
P.E.I. ferry fire in 2022 prompts national investigation by safety board
The independent agency announced the investigation in its report released today on a fire that broke out aboard a ferry as it approached a terminal in Prince Edward Island in July 2022.
The fire on the MV Holiday Island started in the engine room after a repair to its fuel injection system failed.
The agency says there was confusion over who was responsible for the ferry's safety.
It recommends that Transport Canada provide better guidance to reduce the risk of vessels operating without minimum safety requirements.
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The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week.
The board says its national investigation will consider how to improve systemic safety gaps related to ship fires.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025.

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National Post
3 hours ago
- National Post
Ontario court says airline must compensate families of those killed on Tehran flight
A woman views the photos of people killed on Flight PS752 during a protest against Iran on Parliament Hill, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 in Ottawa. Photo by Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press Ontario's highest court has upheld a ruling that found Ukraine International Airlines legally responsible to pay full compensation to families of victims who died in the downing of Flight PS752. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors On Jan. 8, 2020, the plane was shot down by two Iranian missiles just minutes after taking off from Tehran, killing all 176 people on board. Most of the passengers were bound for Canada, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents, while many others had connections to Canada. Under the Montreal Convention, an international law governing air travel, airlines are responsible for proven damages up to US$180,000. Airlines are also responsible for claims above that amount unless the airline can prove the incident did not happen due to its own negligence. Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Last year, an Ontario court found that Ukraine International Airlines was negligent because it failed to conduct a proper risk assessment for the flight out of Tehran, and the court found that decision meant the airline could not limit the amount of compensation it provided to families. The Court of Appeal for Ontario dismissed the airline's appeal in a decision released Monday. Joe Fiorante, a lawyer representing some of the families in the case, called the ruling 'an important result' for those who lost loved ones in the incident. 'The ruling of the Court of Appeal brings a small measure of justice for the families,' Fiorante said in a press release. A joint statement by lawyers Paul Miller and Jamie Thornback, who also represent families in the case, called the ruling 'a landmark decision.' 'At a time of heightened conflicts around the world, the judgment sends a clear message to international airlines that open airspace cannot be assumed to be safe airspace,' they said in a press release. 'Airlines must exercise extreme caution and diligence when operating in or near a conflict zone.' Monday's ruling comes after the Supreme Court of Canada decided last year that it would not hear an appeal from victims' families who were trying to enforce a 2021 default court judgment against Iran for $107 million plus interest and costs. The families had taken steps to enforce the ruling by targeting Iran's properties and bank accounts in Canada. But an Ontario judge had dismissed that motion, finding that the Iranian property was protected by diplomatic immunity under Canadian law. The top court upheld that decision on appeal last year. For years, Canada, along with international partners including the United Kingdom, Sweden and Ukraine, has vowed to seek answers about the crash and hold the Iranian regime accountable for violations of international law. Global Affairs Canada says Iran has not claimed full legal responsibility for the incident, and current proceedings against Iran under international law will likely take several more years before a resolution is reached. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here.


Toronto Sun
18 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Largest wildfire continues to gain ground in eastern Newfoundland
Published Aug 11, 2025 • 5 minute read Smoke from a nearby wildfire is visible from Signal Hill, in St. John's, N.L., on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Photo by Sarah Smellie / THE CANADIAN PRESS SMALL POINT-ADAM'S COVE-BLACKHEAD-BROAD COVE, N.L. — He has no official confirmation, but Luo Xu is certain his family's evacuated home in eastern Newfoundland has been destroyed by wildfire. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account On Saturday night, he watched live images from a security camera inside the property in Western Bay showing smoke and then flames filling the screen before going blank. 'I don't think any words could ever be able to describe my feelings about watching our own house burning,' Xu said in an interview Monday. There were seven active wildfires in the province on Monday — five in Newfoundland and two in Labrador. Of the four burning out of control, the fire that entered Western Bay was by far the largest. As of Saturday, about 3,000 people had been told to leave their homes. Xu said it appears his home, which he shared with his wife and two young children, burned down Saturday around 6 p.m. 'The camera sits inside the house, right by the front window, so I know it's gone. Even if it's not fully gone, it's badly burned. It will be a total loss.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Provincial officials said Monday that thick smoke in the communities along the northwestern shore of Conception Bay, like Western Bay, has prevented them from being able to count the number of destroyed homes and other structures. A week ago, Xu and his family were told to evacuate their home for the second time this wildfire season. They were told to leave back in May when an earlier wildfire threatened the area. Read More Xu and his family are now staying in the neighbouring town of Carbonear. 'The evacuation centre, it's like a big family,' he said. 'We all go there and have a little chat and just try to be positive. We will try to get through this disaster together.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Meanwhile, provincial fire duty officer Mark Lawlor said the fire in question started over a week ago near the coastal town of Kingston, N.L., and has since expanded to about 52 square kilometres. At Ochre Pit Cove, about 13 kilometres north of Kingston, the local Red Ochre Cafe is now a firefighting command post. Cafe owner Ray Dwyer said most of his neighbours are worried about their homes. 'It's scary for everybody,' he said in an interview. 'Everyone's evacuated and they don't know how their properties are. Half the north shore here is scorched. It's strange when you go up the road and there's not a person, not an animal. It's just pretty desolate.' The picturesque hamlet was evacuated Aug. 4. Dwyer, who has managed the cafe for six years, said his 13 local employees are out of a job, and electricity in the area has been cut off. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I had five great big freezers full and I have to go throw it away,' he said. 'The worst part about it is my employees have no income. It's got me killed that I can't help them.' Dwyer said local firefighters have had to deal with very thick smoke. 'The fire departments have had their asses worked off here, and hats off to all the volunteers,' he said. 'All of these firefighters are volunteers.' RECOMMENDED VIDEO In the tiny community of Freshwater, N.L., just south of the areas evacuated by the Kingston fire, 60-year-old resident Bonnie Parsons said she had never before experience such a hot, dry summer. Grass in her community is so dry it 'scrunches beneath your feet.' 'If we get one week out of the whole summer where it's warm and sunny, that's it. We are not used to this weather.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Parsons, who helps entertain local seniors at fundraisers, said she had recently visited some older evacuees who are staying at a school in Carbonear. 'It's devastating,' she said. 'They are sitting there … and they don't know if they've got anything to go back to.' Premier John Hogan told a briefing in St. John's that crews battling the Kingston fire were dealing with the same high winds and soaring temperatures that helped spread the fire over the weekend. 'The firefighters and heavy equipment are continuing to work … to expand the fuel break on the southern edge of the fire,' he said. The premier and his officials were unable to say how many homes or other buildings had been lost to the fires. And they could not provide an update on the number of evacuees still out of their homes. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Hogan said two additional water bombers from Ontario were expected to arrive Monday. And he confirmed that the Canadian Armed Forces would be doubling the number of its firefighters to 80 by Tuesday. In New Brunswick, three wildfires were considered out of control on Monday. Environment Minister John Herron said the fire near Irishtown, north of Moncton, is of 'extraordinary' concern even though it's only half a square kilometre in size. Residents in and around Irishtown have been told to prepare for evacuation. The fire in the southeastern corner of the province could affect as many as 1,500 people and 900 structures. There's also a wildfire in the Miramichi area, near the province's east coast. It has scorched 4.5 square kilometres. And there's a wildfire burning southwest of Bathurst in northern New Brunswick. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The wildfire situation … has got worse since we were sitting here on Saturday,' Premier Susan Holt told a briefing. She said the province has asked for help from P.E.I., Nova Scotia and Maine. On Monday in Prince Edward Island, the government banned all types of open fires, including campfires and bonfires. The ban applies to private property and all provincial parks. All brush-burning permits were recently revoked. Those caught violating the ban face a fine up to $50,000. 'With forest fires burning in other provinces and the hot, dry weather continuing in P.E.I., we need to take every possible step to keep residents and our forests safe,' Environment Minister Gilles Arsenault said in a statement. — By Lyndsay Armstrong in Halifax, with files from Keith Doucette and Michael MacDonald. Columnists Columnists Toronto & GTA Celebrity Canada


Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ukrainian village in Alberta to remain closed for restoration after devastating fire
EDMONTON – A heritage museum honouring Ukrainian culture in Alberta will remain closed as it works to restore several buildings and artifacts lost to a devastating fire. A fire broke out near the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village in April and levelled several buildings, including visitor reception, exhibition galleries, collections and curatorial storage. Furnishings for the historical buildings, as well as some artifacts and original research files also were lost. The Alberta government says the loss is profound for the province's Ukrainian community, and work is underway to clean up the site and re-establish services. To allow for proper restoration, it says the Ukrainian village will be closed for the rest of the summer season and upcoming events are cancelled. Village director David Makowsky says staff are committed to reopening as soon as possible. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2025.