County of Stettler will send doctor shortage concerns to lobby group

The County of Stettler council agreed to send its concerns about a rural physician shortage across Alberta to a lobby group. The decision was made at the Aug. 14 regular meeting of council. On the “council’s request for information” part of the agenda Coun. Justin Stevens asked his peers to consider approving a formal resolution […]

Read More


Injured black bear killed by BC Conservation officers after Burke Mountain residents fed it over three days

An injured black bear in Coquitlam was killed by BC Conservation officers last week, after Burke Mountain residents had been feeding it for several days. Coquitlam RCMP and BC Conservation Services (BC COS) sent out a press release on Aug. 16, reminding the public to not feed bears and to keep their distance in the […]

Read More


Rocky Simpson facing tax arrears on Hay River business properties

Rocky Simpson is facing over $200,000 in tax arrears related to properties owned by his businesses in Hay River.  Simpson, a former Hay River South MLA and the father of current NWT Premier R.J. Simpson, is the owner of two companies based in Hay River: Concept Consulting Ltd. and Concept Energy Services Ltd. Concept Consulting […]

Read More


Fires of 2023 burn holes in tourism operator pockets

The federal government says Canada’s appeal as an international tourist destination has been damaged by the 2023 forest fire season, which was the country’s most destructive on record. Foreign spending in Canada dropped in 2023 over pre-pandemic levels, according to documents obtained by Canada’s National Observer through the Access to Information and Privacy Act. In […]

Read More