Southern Alberta farmers waiting for rain as crops are seeded
Most farmers in southern Alberta have finished or are about to finish seeding. Now focus shifts to the forecast, as producers wait for more rain.
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CBC
25 minutes ago
- CBC
Wildfire near Sandy Lake First Nation a 'sleeping giant' as evacuation flights pause
Social Sharing Spanning 163,000 hectares, the largest wildfire in northwestern Ontario — Red Lake 12 — is now being called a "sleeping giant." The fire is six kilometres from Sandy Lake First Nation and remains not under control. "Because of the cooler weather, you're not seeing anything right now. But there isn't enough rain," Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) said in an update provided by Sandy Lake First Nation on Tuesday. "It could take months to put out a fire this size." Canadian Armed Forces members were called in to assist efforts on Sunday. Since then, more than 2,000 people have been flown out of the community, the majority boarded onto Hercules aircraft. As of late Tuesday afternoon, the First Nation said Phase 1 of its evacuation had been completed. WATCH | Wildfire evacuees from Sandy Lake First Nation arrive in Greater Toronto Area: Wildfire evacuees from Sandy Lake First Nation arrive in GTA 22 hours ago Duration 2:08 "Flights have been paused," the community said in an official update. "Chief and council will assess over the next few days on further steps. Sandy Lake is NOT under a Phase 2 full evacuation." Evacuees are being sent from Thunder Bay to one of three host communities: Kapuskasing, Cornwall or Mississauga. Red Lake 12 "has destroyed at least seven cabins at different camps and a former fishing lodge owned and operated by Sandy Lake as a healing and land-based camp for youth," the First Nation posted on Facebook on Tuesday night. Fewer than 200 people remain in Sandy Lake, where they are taking care of people's pets as well as the community's critical infrastructure and services, band councillor Cynthia Fiddler told CBC's Superior Morning. Fiddler oversees the community's health portfolio and has been busy co-ordinating with people hosting evacuees to ensure everyone has access to prescriptions and other medical assistance, she said. "I'm needed here," Fiddler said. "With all our people out there, there's still lots of calls coming back." Elsewhere in the region, evacuations are continuing for other First Nations: Deer Lake First Nation evacuees are staying in Toronto due to Red Lake 12. Webequie First Nation evacuees are in Barrie due to the Nipigon 5 wildfire. North Spirit Lake First Nation and Keewaywin First Nations have called for community evacuations; CBC News is awaiting more information about where community members will be sent. Members of Wabaseemoong Independent Nations were staying in Niagara Falls from mid-May to early June due to wildfire Kenora 20, but were cleared to return home on Friday. 'Sandy Lake is so good in a crisis' Sandy Lake is a remote Oji-Cree community in Treaty 5 territory, about 600 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay. In Tuesday night's update, the First Nation provided clarity about a situation where construction workers were trapped at the Valard Camp and hid in a shipping container to evade the flames. WATCH | Construction workers trapped by wildfire take shelter in shipping container Workers survive wildfire by hiding in shipping container 3 days ago Duration 2:07 Nineteen construction workers survived a fast-moving wildfire in northwestern Ontario by huddling inside a shipping container near Sandy Lake First Nation, which is now under evacuation order. "Workers were preparing to protect the camp by clearing trees, but the fire just came too quick. Helicopters tried but couldn't reach them because of thick smoke," the First Nation said. "Sandy Lake leadership kept in contact. Deputy Chief Marcel Linklater and Coun. Russel Kakepetum drove to the camp and guided them back to the community. The crews were one of the first to be airlifted out of Sandy Lake to safety on a private charter. Sandy Lake is very thankful they are safe and back with their families." At the evacuation hub at Thunder Bay's airport, the First Nation's band rep team has been co-ordinating flights and distributing essential supplies. Despite the uncertainty of when evacuees will return home, Fiddler said the community has always been resilient, no matter the circumstances. "Sandy Lake is so good in a crisis," she said. "When something happens in our community, people are so willing to come together and work for Sandy Lake. They make sure everybody is taken care of. "It has gotten a little chaotic, but we come together fast, and I'm just so grateful to be from Sandy Lake for that." With cooler weather masking the view of the flames over the last couple days, Fiddler said "it just feels like a normal day." However, temperatures are expected to rise on Friday. Sprinkler systems have been set up in the community to protect homes closest to the fire. "FireRanger crews are making excellent progress setting up a consolidated perimeter line on the west side of the community of Sandy Lake and will be assisted by heavy machinery to create a fire break," Ontario Forest Fires said in its latest update Tuesday night. "Aerial suppression continues, with helicopters and buckets supporting FireRanger crews on the ground digging in to establish hoseline, pump and sprinkler perimeters." Air quality statements lifted — for now A special air quality statement first issued for Sandy Lake on May 27 was lifted as of Wednesday. Statements have also been lifted for the Fort Hope, Webequie, Weagamow Lake, Deer Lake and Pikangikum areas. They had been jointly issued by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, as well as Environment and Climate Change Canada. Despite recent rainfall, much of northwestern Ontario remains under a restricted fire zone, which means no open-air burning is allowed. Dr. Peter Lin, a family physician and a medical columnist for CBC, explained how wildfires create a lot of chemicals and tiny particles that affect people's eyes, skin and lining of their breathing tubes. "These [particles] are very tiny, so they can get deep into your lungs," Lin said. While in the short term people may experience eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough due to wildfire smoke, long-term exposure can also increase people's risk of lung cancer, he said. "Check the air quality index. It's easy, right? 10 is bad, one is good. It's all colour-coded," Lin said. "If it's a bad day, then avoid going out. If you have to go out, then use an N95 mask to cut down on the particles that you're breathing in." He also urges people to keep their doors and windows closed during smoky days, and wear sunglasses and long-sleeved shirts to protect their skin. "If you can afford a HEPA filter, that could clean up some of the air inside your house as well," he said.
Globe and Mail
28 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Politics Insider: Carney recruits Hydro‑Québec CEO to head public service
Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let's look at what happened today. Mark Carney has recruited Hydro‑Québec CEO Michael Sabia to take over as the country's top bureaucrat to help advance the Prime Minister's ambitious agenda. Sabia had served as deputy minister of finance before he left government to serve as head of the Quebec pension plan and later Hydro‑Québec. The current Clerk of the Privy Council John Hannaford announced today that he will leaving the government as the head of the public service and top adviser to the Prime Minister. Robert Fife reports that Carney had sought out Sabia because he needed a Privy Council clerk with business experience, who can push through his agenda, which includes major nation-building projects, a revamped military, major housing initiatives and cost-cutting expenditures for the public service. As Privy Council clerk, Sabia's roles include providing non-partisan advice to the Prime Minister and elected officials. Also, Steven Chase reports that Canada and the United States are exchanging potential terms of agreement in closely held talks on an economic and security deal. But these terms do not represent the draft text of an actual pact. These exchanges are an effort to spell out what both sides might be able to agree upon as Ottawa and Washington try to find enough common ground to end their damaging trade war, sources said. The Globe and Mail is not naming the sources because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Alberta working with oil companies on pipeline proposal, Alberta Premier says: Danielle Smith also says she expects Prime Minister Mark Carney to 'operate in good faith' on the pipeline issue. Proposed GST rebate for first-time homebuyers could offer average $27,000 relief, says PBO: The Parliamentary Budget Officer says tax relief is expected to cost the government $1.9-billion, although its estimates do not take into account how the cut would affect market behaviour. Saskatchewan Premier vows $500 per person for wildfire evacuees: Scott Moe said that money is on top of existing supports for the more than 10,000 people forced out of their homes owing to a string of wildfires in Saskatchewan's northern region. B.C. Transport Minister raises concerns over BC Ferries construction deal with Chinese state-owned shipyard: The winning bidder on the contract to build four new passenger ferries is Chinese state-owned China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards. What's in Kananaskis? Explore the outdoor escape where G7 leaders will gather: The G7 Leaders' Summit descends on Alberta's Kananaskis Country from June 15 to 17. Kananaskis – just an hour's drive from Calgary – isn't a national park. Rather, K-Country, as locals call it, is a 4,000-square-kilometre network of connected provincial parks, reserves and recreational zones encompassing mountains and foothills. Prime Minister's Day: In Ottawa, Mark Carney attended the weekly Liberal caucus meeting on Parliament Hill and also attended Question Period. Carney also spoke with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and invited him to next week's G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta. Party Leaders: At the House of Commons, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet participated in Question Period. In British Columbia, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May attended Parliament virtually and, in person she attended the blessing of new solar panels at the St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Sidney, B.C. NDP Interim Leader Don Davies, with other caucus members, held a news conference on NDP defence policy. No schedule released for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Starmer in Ottawa: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is to visit Mark Carney in Ottawa on Saturday and Sunday ahead of next week's G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis. Quote of the Day: 'That's the thing about us New Democrats. We're like goddamned dandelions. It's like once we're on your lawn, you can't seem to get rid of us so the dandelions are coming up again.' - Former NDP MP Charlie Angus, at a Parliament Hill news conference today, on his party's resilience after a federal election result he described as an 'unmitigated disaster.' Angus said he will not seek the party leadership. Which Russian leader attended the last G7 summit (then known as the G8summit) held in Kananaskis in 2002? Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer. Twenty years late, Canada hits the old NATO target, just in time to fall short of the new one. Post Mulroney, the Conservatives' brand is 'loser.' It's time for an overhaul. Got a news tip that you'd like us to look into? E-mail us at tips@ Need to share documents securely? Reach out via SecureDrop. The answer to today's question: Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the summit and appeared in a photo that included Canada's Jean Chrétien, France's Jacques Chirac, Tony Blair from Britain and U.S. President George W. Bush.
CBC
37 minutes ago
- CBC
GST rebate on new homes would save typical first-time buyer $27K: Budget officer
Social Sharing The parliamentary budget officer says an eligible first-time homebuyer would save an average of $26,832 in sales tax on the price of a newly built home under Ottawa's latest housing proposal. In an analysis released Wednesday, the federal government's fiscal watchdog predicts that 71,711 new builds would qualify for GST relief over the lifetime of the program. The proposal would see the federal portion of the sales tax eliminated on a new home worth up to $1 million if it's bought by a qualifying first-time homebuyer. The GST rebate would be phased down as the price of the home approaches $1.5 million. Homes bought from May 27 through to 2031 can qualify for the rebate, as long as construction starts before 2031 and finishes by 2036. Canadians who have owned a home already are not eligible for the GST relief — with some exceptions. Neither are investors. The PBO forecasts the program will cost $1.9 billion over six years, while the federal government has pegged the "tax savings" for Canadians at $3.9 billion over five years. The PBO's latest estimate is about $100 million lower than the figure it cited during the spring federal election, when the GST break was proposed. It attributes that gap to a later implementation date and a different definition used for first-time homebuyers. A Desjardins Economics analysis of the proposal released Monday offered one explanation for the discrepancy between the PBO's cost estimate and the government's figure: Ottawa might think its program will be more popular than the PBO does. A higher cost estimate suggests more first-time homebuyers purchasing qualifying new builds, in other words. Economic impact of tax cut not part of analysis The GST rebate, which is not yet law, was included in the Liberals' spring election platform as a way to help Canadians break into the housing market. A home priced at $1 million would receive the maximum rebate of $50,000. The Desjardins report by economist Kari Norman said that if the program proves popular with first-time buyers, it could spur additional housing construction to meet higher demand. The PBO said it does not include possible behavioural responses to the program in its analysis. Norman noted in her report that it's also possible increased demand from homebuyers will push up home prices in the near term. She estimated that 85 per cent of new homes built in Canada over the program timeframe will be eligible for the full GST break of up to $50,000. In cases where the GST portion of a new home sale is rolled into the mortgage principal, the typical owner could expect to save $240 per month on mortgage payments, she said. The savings are more direct when a developer charges the GST upfront. The measure is packaged in legislation that also includes the Liberals' promised income tax cut, which is set to take effect July 1 after it was adopted through a ways and means motion last week.
