Whoever emerges from the upcoming Liberal leadership race will face a formidable Conservative challenger with a populist message and deep connections to Alberta. And this battle for the nation’s top political post has a distinctly Western Canadian flavour, with three major figures tied to the region.

One of the men who became “the voice of the protest” at the Coutts, Alta., border crossing in early 2022 has been sentenced to four months in jail for mischief over his involvement in the two-week highway blockade.

Marco Van Huigenbos, 35, was sentenced on Friday to 120 days in jail, after a day-long sentencing hearing at Court of King’s Bench in Lethbridge. Co-accused George Janzen was sentenced to 90 days, to be served as a conditional sentence in the community.

Known for its cheeky marquee signs, The Penthouse's latest quip — a jab at president-elect Donald Trump's talk of making Canada the 51st state — has gotten the Vancouver strip club suspended on X.

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on Jan. 10, 2025, your hosts take in the week that was. Justin Trudeau's semi-resignation five days ago has been all that anyone has wanted to talk about this week. So we do that, and also wonder what it tells us about the modern Liberal party that they allowed this to drag on as long as they did.

Nothing good!

This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.

They also chat a bit about the Liberal leadership race. Things were moving fast as your hosts gabbed so they were careful not to weigh in too deeply lest news developments outpace them. But Matt has some thoughts about Christy Clark, former premier of some province he forgets, and Jen has some thoughts on Chrystia Freeland. Don't, Liberals. Just don't.

This episode of The Line Podcast is also brought to you by TikTok Canada. TikTok Canada has a team of hundreds of local employees supporting the success of Canadian creators, businesses and advertisers. The federal government, however, has ordered TikTok to shut down its Canadian offices. Shutting down TikTok Canada doesn't make Canadians safer — but it does eliminate jobs and investments in this country. Learn more here.

After that, they talked about the latest ruminations from Donald Trump, and what it means for Canadian identity. It got dark. Matt thought Jen should go have a cheese stick to perk up her mood a bit. Snacks always help.

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Less than 48 hours after fire destroyed their homes, some residents of the former Noble House apartment building say they’re getting the help they need — thanks to the community.

“Everyone is safe,” said Chad Mentus, whose family lived at 1088 Mivvik St., which was levelled Wednesday night.

“The community has really come together and, for right now, we have everything we need.”

Mentus expressed gratitude for the work done by Iqaluit Coun. Amber Aglukark and volunteer Corey Bell, who put together a maternity box for his pregnant girlfriend Anabel Lara Soto and their three-year-old child.

Joamie School hosts an item pick-up hub for families affected by the Noble House apartment fire on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. (Photo by Daron Letts)

“They’ve really made this process as comforting as possible for so many of us,” Mentus said. “Reaching out to us and making sure we had everything we needed.”

Rhonda Wiseman also lost her home in the fire, but said she has found a place to stay and a place to park.

She said she arrived home after work at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, around the same time the fire was being reported. She had time to gather a few things before she had to leave.

“I was in the parking lot with a few bags,” she said, describing her flight from the building.

Now Wiseman is staying in a neighbourhood near Joamie School. On Friday, the school served as a place for displaced residents to pick up new and nearly new clothing, housewares, staples and other household supplies — including a stack of 24 cases of diapers —donated by other Iqalummiut.

The pickup hub reached capacity Friday afternoon and stopped accepting donations of clothing.

Kabelo Mokoena, president of the African and Caribbean Association of Nunavut, says volunteers are getting some rest after helping  find housing for people displaced by Wednesday’s apartment fire in Iqaluit.  (Photo courtesy of Kabelo Mokoena)

“It’s so good to see a community with humanity and with love,” said Mendi Mhlanga, who peeked into the gym on Friday.

“In these times, it is uplifting to know that the community will always be there no matter what race or what culture you are.”

The pickup hub is scheduled to continue Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Volunteers with the African and Caribbean Association of Nunavut are getting some rest after mobilizing in the early hours of the fire to find housing for displaced residents, said its president Kabelo Mokoena.

Mokoena was out of town on the night of the fire but he worked on the phone with Omanola Djalogue, who helped co-ordinate volunteers.

Five members of the organization worked into the early hours of Thursday to find shelter for people displaced by the fire. The Aqsarniit hotel provided its front desk for the task, Mokoena said.

Volunteers worked with local members of the Red Cross and the Nunavut Housing Corp. that night.

“This was overnight when the fire was going,” Mokoena said. “We will continue to help those who need to be [helped] at this time.”

Also Friday, the City of Iqaluit announced that Cadet Hall will remain open Saturday and Sunday, each day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., as a warming centre for displaced people. Food, snacks, hygiene products and other donated goods will be available there.

A group of people with chronic illnesses in Whitehorse meet monthly to share experiences and perspectives, including strategies for staying healthy during flu season.

Earlier this week, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump said his country 'doesn't need anything' from Canada, its largest trading partner. But trade figures and some analysts suggest otherwise.

“The pattern of behaviour of Annie Lake Trucking and its partners… has shown a profound disregard for the administration of justice,”

Nova Scotia Health said on Friday night a partial power failure is to blame. It is advising anyone with a health emergency to call 911.

Southwest Saskatchewan has been issued a road conditions warning by Saskatchewan RCMP.

Police note that Highway #7, #14, #21 and #51 near Kindersley, Unity, Kerrobert and Macklin feature icy driving conditions and a smattering of freezing rains. 

RCMP advises the public to consult road conditions before venturing out. The Highway Hotline has road conditions, closures, and live plow tracking.

Swift Current Online will be monitoring the winter storm for the next 24 hours.  

As UPEI prepares to launch its new faculty of medicine, the university is making sure everything is ready — from the building and technology to the students and staff. University president Wendy Rodgers spoke to CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin about how those final details are coming together.

The federal government is giving the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) $15.3 million to help revitalize the Michif language.

The announcement was made Friday in Winnipeg.

“We have approximately less than a thousand Michif speakers in the province,” said Andrew Carrier, minister of French and Michif Language Protection for the MMF, “with the help of the federal government, we’re able to give Michif language a chance to survive and to prosper.”

There are three main dialects: Michif French, Southern/Heritage Michif and Northern Michif. Some dialects, like Southern Michif, incorporate Cree verbs and French nouns, while Michif French is more of a dialect of French.

According to the government, the money, spread out over five years, is part of its commitment under the Indigenous Languages Act.

Carrier says the MMF is exploring numerous Michif language projects, including classes, books and will be “introducing the Michif language at a really early age through our own early learning childcare centres.

“So, we’re working with the childcare directors as to storybooks in Michif.”

Carrier said the MMF also hopes to unite Elders and youth through language programming.

The MMF is now accepting requests for proposals through its website from individuals and communities interested in developing Michif programming.

The post MMF gets $15M from Canada to boost Michif language appeared first on APTN News.

The Cypress Hills region has been issued a snowfall warning. 

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a warning for the area, noting that it's possible the region will get up to 50 centimetres of snow over the next 24 hours. 

The storm is set to begin tonight, and last throughout the day tomorrow.

ECCC warns that local highway conditions will deteriorate. To stay ahead of any delays, detours or dangers, use the Highway Hotline to preview the roads. 

A swing in weather patterns is leaving the people of southwest Manitoba bracing for snow and a snap of cold. Meteorologist Stephen Berg from Environment and Climate Change Canada, discussed the ongoing weather shifts in the region and what residents can expect over the next several days. 

According to Berg, a low-pressure system is moving through Saskatchewan and heading eastward through southern Manitoba, bringing snow this evening and through Saturday night.  

"You can expect anywhere from 5 to 9 centimeters of snow with temperatures generally steady in the mid-minus teens until Saturday," Berg says. "By Saturday night, a cold front will push through which will drop overnight lows to around -24°C, bringing a chilly stretch until Tuesday night." 

This fluctuation in temperatures has felt like a "roller coaster" for many in the area, as mild temperatures over the past few days are followed by a sharp dip into extreme cold. Berg noted that this seesaw weather pattern could continue for the rest of the winter, with brief warm spells and subsequent cold fronts.  

"We might see temperatures in the high single-digit minus range by mid-week next week. Maybe not too far away from the 0 mark by Wednesday. Then cooling off again beyond that," he says. 

As for the potential influence of La Niña, which is often linked to cooler and snowier winters, Berg confirmed that the phenomenon is officially in effect, but the signal is weak. 

"It's just barely into the La Niña category. The signal is quite weak. It's still having some effect on the weather for this winter, but other factors will likely play a bigger role," he said. 

As for the upcoming cold snap, Berg urges locals to bundle up as temperatures plunge over the weekend.  

"If there's some wind with this snowfall, that might have some drifting snow on roadways and what not. Be a bit more careful when out on the road," he advises. 

With more unpredictable weather on the way, it's clear the people of the Westman Region will need to stay vigilant as winter continues to unfold in the Prairies.  

'These are people who have earned money, paid taxes and are still struggling,' says the Salvation Army.