Author: Sophie Mitchell

PARIS — Global energy ministers and corporate leaders gathered in Paris for the International Energy Agency’s 2026 Ministerial Meeting, underscoring the organization’s expanding influence in shaping international energy security, supply chains and innovation at a time of rising demand and geopolitical uncertainty. The two-day summit brought together officials from 54 countries — including about 40 ministers — and executives representing companies with a combined market capitalization of $14 trillion, highlighting the scale of public- and private-sector coordination required to navigate a rapidly evolving global energy system. Hosted in France, the meeting also featured a video address from French President Emmanuel…

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Public transit service in Prince Albert remains partially disrupted following recent snowfall, forcing route modifications, reduced stops and the temporary suspension of one key express service, as municipal officials balance operational continuity with safety concerns. According to a service update issued Feb. 23 by the City, Prince Albert Transit is continuing to operate under modified conditions due to snow accumulation and deteriorating road conditions that have made some areas difficult for buses to safely access. The adjustments affect scheduling frequency, stop availability and route coverage, reflecting the operational challenges municipalities across Western Canada often face during…

TORONTO — The Ontario government is using Human Trafficking Awareness Day to underscore a sweeping $345-million investment and a cross-government strategy aimed at combating what it describes as one of the province’s most damaging and persistent crimes. In a joint statement released Sunday, Michael Parsa, Ontario’s Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, alongside Solicitor General Michael Kerzner and Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, said the province is expanding enforcement, prevention and survivor support initiatives as part of its Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy. The statement, issued by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, emphasized both the human and economic toll…

VANCOUVER — Canadian indie rock band SLIP~ons are set to release their second EP, Overtime, on Feb. 20, 2026, marking the latest chapter for a group whose members bring decades of experience from some of the country’s most influential alternative music acts. The Vancouver-based four-piece, led by former Doughboys frontman Brock Pytel and longtime Sarah McLachlan bassist Brian Minato, is releasing the project through independent label Scamindy. The record builds on the band’s earlier momentum in Canada and abroad, positioning SLIP~ons to deepen their presence in a competitive independent music sector that continues to rely heavily on touring, streaming and…

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — The City of Prince Albert has lifted its snow route parking ban following several days of intensive clearing operations prompted by a major winter storm that blanketed the northern Saskatchewan city with roughly 35 centimetres of snow. The municipality said the ban, which took effect at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, has now been rescinded, allowing residents to resume parking on designated emergency routes. The move marks a transition in the city’s snow-clearing efforts as crews shift their focus to other critical transportation corridors and prepare for additional cleanup in the downtown core. City officials…

An inquest into the 2019 death of Jennifer Fellinger, a 31-year-old woman who died after being transferred from a correctional facility in Milton, Ont., is set to begin March 2, 2026, Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner announced Thursday. Dr. Karen Schiff, regional supervising coroner for the West Region in Hamilton, confirmed the proceedings will start at 9:00 a.m. and will be conducted by video conference, allowing members of the public to observe online. “Dr. Karen Schiff, Regional Supervising Coroner, West Region, Hamilton Office, announced today that a date has been scheduled for the inquest into the death of Jennifer…

WASHINGTON — Farmers and environmental organizations have launched a fresh legal challenge against the Environmental Protection Agency, accusing the regulator of unlawfully reapproving the controversial herbicide dicamba despite years of court rulings, scientific concerns and documented crop losses. The lawsuit, filed by groups including the National Family Farm Coalition and the Center for Biological Diversity, targets a recent decision by the EPA under administrator Lee Zeldin to allow continued use of the pesticide on genetically engineered soybeans and cotton. Previous federal court rulings in 2020 and 2024 struck down earlier approvals, finding the agency had failed to properly assess risks.…

TORONTO — The Ontario government has launched a first-of-its-kind digital registry designed to help workers track exposure to hazardous substances, an initiative officials say will strengthen workplace safety, improve disease prevention and provide long-term health data for employees across the province. Announced Thursday by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, the Occupational Exposure Registry (OER) is a secure online portal that allows workers to record and monitor their exposure to designated workplace hazards, including asbestos, lead, mercury and silica. The tool is intended to create a portable, career-long exposure record while also improving data collection to inform…

TORONTO — Marten Falls First Nation has submitted a crucial environmental assessment for a proposed all-season access road linking its remote northern Ontario community to the provincial highway network, marking a significant milestone in efforts to unlock the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region. In a statement released Thursday, Greg Rickford, Ontario’s Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and minister responsible for Ring of Fire partnerships, praised the submission as a step toward construction as early as this summer. “On behalf of Premier Ford and the Government of Ontario, I sincerely congratulate Marten Falls First Nation on submitting…

The Ontario government is expanding its emergency response network by adding Labatt Breweries of Canada as one of the first private-sector partners in Ontario Corps, a move aimed at strengthening the province’s ability to respond quickly to natural disasters and other crises. The partnership, announced Thursday in London by the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response, will allow the province to tap into Labatt’s logistics network, production capacity and facilities during emergencies such as wildfires, floods and severe storms. “Our government is thrilled to welcome Labatt as one of the first private-sector organizations to become an Ontario Corps partner,” said…