Indigenous treaty rights meet Alberta separation fight

It was more than a little ironic that the rogue Alberta separatists who are attempting to trigger a binding referendum were stopped in their tracks by Indigenous treaty rights. Ironic, but entirely justified.

With every tree burned, climate battle gets harder

As the days get hot and the land gets dry, it’s time for an important public service announcement: don’t set the province on fire.

At least, make an effort not to, as much as anyone is able.

The City of Winnipeg issued a warning Thursday to exercise caution as dry, windy days increase the risk of wildfires.

“Almost all wildland fires are the result of human activity. We are asking residents to be cautious and take steps to prevent these fires,” Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Services deputy chief Scott Wilkinson said in a statement.

Is it worthwhile courting data centres?

It’s already clear that data centres for artificial intelligence are electricity and water hogs.

Why the census matters — to every Canadian

Now is the time to stand up and be counted. Actually, the “stand up” part isn’t really necessary. Sitting down is OK, too. But as the 2026 census is carried out, being counted is a necessary, essential and — dare we say? — desirable activity for every Canadian household.

A Florida lawsuit and AI’s complicity in killing

Readers following the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., will know that Open AI’s CEO, Sam Altman, has apologized for not notifying police about corporate concerns raised internally about ChatGPT’s chatbot interactions with the killer before the attack.

Province must resume role in transit funding

For a province that claims to be serious about fighting climate change, reducing traffic congestion and building more livable communities, Manitoba’s approach to public transit makes very little sense.

Manitoba is leading, in some very bad ways

The alarming news that Manitoba has declared an emergency over skyrocketing rates of HIV infection provides more evidence that this province is suffering a profound breakdown in essential public health.

Perhaps it’s time to move forward on holidays

Some older Canadians may lament the way things have changed in our public schools. The days of Christmas concerts are long past, and in their place are “holiday concerts” and other, generic events launched in the name of inclusivity and consideration of a broader range of religious and cultural backgrounds.

It was a good change. The public school system, belonging to everyone, should not be catering to any one particular group. However, the change was not universal or holistic, and schools have adjusted to these changes, perhaps, too gradually.

Consider the case of Sage Creek School. The Louis Riel School Division school has provoked some ire by choosing not to have students create Mother’s Day crafts, instead opting to have students make gifts for “parents” in general, timed with the International Day of Families on May 15.

This isn’t the first time this discussion has come up, as schools have wrestled to navigate a changing world and adjust their class programming accordingly.

Housing the homeless safely, for all

It’s clear that finding homes for the homeless is not as simple as saying, “Here’s a homeless person, here’s a vacant apartment, match the two of them up and voila! One less person who is homeless.”

Banning five words won’t clean up the legislature

Back in the 1960s, legendary counterculture comedian George Carlin gained notoriety — and sparked no small measure of controversy — with a standup bit in which he described the seven words that can never be said on television.

Winnipeg: the crumbling city

At least Christine Keilback had a sense of humour about it. The 58-year-old fell into a buried, uncapped catchbasin on Lipton Street and ended up having to be pulled from the shoulder-deep hole by firefighters.

Federal government simply shifting costs

Cutting modest health benefits to refugees might look like a tidy line item in a federal budget.

Before punishment, guilt must be established

Winnipeg’s city council has removed Coun. Russ Wyatt from civic committees because he was charged with criminal code offences.

Iran and its potential role in the United Nations

There is an ongoing conversation, globally, about what the international order looks like in a post-Trump world, as the hegemonic power of the United States wanes.

In some cases, that has meant shaking hands and brokering deals with countries Canada has had tense relationships in the past, such as China. Now, we are faced with a new question: how to treat Iran?

Conservative members of Parliament have criticized the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney for refusing to follow its allies in challenging the nomination of Iran to two different UN bodies — the monthlong review conference on the global nuclear non-proliferation treaty, and the UN’s economic and social council.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has offered a clarification that the government does not support “the Iranian regime and any leadership positions it holds.”

The blunt — and massive — cost of forest fires

It’s a total that’s bound to go up — because all of the costs aren’t clear yet, and even when they are, not every cost can be quantified.