The Bank of Canada's top decision makers signalled they likely would have hit pause on the interest rate easing cycle earlier this month if not for the substantial uncertainty around tariffs from the United States.

Eleven years after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, the Malaysian government has approved a new search for the plane. One company is so certain new technology will help them find it that they’ve wagered $70 million.

The federal government is rolling out a new Canada Disability Benefit this summer but qualified recipients in Alberta won’t see the extra money if they already receive payments under AISH, or Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped program.

Two Yellowknife students were selected as Loran Scholars, a designation billed as being worth more than $100,000 in various forms of support over four years.

City council has finally put a contentious debate to rest, voting to buy lands near Fitzroy Harbour for about $2 million, though it will be looking to carve out and resell two small parcels.

HALIFAX — Almost two years after a wildfire devastated a Halifax-area suburb, municipal council has approved a new emergency exit for a subdivision in the neighbourhood where the fire started.

On the afternoon of May 28, 2023, the blaze that ignited in Upper Tantallon, a suburb in northwest Halifax, spread quickly and engulfed about 128 homes within the first four hours.

The fire, which was one of many in Nova Scotia that year, forced the evacuation of 16,400 people and destroyed 200 structures — including 151 homes.

According to a staff report presented to council, many residents of one subdivision were exposed to life-threatening conditions as they got stuck in a traffic bottleneck while fleeing.

The report recommends that an emergency-only access road be built to connect the subdivision directly to Highway 103, about 500 metres away.

City officials say it will take until next year to complete the road, meaning it will not be available during the coming wildfire season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 26, 2025.

The Canadian Press

Premier Susan Holt is promising a major public consultation on the future of N.B. Power, including meetings that will be held around the province to hear ideas from New Brunswickers about the troubled Crown utility.

The Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre (SaskDLC) is opening doors for high school students interested in careers in the oil and gas industry through a new set of online courses. Developed in collaboration with major energy companies, these courses offer a mix of theoretical knowledge and hands-on workplace experience, providing students with a well-rounded introduction to the sector.

Industry Support and Development

The initiative, first announced at the 2024 Oil and Gas Show in Weyburn, has gained significant backing from industry leaders. Teine Energy initially pledged support, and three additional companies, Cenovus Energy, Vermilion Energy, and Whitecap Resources, have since joined, collectively committing up to $160,000 over two years. This funding is helping to develop course content and finance a work placement coordinator who will ensure students gain meaningful on-the-job experience.

According to Saskatchewan Minister of Education Everett Hindley, the program underscores the province’s commitment to the oil and gas industry. “We strongly believe in the future of this sector and its role in creating jobs and economic activity across West Central Saskatchewan,” Hindley said. “This allows an opportunity for students to have yet another career path in front of them, and to help them learn about the importance of oil and gas and what it does as an industry in our province.”

Hindley also emphasized the collaboration between industry and education, stating, “Teachers from the DLC will be involved in developing the new online courses based on feedback and industry expertise from a steering committee made up of representatives from the four energy companies.”

Course Structure and Work Placement

The first course, Oil and Gas 20, is currently being piloted. The program consists of 100 hours of instruction, split between 50 hours of online theory and 50 hours of work placement. Students first complete coursework covering topics such as energy exploration, production, distribution, environmental stewardship, and safety. Once they finish the theoretical portion, they transition to fieldwork with participating energy companies.

Lori Gasper, SaskDLC’s Program Manager for Practical and Applied Arts, explained the approach. “The work placement allows students to apply what they’ve learned in a real-world setting. They start with a significant focus on safety and then be partnered with a mentor to experience the duties of a production field operator,” she said.

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She also noted that the pilot program is evolving. “Because it's the pilot, things aren't written in stone. We're going to work with the mentors to do our best to link the course learning that they've done in their online theory with the work placement assessment,” Gasper explained. “Our work placement coordinator has been out on the field having a talk through with some of the mentors to identify exactly what the students will be able to do out in the field.”

Currently, Teine Energy and Whitecap Resources are hosting students for the pilot program. These placements are spread across multiple locations, primarily in West Central, southwest, and southeast, around the Weyburn area.

Expansion and Future Prospects

Interest in the program has been strong, with current registration at full capacity and a waitlist already in place. Enrollment for the next round, beginning in February 2026, is open currently.

SaskDLC also has plans to expand its offerings. The Oil and Gas 30 course is set to launch in February 2026, following the same structure as its predecessor. This expansion aims to provide students with a more advanced understanding of the industry and additional workplace experience.

“Both courses will have the same structure with 50 hours of online coursework paired with a 50-hour work placement,” Gasper confirmed. She also highlighted the importance of these placements, stating, “We’re grateful to the industry partners for making the placements possible because they allow students to try it for themselves and see themselves in a career, letting them make informed choices for their future.”

Looking Ahead

As the pilot program unfolds, SaskDLC and its industry partners are refining the course to enhance student experiences and industry alignment. 

For students considering the program, the message is clear: the Oil and Gas courses provide not only valuable knowledge but also a direct pathway into a thriving industry. Through a combination of online learning and hands-on experience, students can gain the skills and insights needed to make informed decisions about their future careers.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, speaking in Quebec on Day 4 of the election campaign, says he will let working seniors earn up to $34,000 tax free, let them keep their savings in RRSPs until age 73 instead of 71 and keep the retirement age at 65.

Water was pouring from the ceiling when staff at the Pleasantville branch of the Royal Canadian Legion arrived for work on Monday. Branch president Mark Brown says the building will be closed until further notice, a blow to Legion finances and the many users of the space. Brown gave the CBC’s Zach Goudie a look at the damage.

A body of a man was found Wednesday morning on the ice where Puvirnituq’s snow festival is taking place, with police saying all possibilities are at play.

Police tape was set up at the exact spot where some 200 sculptors and community members gathered Monday for the start of the five-day Puvirnituq Snow Festival.

The body found was that of a man in his 40s, said Nunavik Police Service deputy Chief Jean-François Morin.

Police were called to the scene at around 6 a.m.

“All hypotheses are being studied at the moment,” said Morin in a French email.

Nunavik police have called upon the Sureté du Québec’s crimes against the person division, which is on its way to Puvirnituq.

The death was reported at the Inuulitsivik Health Centre, said Sureté du Québec spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.

He said circumstances of the event are still “nebulous,” which is why the investigation division was called in. A coroner has also been assigned to the case.

Beaulieu said he wouldn’t share any further details.

Dogsled racing and igloo building activities scheduled for the snow festival on Wednesday have been cancelled, but the events planned for the evening inside Satuumavik gymnasium will go on as scheduled.

Outdoor activities are expected to resume Thursday.

This is the fifth-such ICBC rebate since February 2021. The rebates total $410 million, the insurer said.

Winnipeg police inspector Shawn Pike shows items believed to have been warn by ‘Buffalo Woman’ as part of an ongoing homicide investigation in Winnipeg, Thursday, December 1, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)

Winnipeg police have identified the previously unknown victim in the Jeremy Skibicki murder case as 30-year-old Ashlee Christine Shingoose of St. Theresa Point Anisininew Nation.

Shingoose was one of four women murdered by Skibicki, who was convicted of first-degree murder in July 2024 and sentenced to life in prison without parole for 25 years the following month. She was initially known as Buffalo Woman, a name given by the Indigenous community.

Police say new information emerged in December 2024, leading to a preliminary identification. Forensic analysis later confirmed Shingoose’s identity through DNA testing of evidence seized during the investigation.

Investigators believe her remains were placed in a garbage bin behind a business on Henderson Highway in March 2022 and later taken to the Brady Landfill.

On Monday, Winnipeg police officials travelled to St. Theresa Point to inform Shingoose’s family and community.

Acknowledging past decisions not to search for the remains of victims Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran, police say they have reached out to city and provincial leaders to explore a humanitarian search for Shingoose’s remains.

“The initial decision not to search for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran has had [a] significant impact on the families and community,” police said in a statement. “While we can’t undo the past, we can learn from it.”

Toronto’s One of a Kind show has been a staple for local artisans for half a century now, but this year’s edition has seen a more significant push as the “Buy Canadian” movement takes off.

The Northpine Foundation is investing up to $2 million in a St. John's shelter and health centre, but the foundation's executive director says they must hit targets for helping get people secure housing.

An off-duty Ontario Provincial Police officer has been arrested and charged after a recent road rage incident in Northern Ontario.

Provincial police say officers responded to an altercation between two motorists on March 17 in Temiskaming Shores, Ont.

They say a 54-year-old man from the city was charged with assault after an investigation.