By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

It comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberals are planning to announce a new immigration plan in the upcoming federal budget, and as the opposition Conservatives and leader Pierre Poilievre are calling for the significant reigning in of people from other countries coming to Canada. In places like […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

ATIKOKAN — Rob Ferguson says he’s invoking his strong mayor powers for the first time in an effort to keep the next municipal property tax hike in Atikokan down. A “mayoral directive” issued on Oct. 21 calls for administration to prepare a draft budget that “maintains the services that town […]

By Sandi Krasowski
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

Volunteers at the Thunder Bay Repair Café are making old things new again while helping to reduce clothing and items heading to the landfill. They methods are saving costs for new items and teaching people how to do their own repairs. “It’s Circular Economy month,” said Nancy Saunders, founder of […]

By Abdul Matin Sarfraz
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Canada’s National Observer

With emotions running high over Canada’s trade standoff with the US, Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s attempt to take his anti-tariff message directly to Americans appears to have backfired. The $75-million ad campaign that used clips from former US president Ronald Reagan speaking out against tariffs, prompted President Donald Trump to […]

By Sonal Gupta
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Canada’s National Observer

Indigenous Services Canada is still failing to fully address emergency response needs for First Nations communities as climate disasters intensify across the country, a new audit warns. The Auditor General found “unsatisfactory progress” on about half of 34 recommendations made since 2015. Despite nearly doubling spending on Indigenous programs — […]

By Maggie Macintosh
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Winnipeg Free Press

Manitoba children have been hit by vehicles 36 times this year.  Seven of them were in September, as kids made their way back to school after the summer break.  Manitoba Public Insurance’s latest analysis of road incidents also reveals there have been dozens of collisions involving school buses in 2025.  […]

By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

A deranged-looking scarecrow may be just the thing for a Halloween horror flick, but its scare power may be more mythical than factual. Bird buffs say some birds don’t seem to become spooked, at least not for very long. “American crows are very perceptive, and smart,” Thunder Bay-based expert Brian […]

By Connor McDowell
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Brandon Sun

Sioux Valley Dakota Nation is moving ahead with its plan to relocate its gaming centre to the side of the Trans-Canada Highway. Groundwork started last week on a parcel near the Sioux Valley Petro station at the corner of the Trans-Canada and Highway 21, Chief Vince Tacan told the Sun […]

By Allan Bradbury
Staff Writer
abradbury@fortfrances.com

A decade-old Fort Frances tradition set to take place next week would appreciate additional community support. An effort to give families a safe Halloween of trick-or-treating started in 2014 as “Project Safe Halloween,” the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre (FFPLTC) has hosted the event in its parking log for […]

By James Matthews
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
jmatthews@fortfrances.com

Canada’s Consumer Price Index increase for next year will be reflected in a 1.9 per cent rise in Fort Frances user fees over 2025. Each year when work begins to ink the municipal operating and capital spending plans, one of the first tasks is to nail down the baseline user […]

By Matt Prokopchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TBnewswatch.com

ATIKOKAN — Sawmills near Atikokan and Ignace will temporarily shut down over the Christmas holidays. United Steelworkers Local 1-2010 president Jacques Jean confirmed to Newswatch both facilities will pause operations for just over two weeks starting Dec. 19, with a scheduled re-start on Jan 5, 2026. He said it’s an […]