"Don't be shy." That's the message from Sgt. Lance Goldau with the RCMP'S Border Integrity Unit here in Manitoba, who says the public shouldn't hesitate to reach out to his team if they see something they feel is suspicious. 

Sgt. Goldau says local resident involvement is a big part of working towards further securing the Canada/U.S. border, adding, if you think you see suspicious activity, including potential human smugglers, migrants seeking shelter or anything else you feel is out of place, call the authorities. That could be the Border Integrity Unit, local authorities or, if you are unsure, 9-1-1.

"We really rely on information that comes in to us. If we don't know what's happening in a particular area, it makes it difficult for us to plan, deploy technology or focus our enforcement and investigative efforts in that area. If I could leave any message with your readers and listeners it is, don't be shy."

Related stories:

• "Everybody has to take a stance on border safety," says RCMP Sgt.
• RCMP Sergeant addresses safety concerns amid illegal border crossings in southern Manitoba

According to Sgt. Goldau, suspicious activity could include something as obvious as people walking down a road carrying backpacks and/or suitcases, footprints and/or tire tracks in isolated areas, lingering or returning vehicles with out-of-province or out-of-country license plates, and even lost or abandoned items like clothing, luggage and even bicycles.

"Local residents are the ones that will know what should be there and what shouldn't be there, what looks out of place or what looks regular. We rely on them to relay that information to us to the best of their ability, so that we have a better picture of what's happening in their communities."

Individuals can contact Red River IBET by calling:
Emergencies – 9-1-1 (i.e. Reporting a border crossing event in progress).

24/7 – (for Border Integrity emergencies and non-emergent matters) 1-888-MAN-IBET (626-4238). If members are out patrolling and no one answers, the call is forwarded to RCMP dispatch and any information provided will be passed on to the members in the field.

Non-emergent matters (i.e. to pass on non-emergent information or for questions) – email: [email protected] (Emails are monitored on weekdays).

Cenovus is investigating the cause of a near miss on the SeaRose FPSO, which involved a piece of a crane dropping onto the deck.

The incident happened on March 1 according to an incident disclosure published on the C-NLOPB’s website.

They say there was a “vessel motion” just after they finished lifting a container. This caused a chain reaction: The crane hook hit a nearby bumper rail and started to droop over the side. This, in turn, resulted in the pennant line assembly—which is the hook, a wire cable, and a master link—disconnecting from the crane and crashing into the deck below.

The C-NLOPB says because of the weight of that part of the crane, the incident had the potential for fatality.

Crane operations were immediately suspended and an investigation is ongoing.

The Village of St Pierre-Jolys hosted their rescheduled Public Hearing for the Police and Fire Protection Services levy increase for 2025 – 2028 was held last week at the Rec Centre.  

The hearing addressed a new by-law that would continue to fund these essential services through a special mill rate applied to all taxable properties within the village. 

Mayor Raymond Maynard explained that the proposed changes are part of an ongoing agreement that has been in place since 1992.  

"This is the same levy we’ve had for over 30 years, with a 5% increase each year," Mayor Maynard said. "The rates are adjusted every four years, but the service itself remains the same."

Despite the familiarity of the levy, the Public Hearing drew a crowd of 30 residents, more than the usual attendance for such meetings. Many appeared concerned about the levy, especially in light of the hearing’s public notice.  

"Some people were worried the rates were going to skyrocket," said Maynard. "After explaining everything in detail, most of those concerns were put to rest." 

The proposed levy would continue the 5% increase each year for the next four years, keeping the same structure and funding levels for both the police and fire departments. 

 "This isn’t a new tax; it’s just part of the regular agreement we’ve had in place for decades”, said Maynard. 

One point of discussion during the hearing was whether the levy should be applied per parcel instead of based on property assessments. However, Maynard clarified that the current approach of using property assessments ensures fairness for all residents.  

"If we were to change it to a per-parcel system, it would benefit just a few residents and increase costs for others. The mill rate structure ensures everyone pays their fair share," he explained. 

After discussing the details, the village council moved forward with the first and second readings of the new by-law, which passed unanimously. "We’re moving toward the final approval of this by-law," said Maynard. "Next, we’ll have a third reading, and then it will be official." 

Coming up on March 19, the Village is hosting another Public Hearing, this time for a special service proposal for the Recreation and Culture Levy.

Maynard notes that several St Pierre residents believe that the increase is tied to the plans for a new community rec center, which is not the case. 

"The Recreation and Culture Levy is separate from any funding for the new rec center," Maynard noted. "We’re just continuing with what we’ve been doing—adjusting the rates slightly to keep up with inflation and rising costs." 

Residents who still have questions or concerns are encouraged to reach out to the village office for more information, Maynard urged the community to stay engaged.  

"We’re here to answer any questions and make sure everyone understands what’s going on. We just need to keep the conversation going."  

Next week Wednesday’s Public Hearing is once again taking place at the St Pierre Rec Centre starting at 7pm.  

Village of St Pierre residents can submit written objections before the hearing or present them during the hearing. All objections, written or verbal, must be filed before the hearing adjourns and must include your full name, address, property description, and the reason for your objection on the village website.  

Generic versions of Ozempic could be available in Canada as early as next year, making Canadians among the first in the world to get cheaper copies of the type 2 diabetes drug that has become a sales and cultural juggernaut because of its weight-loss benefits.

At least four companies have applied to Health Canada to sell copies of Ozempic after its market exclusivity expires on Jan. 4, 2026. Health Canada accepted submissions from the Canadian company Apotex in January and from Switzerland-based Sandoz in November, according to the regulator’s website.

Health Canada also accepted applications from two other unnamed companies in the first quarter of last year, before the regulator enacted a policy naming the manufacturers behind generic drug submissions on April 1, 2024.

CancerCare Manitoba has stopped the use of certain types of B. Braun infusion pump lines over concerns about leakage and chemotherapy drug spills. It comes after some models of Braun infusion pumps have been recalled by the company in both Canada and the United States.

Westoba, a division of Assiniboine Credit Union is now accepting applications to their Inspire program for major community infrastructure projects up to $10,000.00 until the March 31st deadline.

"We're really looking at projects that lend to the health and well-being of our communities, those projects that are infrastructure keeping in mind it's those things that bring people together," shares Community Engagement Lead, Marketing & Community Relations, Karen Buron. "We understand that when people come together gels connections and it creates a sense of belonging. So, we're looking to fund projects up to $10,000 for anything really that brings people together."

"We tend to focus on community centers, or sporting facilities within the community," she adds. "We recently just supported a brand-new Disc Golf course here in Brandon that is going to be created here in the spring. And that's just one of those opportunities for people to come together and to get to know each other and to create those opportunities for the greater community."

Typically, the INSPIRE spring intake allocates $10,000 towards one specific project within their trading area. However, Burton says they will consider a project that is beyond those borders as Westoba is now a sub-division of Assiniboine Credit Union.

"We recognize that Manitobans are taking their financial services all over the province and so we're really looking for those communities that need our assistance," adds Burton. "It could be something that's new to the community, or something that has depleted and needs to be renewed in their community. That's what we're looking for."

To be eligible for funding, requests need to support community infrastructure projects that:

• Are initiated locally or have a clear local impact;
• Are inclusive and bring people together;
• Are long-term or multi-functional; and promote staying, participating and engaging in an enriched community.

"Westoba is really committed to building communities in many different ways," adds Burton. "We have several donation areas and sponsorships that we do.  Inspire is only a piece of that. It's amazing the applications that we get, the groups that pop up looking for funding to get something going. It's truly community-led and gives them the opportunity to tell us what matters to them."

For more information and application online visit Westoba Inspire webpage HERE.

On the Northern Peninsula and northern coastal areas, roads are partly snow-covered. There is some drifting snow from Carmanville to New Wes Valley. Roads elsewhere are bare.

If you’re driving in Labrador, you’ll encounter partly snow-covered roads with icy and slushy patches and good visibility.

Due to missed runs earlier this week, the M/V Marine Coster 3 will run on Monday’s schedule. Other ferries are on schedule.

Flights are on time in St. John’s, Gander, and Deer Lake.

The new mental health and addictions facility in St. John’s will open to the public in a little over a month.

NL Health Services has set the opening date for Sunday, April 13.

That date will be preceded by a seven-day move plan, which will begin on Monday, April 7.

NLHS says it is in the final stages of installing and testing information, communication, and safety systems.

Further, work is ongoing to ensure a “seamless” transition to the new facility, including staff orientation, training, and equipment testing.

CEO Pat Parfrey is pleased to have a date set for the facility to open, calling it a “monumental step forward to improving health care in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

An overnight collision at one of the most dangerous intersections in St. John’s sent one person to hospital.

Shortly before 1:00 a.m. emergency crews responded to the intersection of Portugal Cove Road and Major’s Path following the two-vehicle collision, which left both a sedan and an SUV with extensive damage. As a result of the crash one person was taken to hospital, their injuries believed to be minor in nature.

The intersection of Portugal Cove Road and Major’s Path has been the subject of much study in recent years due to its notoriety as one of the city’s most dangerous intersections. As a result the City of St. John’s will be constructing a multi-lane roundabout to replace the current intersection. That project is tentatively scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2026.

At 10:35 p.m. on Monday, RNC officers responded to a report of public intoxication in the downtown area of St. John’s.

Police located the individuals involved and discovered they were youths.

Both youths were in breach of their court orders. Upon trying to arrest one of the youths, they resisted arrest and fought with the police.

Subsequently, they were charged with assault causing bodily harm to a police officer, assaulting a police officer, uttering threats, resisting arrest and breaches of court order.

The youth was then held in custody to appear in court.

Many men experiment with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to improve their energy and strength, with some just getting it online, says a London, Ont., urologist who stresses getting medical guidance. "The use of hormone therapy, in my mind, is really tied to reinforcing some of the ideas of masculinity that we have," says a researcher who teaches at Western University.

Those with any investment portfolios or funds tied up in Canadian and American markets more than likely noticed their stocks take a tumble yesterday as tensions between the two countries continue.

The TSX dropped nearly 400 points, the Dow Jones plunged by almost 900 points, while the Nasdaq suffered its worst day in three years.

Photo from @WhiteHouse X account

The market plunge was triggered by economic uncertainty created by the trade war between the United States and Canada and U.S. President Donald Trump not ruling out the possibility of a recession.

While Trump has put the brakes on sweeping 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico until early April, the president is said to be moving ahead with a 25 per cent levy on steel and aluminum imports later this week.

Incoming prime minister Mark Carney struck a defiant note as the former central banker vowed to win U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war, saying his country will “never” be part of the United States.

Carney lost no time standing up for “the Canadian way of life” after the Liberal Party overwhelmingly elected him on Sunday to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“We didn’t ask for this fight. But Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves,” Carney said to party supporters in Ottawa.

“So the Americans, they should make no mistake, in trade as in hockey, Canada will win,” he said.

“Canada never ever will be part of America in any way, shape or form,” said the 59-year-old, who will take over from Trudeau in the coming days.

Carney may not have the job for long.

Canada must hold elections by Oct. 7 but could well see a snap poll within weeks. Current opinion polls had the opposition Conservatives as slight favourites.

‘Existential challenge’

Carney warned in his victory speech that the United States under Trump was seeking to seize control of Canada.

“The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country,” he said, adding, “these were dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust.”

“We’re all being called to stand up for … the Canadian way of life.”

Carney previously led both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. He soundly defeated his main challenger, Trudeau’s former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, who held senior cabinet positions in the Liberal government first elected in 2015.

Carney won 85.9 per cent of the nearly 152,000 votes cast. Freeland took just eight per cent of the vote.

Carney campaigned on a promise to stand up to Trump.

Trump has repeatedly spoken about annexing Canada and thrown bilateral trade, the lifeblood of the Canadian economy, into chaos with dizzying tariff actions that have veered in various directions since he took office.

Trudeau said, “Canadians face from our neighbour an existential challenge.”

Contending with Trump

European leaders meanwhile signaled interest in working with Carney’s government, as French President Emmanuel Macron said, “the ties between France and Canada are stronger than ever.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated Carney, saying, “I look forward to working closely with him on shared international priorities.”

China, which has a turbulent relationship with Canada, also congratulated Carney but said it hoped the country could “pursue a positive and pragmatic policy towards China.”

Carney has argued that his experience makes him the ideal counter to Trump.

He has portrayed himself as a seasoned economic crisis manager who led the Bank of Canada through the 2008 to 2009 financial crisis and the Bank of England through the turbulence that followed the 2016 Brexit vote.

Celebrating the outcome in Ottawa, party loyalist Cory Stevenson said, “the Liberal party has the wind in its sails.”

“We chose the person who could best face off against [Tory leader] Pierre Poilievre in the next election and deal with Donald Trump,” he said..

Data released from the Angus Reid polling firm on Wednesday shows Canadians see Carney as the favourite choice to face down Trump, potentially offering the Liberals a boost over the opposition Conservatives.

Forty-three per cent of respondents said they trusted Carney the most to deal with Trump, with 34 per cent backing Poilievre.

‘Unproven’

Carney made a fortune as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs before entering the Canadian civil service.

Since leaving the Bank of England in 2020, he has served as a United Nations envoy working to get the private sector to invest in climate-friendly technology and has held private sector roles.

He has never served in parliament nor held any elected public office.

Analysts say his untested campaign skills could prove a liability against a Conservative Party already running attack ads accusing Carney of shifting positions and misrepresenting his experience.

“He is unproven in the crucible of an election,” said Cameron Anderson, a political scientist at Ontario’s Western University.

But he said Carney’s tough anti-Trump rhetoric “is what Canadians want to hear from their leaders.”

They are “viewing these things in an existential way.”

The post Canada’s next PM Mark Carney vows to ‘win’ U.S. trade war appeared first on CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

Wall Street stocks fell early Monday — with losses deepening close to midday — after U.S. President Donald Trump declined to rule out the chance of a recession while companies grappled with growing tariffs.

Investors have been increasingly concerned about a possible downturn as Trump piled a growing list of tariffs on imports, hitting everyone from manufacturers reliant on goods from Canada and Mexico to producers affected by retaliatory levies.

The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite Index lost 3.6 per cent around 11 a.m. ET, while the broad-based S&P 500 shed around 2.0 per cent.

The Nasdaq was bogged down by retreats in the so-called Magnificent Seven tech stocks, which include Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Nvidia.

Tesla stocks in particular slumped by more than 8.3 per cent. Minutes into trading on Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.1 per cent, while the S&P 500 Index fell 1.6 per cent.

The Nasdaq Composite Index plunged 2.3 per cent.

The fluctuations came after stock markets appeared somewhat assuaged at the end of last week on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s comments that the U.S. economy was in a good place.

But on Sunday, Trump said to a Fox News interviewer that he disliked predicting things like a recession, when asked directly about such a possibility.

“There is a period of transition, because what we’re doing is very big — we’re bringing wealth back to America,” Trump said.

He added, however, that this takes some time.

“Market participants are losing faith in the notion that President Trump will forestall a market decline with a reversal in his policies if those policies are the basis for a material decline in stock prices,” said Patrick O’Hare of Briefing.com in a note.

Looking ahead, investors are eyeing a consumer inflation report due midweek for further signals on how the economy is faring.

They will also be weighing the possibility of a government shutdown as lawmakers seek to avert a closure by Friday.

The post Wall Street sell-off accelerates as recession fears flare appeared first on CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a challenge by a Christian therapist to a Colorado law that bans “conversion therapy” for minors who are questioning their gender identity or sexual orientation.

The case was brought by Kaley Chiles, a licensed mental health counselor who argues that the prohibition from holding such conversations with minors is a violation of her First Amendment free speech rights.

Colorado’s Minor Conversion Therapy Law, passed in 2019, prohibits licensed mental health professionals from trying to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of their minor patients.

Chiles is represented in the case before the conservative-dominated Supreme Court by Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal advocacy group.

In her petition, Chiles’s lawyers said she “believes that people flourish when they live consistently with God’s design, including their biological sex.”

“Amidst a nationwide mental-health crisis, many minors struggling with gender dysphoria are seeking the counseling that Kaley Chiles would like to provide,” they said.

“They want help aligning their mind and body rather than chasing experimental medical interventions and risking permanent harm.”

“Yet it is this desperately needed counselling — encouraging words between a licensed counselor and a consenting minor client — that Colorado forbids,” they said.

Conversion therapy is banned in more than 20 U.S. states and much of Europe, with both the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association opposed to its use.

In its brief with the Supreme Court, Colorado said there is “mounting evidence that conversion therapy is associated with increased depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts.”

Two lower courts ruled in favour of Colorado, and Chiles brought her case before the nation’s top court, where conservatives hold a 6-3 majority.

In December, the Supreme Court heard arguments over a Tennessee law banning puberty blockers or hormone therapy for minors and is expected to issue a ruling by the end of June.

U.S. President Donald Trump, shortly after taking office, signed an executive order restricting gender transition medical procedures for people under the age of 19.

The post U.S. Supreme Court to hear challenge to ‘conversion therapy’ ban for minors appeared first on CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

Since his diagnosis six months ago, toddler Elliot Rossiter has been seen by some specialists on the Island every four to five weeks. Saying that wasn't enough, his parents made an expensive decision. 

New Brunswick’s most powerful lever in Canada’s trade war with the United States is found mostly along the province’s back roads, cutting through forests and across fields rarely seen by most residents.

Halifax has a new transit boss for the first time in a decade and he's learning the system from the blue seats of a city bus. Robin Gerus became the executive director of Halifax Transit in January.

Grocery store shelves are full of maple leaf stickers and shelf talkers indicating products are, in some way, Canadian. But they don't always tell the whole story.

A recent policy change at London Health Sciences Centre to curb the rapid spread of measles has London doulas worried about the emotional and physical impact it could have on her clients.

A couple of months after COVID-19 was officially recognized as a pandemic – five years ago today – Canada had recorded close to 60,000 confirmed cases, and more than 3,500 deaths. But by May of 2020, after weeks of lockdown isolation, disinfectant wipe hoarding, mute-button bloopers and home-schooling meltdowns, parts of the country were beginning to loosen some public-health restrictions.

At that cautiously optimistic moment, The Globe and Mail asked several reporters and contributors to forecast how COVID-19 would reshape society.

Headlines about low voter turnout have become commonplace across the country in recent years. Even as the political stakes are higher, people seem understandably checked...

The post Nova Scotians stand up for democracy first appeared on Spring.

LONDON (AP) — British officials were bracing for environmental damage and seeking answers Tuesday after a cargo ship carrying a toxic chemical hit a tanker transporting jet fuel for the U.S. military off eastern England, setting both vessels ablaze.

Jet fuel from a ruptured tank poured into the North Sea after the Portugal-registered container ship Solong broadsided the U.S-flagged tanker MV Stena Immaculate on Monday. The collision sparked explosions and fires that were still burning 24 hours later.

British government minister Matthew Pennycook said it was a “fast-moving and dynamic situation.”

He said air quality readings were normal and the coast guards “are well-equipped to contain and disperse any oil spills,” with equipment including booms deployed from vessels to stop oil spreading, and aircraft that can spray dispersants on a spill.

The collision triggered a major rescue operation by lifeboats, coast guard aircraft and commercial vessels in the foggy North Sea.

All but one of the 37 crew members from the two vessels were brought ashore in the port of Grimsby, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of London, with one hospitalized. One crew member was missing, and the coast guards suspended the search late Monday.

U.K. Marine accident investigators have begun gathering evidence of what caused the Solong, bound from Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, to hit the stationary tanker, which was anchored some 10 miles (16 kilometers) off the English coast.

The investigation will be led by the U.S. and Portugal, the countries where the vessels are flagged.

The Stena Immaculate was operating as part of the U.S. government’s Tanker Security Program, a group of commercial vessels that can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed. Its operator, U.S.-based maritime management firm Crowley, said it was carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel, some of which was released into the sea.

The Solong’s cargo included sodium cyanide, which can produce harmful gas when combined with water, according to industry publication Lloyd’s List Intelligence. It was unclear if there had been a leak.

Greenpeace U.K. said it was too early to assess the extent of any environmental damage from the collision, which took place near busy fishing grounds and major seabird colonies.

Alex Lukyanov, who models oil spills at the University of Reading, said the environmental impact would depend on multiple factors, including “the size of the spill, weather conditions, sea currents, water waves, wind patterns and the type of oil involved.”

“This particular incident is troubling because it appears to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water,” he said. “The environmental toll could be severe.”

Jill Lawless, The Associated Press

Ukraine launched its biggest drone attack on the Russian capital on Tuesday with at least 91 drones targeting Moscow, killing at least two people, sparking fires, closing airports and forcing dozens of flights to be diverted, Russian officials said.

A ceremony was held Monday at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown as 64 deserving recipients were awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of their significant contributions to PEI.      

The Coronation Medal commemorates the Coronation of King Charles III.

Federal Agriculture Minister and Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay says he had a discussion with his American counterpart, Secretary Brooke Rollins on Monday.  Macaulay says the relationship between the two countries is vitally important, especially when it comes to agriculture.  MacAulay  says he stressed in their discussion that unjustified measures would hurt consumers on both sides of the border.