Author: Sophie Mitchell

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…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Corteva Agriscience has formally cancelled its Enlist Duo herbicide, ending the product’s run in the U.S. market after more than a decade of legal challenges and regulatory scrutiny. The decision follows sustained litigation and advocacy from the Center for Food Safety and its allies, who argued the pesticide posed risks to human health and the environment. The cancellation, announced alongside the Environmental Protection Agency, marks a significant development for the agricultural chemical sector, where herbicide-tolerant crop systems have played a central role in modern farming practices. Enlist Duo combined glyphosate and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), two widely used…

ORILLIA, Ont. — A youth-focused concert initiative aimed at developing emerging musicians and strengthening the local cultural economy is returning to downtown Orillia this spring, as Arts Orillia and the Orillia Opera House prepare to host the next installment of the Forever Young Mentorship Concert. Scheduled for March 5, 2026, at the Gordon Lightfoot Theatre, the event continues a series that organizers say is designed to connect young performers with established local acts while giving them practical experience producing and performing live shows. Launched on May 15th, 2025, Forever Young began as Arts Orillia’s first-ever youth-driven mentorship concert – a…

The City of Prince Albert has extended its current Snow Route Parking Ban, requiring residents and visitors to keep vehicles off designated streets for an additional 48 hours as municipal crews continue winter maintenance operations. The re-declared ban took effect at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, and will remain in place until 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, according to a city notice. The measure is intended to allow snow removal equipment to operate safely and efficiently along priority routes following recent snowfall. Municipal officials said parking is prohibited on all designated snow routes whenever a ban is declared. These routes…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Center for Food Safety sharply criticized a new executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump concerning glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, arguing the move carries little legal weight and appears aimed at influencing ongoing litigation involving agrochemical giant Monsanto and its parent, Bayer. The order, signed Feb. 18, 2026, addresses glyphosate regulation and liability — an issue that has major financial implications for Bayer, which has faced billions of dollars in legal claims over its Roundup herbicide. The company acquired Monsanto in 2018 and inherited extensive litigation alleging the product causes cancer, claims…

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Snow removal operations remain in full force across Prince Albert following a major winter storm, with municipal crews working extended shifts, re-clearing key routes and preparing a downtown snow lift to support local businesses and restore transportation services. The City of Prince Albert said in a statement that its roadways team continues to focus on priority emergency corridors after prolonged and heavy snowfall forced crews to revisit streets that had already been cleared to maintain safe access for emergency vehicles and commuters. “Our Roadways crew has been working long hours to keep up with the heavy…

The Ontario government is moving ahead with plans to expand and renovate a specialised diabetes clinic in Whitby, a project expected to significantly increase patient capacity and improve access to care for thousands across Durham Region, as part of a multibillion-dollar health infrastructure strategy. In a news release, the Ministry of Health said the expansion of The Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre will allow the facility to serve up to 3,800 patients annually, up from its current capacity of around 2,000. The project forms part of Ontario’s broader plan to invest nearly $60 billion in more than 50 hospital developments…