Category Archives: Social
Federal election cost estimated $630M, but many First Nations had no polling station
OTTAWA — Last year’s federal election cost an estimated $630 million — more than the estimated $502-million bill for the 2019 poll — partly because of extra costs associated with the pandemic, according to Elections Canada. The official report on last...
Alberta’s top court dismisses challenge of ID requirement at drug-use sites
EDMONTON — Alberta’s top court has dismissed an appeal from harm reduction advocates who wanted to stop a provincial policy that requires people who want to use a supervised drug-injection site to provide their health-card number to get inside. The rul...
Immigration processing times to return to standard in 2022: minister
OTTAWA — Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says the government will get back on track by the end of the year after COVID-19 caused a major backlog in the processing of immigration applications and long waits for people seeking status in
Calling the Ottawa protests ‘peaceful’ downplays non-violent dangers, critics say
Police haven't reported any physical violence at the ongoing Ottawa rally against vaccine mandates and other government-imposed COVID-19 restrictions, but critics warn that conflating the absence of bloodshed with "peaceful" protest downplays the dange...
The latest on anti-vaccine mandate protests happening on Parliament Hill
OTTAWA — The latest developments on ongoing protests against COVID-19 restrictions and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government. All times Eastern. 7:30 p.m. Ottawa police have pegged the cost of policing the protests against COVID-19 measures at $80...
National standards would help track young Canadians’ mental health, experts say
OTTAWA — Concern about the mental health challenges of young Canadians has been growing during the nearly two years of disruptions and repeated isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. But experts say we do not have the tools to properly assess the
Central Alberta city to close homeless camp as future plans unknown
WETASKIWIN, Alta. — A central Alberta city is closing a homeless encampment with help from Mounties because of safety risks it says will persist if it remains open. Wetaskiwin voted last week to close "tent city" as most, if not all,
Métis National Council takes former president, Manitoba Métis to court
The Métis National Council has filed a lawsuit against its former president and the Manitoba Métis Federation alleging financial irregularities and questionable contracts. President Cassidy Caron said there was a full review of the organization follow...
Indigenous directors named to oversee Catholic Church fundraising efforts
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops says it wants to be transparent about fundraising to support reconciliation efforts and has named Indigenous directors to oversee the money. The Canadian bishops made a commitment last year to raise $30 milli...
Fortin sex assault case scheduled for two days in September
OTTAWA — Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin’s sexual assault case will go to trial in September. Two days were set aside for the trial during a brief, virtual courtroom hearing this morning, five months after the senior military officer once tasked with overseeing
