Justine Stewart

This year, the commemoration of the Jay Treaty highlights First Nations’ right to cross the Canada-U. S. border freely. For 98 years, people have gathered every third Saturday of July at the Rainbow Bridge between Niagara Falls, NY and ON to support the treaty’s principles. The event, organized by the Indian Defense League of America, […]

British Columbia’s cabinet has been reshaped by Premier David Eby to better focus on jobs and the economy. Eby mentioned that the world has changed since the last election and believes the new team will effectively address current challenges. Ravi Kahlon is now the minister responsible for jobs, taking over from Diana Gibson, who will

First Nations elders displaced by wildfires are receiving traditional meals from volunteers who want to offer a taste of home. Grace Masse, from the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak harvester program, highlights the importance of traditional food for health and comfort, especially for those who have been uprooted from their homes. She expresses a personal commitment to

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) has declined an invitation to attend the upcoming Council of the Federation meeting with Premiers and National Indigenous Leaders, citing disagreement over the meeting’s composition. ITK expressed concern that the Council continues to include groups falsely claiming to represent Inuit, which undermines legitimate Inuit governance and contributes to public confusion. While

Greater Sudbury city council has approved new transitional housing projects to help youth and Indigenous people facing homelessness. However, a proposal for a tiny homes pilot project, aimed at providing temporary housing, was rejected. These decisions align with Sudbury’s plan to end homelessness by 2030, aiming for it to be “rare, brief, and non-recurring. “

Montreal’s homelessness crisis is worsening, and policies aimed at managing it are drawing criticism for being punitive rather than supportive. David Chapman, director of Resilience Montreal, highlights the return of “hostile architecture” like anti-homeless benches in Cabot Square—installed to prevent people from sleeping—despite a previous mayoral promise to remove them. This square is a key

Northern Ontario’s new housing research hub, the Centre for Housing Innovation at Laurentian University, aims to increase the number of new builds while reducing prices and environmental impact. Approved by the university’s senate on June 17, the centre will unite students from STEM and social sciences with industry leaders to tackle the region’s housing crisis,

Montreal city officials have rejected a recommendation from a recent report to halt the dismantling of homeless encampments. While officials acknowledged that dismantling encampments is a “last resort,” they defended it as necessary to ensure safety around these sites. The 300-page report, published by Montreal’s public consultation office, emphasized a significant lack of resources for

Ontario’s government is facing criticism for delays in opening a much-needed 60-bed addiction treatment hub in London. Announced in January, the hub was expected to open by April, but it remains without a confirmed opening date, with local officials accusing the province of “sitting on their wallets.” Terence Kernaghan, NDP MPP for London North Centre,

The Street Outreach Services (SOS) program in Thunder Bay, Ontario, has been reinstated after being discontinued in 2022 due to funding shortages. The program, which offers mobile outreach, crisis support, and harm reduction services, is crucial in addressing rising homelessness in the city. SOS provides essential supplies, support, and transportation to shelters, detox centers, or