Local Journalism Initiative

Source: Local Journalism Initiative


Community urged to join effort to enhance newcomer supports

A new grassroots initiative in the Central Plains region is seeking volunteers with lived immigrant experience to help local service providers shift away from assumptions and address the actual systemic barriers facing newcomers. The Portage Local Immigration Partnership, a program under the Portage Community Revitalization Corporation (PCRC), has partnered with the Portage Learning and Literacy […]

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Munis catching up with new privacy legislation

Three regional municipalities are working together to come into compliance with new privacy legislation from the province set to take effect June 11. Beaverlodge, Wembley and Sexsmith are joining together on a joint initiative to create a shared privacy management program. Sexsmith council was the last to pass a motion to enter into the partnership […]

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Court ruling, privacy probe hit separation petition

A successful court challenge from First Nations and an ongoing privacy investigation have placed Alberta’s separation petition under renewed scrutiny. Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton called the May 13 Alberta Court of King’s Bench decision to quash Elections Alberta’s approval of the separatist petition a “historic victory” for Piikani Nation, the Blackfoot Confederacy and Treaty peoples. The […]

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Toronto set aside $2M a year for this flood-prone neighbourhood. So far, residents have received less than 3% of it.

The City of Toronto has a $2-million annual grant program to help Rockcliffe-Smythe residents recover from basement flooding. So far, it’s distributed just under $60,000 — less than 3% of the annual budget. The Rockcliffe No Fault Grant for Basement Flooding Damages Program provides “owners of certain residential properties within the Rockcliffe Special Policy Area” […]

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Animal Justice challenges Queen’s stance on dog research after Ontario ban

Ontario’s newly passed ban on invasive medical research involving dogs and cats appears poised to directly affect Queen’s University’s controversial hemophilia dog colony, despite the university saying it remains unclear how the legislation will impact existing research programs. The amendments to Ontario’s Animals for Research Act were included in Bill 75 and passed final reading […]

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‘Fight Ford’ rally coming to Georgetown May 30

A provincewide grassroots movement will be coming to the streets of Georgetown. The Georgetown Fight Ford demonstration is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, running from 1 to 2 p.m. According to the organizers’ website, which acts as an extension of two Facebook groups related to sharing news of upcoming protests, residents planning to attend will […]

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Ontario ministry experts raised concerns about at-risk species law changes, emails show

As the Doug Ford government prepared to replace the Endangered Species Act with new legislation, the province’s natural resources staff warned of weakened habitat protections, reduced oversight and new gaps in enforcement, according to documents obtained by The Narwhal.   In March 2026, the Endangered Species Act was officially replaced with the Species Conservation Act, which […]

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1,700 people potentially affected after GNWT hacked

As many as 1,700 people may have been affected by a recent cybersecurity incident that remains under investigation, according to the GNWT. Affected individuals may include education staff, other territorial government employees, contractors and program participants who use the Canvas learning management platform, a May 21 news release stated. The GNWT warns that compromised information […]

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Bill aims to curb domestic violence

The Quebec government has proposed new legislation to permit disclosures of personal information to individuals who believe their intimate partner or ex-partner may pose a risk to their safety or that of their child. “I want to make sure the same services will be provided across the whole province,” said the bill’s author, vice-premier Ian […]

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South Bruce continues practice of not recording council meetings despite regional trend

TEESWATER – A series of motions tied to transparency and accountability stirred debate at the May 12 South Bruce council meeting, with councillors weighing how much access the public should have to municipal decision-making and how far the municipality should go to provide it. Council considered four motions brought forward in a report by Deputy […]

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Mudge islanders disappointed land use bylaw review to commence after Gabriola OCP review is complete

In early 2024, Mudge Islanders were suddenly inundated with bylaw complaints – 56 to be exact – to the Islands Trust.  This understandably took islanders by surprise. Mudge is boat-access only and has a year-round population of about 150, with that number growing to about 300 when recreational owners return to their properties.  “We’re a […]

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‘We’re not going away’: Erin residents still waiting for Canada’s first municipal effluent cooling system to protect Credit River

When Belfountain resident Ann Seymour was a child, her “lovely parents” would pile the entire family in the car for weekend adventures along the green canopies of Niagara Escarpment following a giddy anticipation that lingered all week long. It was a time for the family to be one, happy and carefree. Their favourite destination?  The […]

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