WestCentral

As Ottawa gears up to launch a new agency to build homes faster, internal government documents describe how dire the housing situation has become in Canada.

Briefing materials prepared for incoming Housing Minister Gregor Robertson this past May and released this week acknowledge that costly housing is hurting the economy and making it difficult for people to find places to live.

"Vulnerable populations and lower-income households are struggling to have their basic housing needs met due to a lack of suitable affordable housing," the documents say.

Ottawa's chief data officer says he thinks the introduction of artificial intelligence to federal government operations will lead to "some" job cuts in the public service.

In a recent interview with The Canadian Press, Stephen Burt said he thinks the impacts are going to vary widely and will be job-specific, with different outcomes in different areas.

While he wouldn't identify the risk of job losses in specific areas of government, Burt said the goal will be to ensure employees receive opportunities to retrain and change jobs.

Avian Influenza has been detected in three commercial poultry operations in Alberta. 

Earlier this week, the CFIA identifying one infected premise in Strathcona County and one in Beaver Country - both areas are located near Edmonton.
which is located near Edmonton. Another infected premise was confirmed on Wednesday in Minburn County.

Avian influenza - H5N1 - can affect wild bird and domestic bird populations. 

On World Suicide Prevention Week, Canadian mental health officials are urging the public to remember the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline as part of a national “Just in Case” campaign.

The helpline, which is free, confidential, and available 24/7, provides support for anyone thinking about suicide or concerned about someone else. Officials say remembering the number can help Canadians act in critical moments, whether for themselves, a friend, or a family member.

The Saskatchewan government says upgrades to one of its air ambulance planes will make it safer and easier to transport critically ill and injured patients, particularly in rural and northern communities.

The King Air B200 aircraft now features a larger entry door, a bigger stretcher with a new support system, and an electronic lift. The plane’s interior has also been reconfigured to accommodate the new equipment, which officials say will allow emergency responders to move patients more safely and efficiently.

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) presented The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) for 2025 to Don and Geraldine Bettle of Passekeag Holdings Inc

The couple run a 70 head Angus-based cow herd on a land base next to the Kennebecasis River and show incredible respect for the land and the environment protecting the water, riparian areas, and wildlife habitat.

A Mountie seriously injured in a highway crash while responding to a mass stabbing on a Manitoba First Nation says she's doing well but the tragedy will stay with her forever.

The Meal in the Field deliveries are still going strong, and we'll officially half way through.

Thursday's delivery took the team out towards Tramping Lake where Konnie Elder-Dvorak nominated her hard working team. They got to sit back and enjoy a delicious hot meal of chicken and wedges from Kerrobert Reddi Mart, as well as a bucket full of prizes from our sponsors!

That's four deliveries down, and four deliveries to go! Keep an eye out, we might be in your community delivering hot meals next!

About 3.4 million acres shifted from owned and operated to the “rented” land category from 2011 to 2021

The amount of rented farmland in Saskatchewan and Alberta shot upward in the 2010s.

Farmland rented or leased in the two provinces went from 25.7 million acres in 2011 to 29.1 million in 2021, says Census of Agriculture data.

So, in a decade, about 3.4 million acres shifted from owned and operated to the “rented” land category. The 3.4 million acres includes cropland and ranchland.

As farmers work on the harvest, agriculture ministers from across Canada gathered in Winnipeg this week for the annual Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) meeting. The annual event hosted by Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn and Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald provided a key platform to discuss shared challenges, policy priorities, and the future of Canadian agriculture.