Two former federal environment ministers publicly dispute Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin's statement that Canada remains "absolutely committed" to its Paris Agreement climate targets. Catherine McKenna called the claim "factually untrue," saying Canada has zero chance of meeting its 2030 commitment. Steven Guilbeault said it "defies reason." Canada's target is a 40 to 45 per cent cut from 2005 emission levels by 2030; government figures show a 10.3 per cent cut by 2024, and the environment commissioner reported last month that projections point to 28 per cent. Dabrusin's office said the government stands by the agreement and its 2050 net-zero goal.
Canada is projected to spend a record $433 billion on health care in 2026, or $10,398 per person, up 4.8 per cent from last year, says a Canadian Institute for Health Information report. The per-person figure combines public and private spending; it is not what each Canadian pays in taxes. CIHI estimates public spending will rise more than $5 billion beyond inflation and population pressures, possibly signalling investment in capacity, but says it cannot show whether that improves care. Physician spending is projected to rise 8.3 per cent. Experts said wait times and access remain persistent problems despite high spending.
100 wordsSource: CBC News, by Eric Michael Johnson
Newfoundland and Labrador is paying $110,000 to assess whether the province's shipbuilding sector has the capacity to build three new vessels for its aging ferry fleet. No ferry has been built there since 2011; ferries serving N.L. in previous years were built overseas, including in Romania and China. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Barry Petten said he would like to see more vessels built in Canada, ideally in N.L. Paul Antle, a co-owner of the former Marystown shipyard, said he could sell the site if the price is right. Consultant CPCS Transcom's final report is expected by March, the department said.
Construction of the new Three Rivers Health Campus in eastern P.E.I. will take five years instead of the planned three, under the province's 2027-28 capital budget. The budget commits more than $113 million over five years for the campus, replacing the 30-bed Kings County Memorial Hospital in Montague, built in 1971. Mary van den Broek Grant of the hospital foundation welcomed the funding despite the slower pace, calling it a reality check as the province reins in debt. She pointed to early site work, including roads, water and sewer lines, as progress. The foundation is raising $7 million for equipment.
Nova Scotia's One Person One Record electronic health records system went live Saturday in the province's western, eastern and northern health zones, completing a rollout that began at the IWK Health Centre last December and in the central zone in May. Nova Scotia Health said some rural emergency departments and urgent treatment centres would have temporary hour changes or closures, and blood collection and diagnostic imaging could have reduced hours or fewer appointments. The province signed a $365-million contract with Oracle Cerner Canada in 2023. It is meant to replace paper records and give all providers the same patient information.
The John Wood Foundation, which has given more than $1 million over 14 years to help New Brunswickers with disabilities buy physical aids, is closing because of rising costs. Vice-president David McTimoney said it raises about $20,000 a year, while insurance and taxes cost about $4,000. Its maximum grant fell to $2,000 from $5,000 as demand grew and fundraising fell. Applicants waited up to a year for approval. The foundation, started by John Wood of Oromocto, who has muscular dystrophy, approved grants for nearly 400 people. It has closed applications and will donate remaining funds to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said Saturday the province may vote differently from Canada in Monday's election for secretary-general of the Francophonie, the international organization of French-speaking governments. Quebec, Canada and New Brunswick each have a vote. At the organization's summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, he said Quebec is not bound by another government's vote, but did not say whom he will support. Louise Mushikiwabo of Rwanda is seeking a third term against three challengers. The trip is his first international outing since his Parti Québécois won last month's election. He and Prime Minister Mark Carney were to meet Sunday.
Ontario's government spent nearly $46 million on two advertising campaigns, which ran on social media and video platforms during 2025-26, according to records CBC Toronto obtained through a freedom-of-information request. About $31 million went to the affordability and Protect Ontario campaign, and $15 million was approved for ads promoting Ontario Corps, a volunteer emergency-response network. The records do not specify which ads the money paid for. A ministry spokesperson said advertising is an important tool and the Ontario Corps ads increased volunteer sign-ups by over 200 per cent. NDP Leader Marit Stiles called the spending outrageous; Liberals called it self-promotional.
Premier Wab Kinew told the Manitoba NDP's annual convention Saturday that health care and the cost of living will be the focus of his campaign for the next provincial election. He pointed to health-care hiring and $1 billion in federal funding to address homelessness in Winnipeg, saying fewer people using emergency rooms for shelter would help reduce wait times. Convention resolutions also called for a minister of seniors and long-term care and more rural health support. The election is scheduled for Oct. 5, 2027, but could come sooner; Kinew said Friday a balanced budget in the spring must come first.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in three flocks in the Prairie provinces, including in Manitoba and Alberta, after an outbreak linked to the Canadian National Poultry Show held Nov. 7 in Moose Jaw, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency told CBC News. The agency said more cases may be confirmed as its investigation continues, and asked anyone who brought birds to the show or took birds home from it to contact the agency immediately. People with birds at home should watch them for signs of illness. Organizer Rob McCulloch said some breeders had to kill 500 or 700 birds.
A fire early Saturday destroyed at least three businesses on the Main Street of Mayerthorpe, Alta., a town of 1,413 people about 135 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. The businesses lost were a hardware store, a gym and a health-food store, the Edmonton Journal reported. Residents were urged to avoid the area, and the fire caused heavy smoke and forced temporary water restrictions. An RCMP official said the cause was still under investigation. Mayor Allen Malcolm called the destruction heartbreaking, said recovery would take time for those affected, and urged residents to support one another and the town's remaining local businesses.
CityWest will credit customers two days of service and offer a free month of streaming TV, after a B.C. Hydro power failure on Nov. 11 knocked large parts of northwest B.C. offline, including Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Gitwangak and the Hazeltons. CEO Stefan Woloszyn called it the fourth interruption this year. The outage lasted hours before technicians built a temporary bypass. The region has faced repeated outages from storms, equipment damage and copper theft. Woloszyn said all three carriers share one aerial network between Terrace and Prince George, so one cut affects them all, and a new route is needed.
The Aqqusariaq Nunavut Recovery Centre in Iqaluit, Nunavut's first addictions treatment facility, held an open house Nov. 13, but it still has no official opening date. Executive director Annie Aningmiuq said building inspections, a lease handover from the Government of Nunavut to the non-profit set up by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. to run it, and hiring are still needed before operations can begin. Between 50 and 70 employees are expected when fully operational. Construction of the $83.7-million centre is complete. Indigenous Services Canada will provide $9.7 million a year for its operating costs. More than 200 people attended the open house.
100 wordsSource: Nunavut News, by William Koblensky Varela
The Union of Northern Workers is holding strike vote meetings for Northwest Territories government employees, with meetings listed in Hay River this week. A yes vote would not automatically trigger a strike but would authorize the union to call one later. The union says mediation with the government is scheduled for January 4 to 6, with January 11 and 12 available if needed, and nothing will happen before then. The collective agreement for thousands of workers expired at the end of March. The sides are apart on northern allowance, wages and leave. The government says it is seeking common ground.
Four Yukon government employees are among 41 people seconded to the federal Major Projects Office, according to a list Ottawa released Nov. 10 after initially refusing. The office aims to speed up major project reviews. The list also includes one employee each from the British Columbia and Northwest Territories governments, plus staff from banks, energy and mining companies and federal agencies. Conservative and Bloc Québécois MPs have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. CEO Dawn Farrell says all employees are cleared and cannot work on projects where they are conflicted. Ottawa says it has full confidence in its framework.
Copyright & sources. Each summary is original writing by 100.ca, limited to 100 words; the original reporting belongs to its publishers and is linked from every story. See our copyright policy.
