Category Archives: Social

Indigenous mother proposes class-action lawsuit on birth alerts in Manitoba

WINNIPEG — An Indigenous woman whose newborn was taken by police and social workers shown in a video broadcast live on social media has proposed a class-action lawsuit against the Manitoba government.  The woman says in a statement of claim filed

Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General requested briefing on the Indian Act

OTTAWA — Canada's first Indigenous Governor General, within months of being appointed to the role, requested government officials outline what departments were doing to allow First Nations to move away from the Indian Act.  Mary Simon, an Inuk leader, ...

‘Death trap’: Front-line workers warn of drug overdoses rising on and off the streets

A father's hope turned to pain in less than 24 hours after his son entered a residential drug treatment facility and fatally overdosed. "Our son died in a place that was supposed to be safe," Ray Corbiere told The Canadian Press.

B.C. provincial data show 23,000 people experienced homelessness in 2019

VICTORIA — British Columbia's housing minister says a new method for collecting data on homelessness is the first of its kind in Canada and will help the province improve how it tackles the issue.  David Eby said Wednesday the government used

N.L. looks to rename Colonial Building in St. John’s as part of reconciliation effort

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — As Newfoundland and Labrador considers a name change for its historic Colonial Building in downtown St. John’s, an Indigenous leader in the province says it’s an opportunity to revisit the province’s Confederation with Canada. Chief ...

More Canadians opting for fertility treatment during pandemic: doctors, advocate

More women have undergone fertility treatment during the pandemic, especially if they've been working from home and haven't had to disclose their health challenges to an employer, says the head of a national advocacy group. Carolynn Dubé, executive dir...

Four recommendations given to BC Housing to improve space for women, children

VICTORIA — B.C.'s auditor general says the provincial housing agency should ensure rooms it finds for women and children fleeing violence are held exclusively for their use. In an audit of BC Housing's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, auditor general...

N.L. expects $70-million windfall from surging oil prices, hikes supports for seniors

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Newfoundland and Labrador's finance minister says her department expects about $70 million more oil revenue than forecast this fiscal year, and some of the cash will be used to help vulnerable residents cope with soaring fuel

‘Lucky young man’: Canadian volunteer fighter injured in missile attack in Ukraine

A Canadian man was injured when a military base near Ukraine's western border was struck by Russian missiles on the weekend, says the head of an organization now helping the volunteer fighter get back home. Chris Ecklund of Fight For Ukraine

Inflation pushes B.C.’s minimum wage up by 45 cents to $15.65 per hour

SURREY, B.C. — The British Columbia government is pushing the minimum wage up to $15.65 an hour, which it says is the highest among the provinces.  Labour Minister Harry Bains announced Mondaythat the hourly wage will jump by 45 cents starting