Dental care to cost $3B less than budgeted unless provinces drop coverage, PBO says

The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates the promised federal dental insurance plan will cost $2.9 billion less than the government budgeted, assuming provincial governments don't drop their coverage. 

The Liberals promised a stand-alone dental insurance plan for low- and middle-income Canadians who don't have private insurance as part of its supply and confidence deal with the NDP last year.

The program is expected to launch before the end of the year, starting with qualifying people under the age of 18, people with disabilities and seniors. 

Ship carrying debris from Titan submersible returns to Newfoundland port

Debris from the ill-fated Titan submersible was returned to shore in Newfoundland Wednesday, aboard a Canadian-flagged ship that had helped search for the vessel in a remote area of ocean near the wreck of the Titanic.

The Horizon Arctic docked at the port in St. John’s carrying a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, that had searched the ocean floor about 700 kilometres south of Canada’s easternmost province.

Fort Sask Sliders end off league play with plenty of medals

Multiple Fort Saskatchewan Slider fastball teams took home some hardware last weekend at the GEMSA city finals. 

All five teams captured top-four finishes with two gold medals, a silver medal, a bronze medal, as well as a fourth-place finish. 

"We are so extremely proud of how far all the girls have come this year," said Ashlee Eaton, the president of the Sliders. "It makes all the hard work from the coaches and volunteers worth it."

"It's a great stepping stone into provincials." 

Gibbons to explore urban hen program

The Town of Gibbons will start the process of exploring the merits of bringing an urban hen program into the community.

During Wednesday's (June 28) town council meeting, councillor Amber Harris brought up a motion for the town to gather research on similar programs around the area. 

"I know that Bon Accord has one and it's very successful," said Harris. "I would like to direct administration to do some research into potentially creating an urban hen program in Gibbons." 

Richardson International laying new tracks as it increases grain movement

Richardson International has announced plans to expand eight grain elevators in the prairies.

The expansion includes an upgraded track system at some of its facilities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta will start in the summer of 2023 and be complete by the end of 2024.

The locations for the rail track upgrades will include Richardson's elevators at Lacombe, Carseland, Provost and Olds, Alberta; Estevan, Whitewood and Nokomis, Saskatchewan; and the Dundonald elevator about 20 km north of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. 

Western premiers disappointed by delay to federal bail reform on repeat offenders

Premiers from Western Canada said Tuesday they are "extremely disappointed" in the federal government for not passing reforms to the bail system to target repeat offenders before Parliament rose last week for the summer.

Speaking at the conclusion of the western premiers' conference in Whistler, B.C., host Premier David Eby urged the federal government to prioritize passing the bill that would amend the Criminal Code as soon as possible.

RCMP discover human remains in Sturgeon County vehicle fire

Fort Saskatchewan RCMP has released the cause of this morning's heavy police presence in Sturgeon County. 

On Monday (June 26) night, police say they were called to assist the local fire department with a vehicle fire on Range Road 230 and Township Road 554. 

When police arrived, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. Once extinguished, officers reported finding what they believed to be human remains. 

Mounties were on the scene for some time but have since cleared the area. 

Government engages First Nations on agricultural opportunities

Today, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit and Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation Minister RJ Sigurdson announced that their governments have completed a collaborative project that engaged First Nations communities with the goal of furthering Indigenous participation in the agriculture sector.