U.S. Supreme Court decision rejects Purdue Pharma opioid settlement, leaving victims in limbo

U.S. Supreme Court decision rejects Purdue Pharma opioid settlement, leaving victims in limbo

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a nationwide settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that would have shielded members of the Sackler family who own the company from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids but also would have provided billions of dollars to combat the opioid epidemic. After deliberating more than six months, … Read more

If Canada’s tornado alley is shifting east, how can we better prepare?

If Canada’s tornado alley is shifting east, how can we better prepare?

When Jacques Juneau and Chantal Germain bought their home in Saint-Adolphe-D’Howard, Que., it seemed like the perfect spot. Nestled among the trees and surrounded by mountains, it felt safe. “[I thought] there’s no chance of any kind of storm, tornado or anything here,” said Germain. But a year after moving to the Laurentians, they were … Read more

Feds put $15M into pathogen tracking, health-care supply chain research to prep for next pandemic

Feds put M into pathogen tracking, health-care supply chain research to prep for next pandemic

A new $15-million cross-border research project is underway to monitor the movement of pathogens in Canada and the U.S. in the event of future pandemics.  The federal government put up the money that will cover four years of equipment and research. The Integrated Network for the Surveillance of Pathogens: Increasing Resilience and Capacity in Canada’s … Read more

Canada’s biggest documentary festival says it’s dying. Documentarians worry they’re next

Canada’s biggest documentary festival says it’s dying. Documentarians worry they’re next

A misunderstood and mistreated killer whale. An investigation into the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and American gun culture at large. An inconvenient truth about the future of planet Earth in the face of devastating climate change. If you go by overwhelmingly successful films like Blackfish, Bowling for Columbine and An Inconvenient Truth, it might seem like documentaries are … Read more

Rust armourer sentenced to 18 months over fatal on-set shooting by Alec Baldwin

Rust armourer sentenced to 18 months over fatal on-set shooting by Alec Baldwin

A movie weapons supervisor was sentenced to 18 months in prison over the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin on the set of the western film Rust during a hearing Monday in which tearful family members and friends gave testimonials that included calls for justice and a punishment that would instill greater accountability for … Read more

‘Nasty turn’ in Guess Who fight sees Burton Cummings cancel agreements that let band perform his songs

‘Nasty turn’ in Guess Who fight sees Burton Cummings cancel agreements that let band perform his songs

Burton Cummings’s latest blow in his legal battle against the current lineup of the Guess Who is tarnishing the legacy of the famous Winnipeg rock band, a local music historian says — and could set the stage for similar rifts between bands and former members. The band’s ex-frontman has terminated agreements with performing-rights organizations for … Read more

Canada at risk of another devastating wildfire season, federal government warns

Canada at risk of another devastating wildfire season, federal government warns

The federal government says Canada could face another destructive wildfire season because of an unusually warm winter, widespread drought conditions and a forecast of above-normal temperatures in the months ahead. Officials said during a technical briefing Wednesday that more dry, hot weather is expected this spring and summer, putting much of the country at greater … Read more

Don’t shut Line 5: Biden administration issues long-awaited position on Canada-U.S. pipeline

Don’t shut Line 5: Biden administration issues long-awaited position on Canada-U.S. pipeline

The Biden administration has weighed in for the first time on a major cross-border legal dispute that could shut down portions of Enbridge’s Line 5 Canada-U.S. oil pipeline. The opinion came in an amicus brief that, although nuanced, argued against shutting down the pipeline, partly in order to preserve diplomatic relations with Canada. The more than 1,000-kilometre long … Read more

No water, no oil: How the parched western provinces could hamper the oilpatch

No water, no oil: How the parched western provinces could hamper the oilpatch

Persistent and severe drought conditions across Western Canada could have a devastating effect on the oil and natural gas sector, which has drilling operations in some of the driest areas, according to a new report by Deloitte. Limited water supply could have significant effects on the production of oil and gas, the report warns, and … Read more