Provincial and Territorial Update – April 21, 2025
Provincial and Territorial Update: An overview of the Provincial Legislative and Territories Legislative Updates for the week of April 21, 2025. Written by Wes McLean.
New Brunswick
- Two First Nations in northern New Brunswick are working with a British Columbia company on a project that could see a material for lithium-ion batteries produced in Belledune. Pabineau First Nation, also known as Oinpegitjoig, and Ugpi’Ganjig First Nation, formerly known as Eel River Bar, jointly own a 10 per cent participating interest in the project, according to the Vancouver company.
- Saint John-based Moltex Energy Canada Inc. is hoping potential new owners for its overseas parent company will breathe new life into its development of small modular nuclear reactor technology in the province. But the company acknowledges that cash flow problems at its U.K.-based parent company have slowed down those efforts.
- The New Brunswick justice system is being brought into the digital age with a six-year plan to modernize the court system through the addition of electronic filing and improved in-court technology, as well as greater public access for self representation. Justice Minister Rob McKee said right now “everything is essentially a paper file,” and those who work in the court system have been calling for change.
- The Holt Liberal government is giving itself less than a year to come up with a decision about the future of debt-laden N.B. Power. Some details about a planned public consultation process — including who will run it and how many open meetings there will be — are still taking shape. But Premier Susan Holt says final recommendations, and a decision by her government, are due by the end of March, 2026.
Nova Scotia
- As Nova Scotia ramps up efforts to fill job vacancies within the skilled trades, one pathway to those jobs — training through the Nova Scotia Community College — is, in some cases, stymied by waitlists. Almost all of the trades and transportation programs at the college, which include fields such as aircraft and automotive work, carpentry, electrical, plumbing and welding, have waitlists that can stretch into years for some students. In many programs, the waitlists exist at all NSCC campuses across the province.
- Nova Scotia tobacco enforcement officers seized a record number of illegal cigarettes last year and laid dozens of charges, an effort that comes as provincial tobacco tax revenues have dropped significantly in the last number of years. The seizures are being credited to stepped-up investigations by Service Nova Scotia officers working with the RCMP, but Jill Balser, the minister in charge of the department, acknowledges contraband may be eating into the province’s bottom line.
- The Nova Scotia government is considering new regulations for bouncers, according to Justice Minister Becky Druhan. It comes after some family members of loved ones who died outside bars criticized the province over accountability. Two of those family members called out the government at Province House last month for introducing a bill that would repeal legislation that hasn’t been proclaimed within a decade, including the Security and Investigative Services Act that passed in 2010.
- In spite of earlier pronouncements that Nova Scotia would cancel and avoid contracts with Americans to protest tariffs, Premier Tim Houston says a $70-million contract with an American company for work on a Halifax bridge is necessary for the sake of public safety. A contract between Halifax Harbour Bridges and Liberty Blastech, announced earlier this week, includes two years of work to strip and repaint the towers of the Macdonald Bridge.
Prince Edward Island
- Prince Edward Island’s university professors and students are among those being warned to avoid travel to the United States, with stories being shared of Canadians running into trouble at the border. Peter McInnis is a history professor at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia as well as the president of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, which represents more than 72,000 professors at 125 universities across the country.
- Officials with Northumberland Ferries Ltd. say they’re confident this year’s ferry season will be better and more reliable than last year’s. The seasonal ferry service that runs between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia is scheduled to begin May 1 and will include MV Northumberland, a vessel Transport Canada bought from Norwegian owners that is being added to the service. It was formerly called MV Fanafjord.
- As the P.E.I. government moves full steam ahead toward an agreement to reduce trade barriers and improve labour mobility with Nova Scotia, Ontario and any other provinces that want to join, there are entreaties for the province to slow down — including from within the P.E.I. government itself. Premier Rob Lantz tabled a bill on April 11 modelled on similar legislation recently enacted in Nova Scotia.
- Oyster farmers are starting to pull up their cages after the winter, and wild oyster fishers are preparing to head out onto the waters around Prince Edward Island on May 1st. They’re all wondering how many dead oysters they are going to see. Multinuclear sphere X was first detected here in July 2024. While the parasite is harmless to humans, it can be deadly to oysters.
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Climate change is delaying the formation of sea ice along Labrador’s north coast, forcing Inuit communities in Nunatsiavut to adapt. Sea ice in the winter months is a vital part of Inuit culture. Warmer temperatures mean limited travel and hunting ability, as locals wait for the sea to freeze over. SmartICE, a social enterprise, brings technology and training to Nunatsiavut and combines it with traditional knowledge, so people can make safe decisions when travelling.
- Newfoundland and Labrador’s registered nurses’ union is doubling down on its concern over the possible relocation of gynecology care to the Janeway Children’s Hospital and how it could negatively impact women’s health. Earlier this week, Coffey said a move would mean some women would deliver a stillborn baby on the gynecological floor of the children’s hospital. “To be on the same unit, listening to newborn babies cry or to see children running around like in the Janeway, like, that’s cruel,” she said.
- The Muskrat Falls transmission lines failed six times during the first quarter of 2025, although Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro says the problems had no impact on electricity customers. The problems took on average nine hours to repair, according to the Crown utility, which is still unable to shut down the heavy oil-burning Holyrood Thermal Generating Station because of ongoing concerns about the reliability of Muskrat Falls power.
- Newfoundland Power filed for a seven per cent rate increase with the Public Utilities Board on Thursday, calling it the conclusion of the company’s 2025-26 general rate application, which began in late 2023. The increase, if approved by the PUB, will come into effect on July 1. According to news release issued on Thursday, the company says the average customer would see a monthly increase of $15, and will be the second lowest in Atlantic Canada.
Quebec
- Premier François Legault “takes full responsibility” for his government’s economic choices, even though some of them have led Standard & Poor’s (S&P) to downgrade Quebec’s credit rating for the first time in 30 years. In a lengthy message posted on social media on Friday morning, Legault acknowledged that his government could have made other financial decisions that might have avoided a downgrade, and that S&P’s decision was “bad news”.
- Quebec doesn’t plan to create any special measures to attract United States-based physicians and researchers — even as other provinces are moving to capitalize on those professionals seeking to flee over mass government layoffs and deep cuts to health programs. While several provinces are implementing measures to attract doctors from south of the border, Quebec said it won’t be one of them.
- The Quebec government says it plans to cut floor prices on gas in the province in order to “encourage competition and, ultimately, ensure that consumers pay the best possible price at the pump.” “In Quebec, we want to protect our economy and our consumers, and that includes making markets more competitive and ensuring real transparency in gasoline prices,” said Christine Fréchette, Quebec Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Energy.
- In the company of Quebec candidates in Yamachiche (Que.), NDP leader Jagmeet Singh presents his electoral platform for Quebec. His candidate, Ruth Ellen-Brousseau, speaks of the need to protect the agri-food sector, while deputy leader Alexandre Boulerice defends the importance of the St. Lawrence River’s natural resources and the need to give it legal status. Jagmeet Singh highlights his priorities, namely the housing crisis and the protection of Quebec culture.
Ontario
- The Ford government is proposing to give itself sweeping powers to exempt any project from provincial and municipal laws, if passed. The “Protecting Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act,” tabled Thursday, would give the province the power to designate “special economic zones,” as well as “trusted proponents” and projects that fit the criteria to be developed by cabinet. Cabinet would then be allowed to exempt these proponents and projects from requirements under any provincial law or regulation, including bylaws of municipalities and local boards, that would otherwise apply in that zone.
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending his former campaign manager’s criticisms of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, telling reporters “sometimes the truth hurts.” Ford’s former campaign manager Kory Teneycke has been an outspoken critic of the federal Conservative campaign, suggesting it was headed for disaster and urgently needs to pivot its strategy. Asked Monday about Teneycke’s comments, Ford suggested Poilievre’s campaign might be wise to listen to Teneycke’s advice.
- The Ontario government’s “irrational and dangerous” bid to remove three major Toronto bike lanes should be ruled unconstitutional, a lawyer for a group of cyclists said in court Wednesday, arguing the province’s own internal advice and experts suggest the move won’t accomplish its stated goal to ease congestion. Lawyers for a Toronto cycling advocacy group and two other cyclists asked the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to strike down parts of a law empowering the province to remove the 19 kilometres of protected bike lanes on Yonge Street, Bloor Street and University Avenue, and replace them with vehicle lanes.
- As Canada continues to deal with the fallout and uncertainty stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, the Ford government is moving to loosen interprovincial trade and regulatory rules in Ontario. Dubbed the ‘Protect Ontario Through Free Trade in Canada Act,’ provincial officials are looking to cut various regulations by removing exceptions under the pan-Canadian Canadian Free Trade Agreement, as well as to make it easier for certain regulated workers new to Ontario to begin working while registration processes are being carried out, and for alcohol producers to sell products directly to consumers in other provinces.
Manitoba
- From the cost of living to health care to sovereignty and tariff threats from the United States, Manitoba seniors are considering who will be the best person to lead Canada and address their concerns. Some say they remain undecided. That’s what Cathleen Bergen said she’s hearing from people at the Winkler Senior Centre, with many of the people she’s heard sharing concerns like affordability and health care ahead of the April 28 election.
- A program announced this week to help some Canadian businesses faced with expensive counter-tariffs might not be enough to entirely spare some manufacturing firms from damage, say observers. And one such company in rural Manitoba is already feeling the bite. Since the trade war with the U.S. erupted last month, PhiBer Manufacturing has been paying “tens of thousands of dollars a week” in tariffs, according to CEO Derek Friesen, for materials required to make its farm and crop care equipment, as the company has no accessible Canadian or non-American suppliers for some of its most critical parts.
- Manitoba Public Insurance is introducing an online tool to book appointments for several services, including licence renewals and vehicle registration. The system will help reduce wait times by reducing the number of walk-in appointments at service centres, MPI said in a Thursday news release. The public insurer ran a pilot of the new booking system in November 2024, and said 90 per cent of customers were seen within 10 minutes of their appointment time, up from 62 per cent before.
- A century-old Winnipeg-based organization that works with families and youth in crisis is getting a new start and taking another step toward reconciliation. The operation of The Link is being shifted from a not-for-profit organization that relied heavily on government funding to being owned and led by Brokenhead Ojibway Nation. “We are sharing a very important milestone. Today, we gather to announce the repatriation of services to our First Nations people,” board chair Candace Olson said at a news conference on Thursday, after which a memorandum of understanding was signed with Brokenhead.
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan Polytechnic announced Thursday that it is laying off 27 employees. “This includes 13 faculty, 10 professional services employees and four out-of-scope employees. These changes represent one per cent of Sask Polytech’s workforce,” the school said in a statement. It said the decision came after an operational review “to ensure program alignment with current market demand, operating efficiencies and budget accountability.”
- The alarm bells in Saskatoon haven’t stopped ringing, as the city continues to grapple with a drug overdose crisis that’s jeopardizing lives every day. On Tuesday, the Saskatoon Fire Department reported that it has responded to 935 overdose incidents or suspected opioid poisonings since the start of this year. The department responded to 376 incidents over the same time period last year — less than half of what’s been reported this year.
- Sask. Health Authority says no NICU babies sent to North Dakota, despite union claims. The Saskatchewan Health Authority denied claims made by the province’s nurses’ union that critically ill babies are being sent south of the border due to a lack of capacity in the neonatal intensive care unit at Regina General Hospital.
- The number of complaints to Saskatchewan’s ombudsman rose 11 per cent in 2024, with major increases in complaints against the Ministries of Corrections and Social Services. The numbers are from the ombudsman’s annual report, released Thursday. In total, there were 4,046 complaints from the public in 2024, up 407 from the year before. Complaints to the Ministry of Social Services and the Ministry of Correction, Policing and Public Safety were nearly 40 per cent of the total. The provincial ombudsman is an office within the Saskatchewan government that deals with complaints from residents who feel they’ve been treated unfairly by a provincial or municipal service. It also receives disclosures from public servants accusing the government of wrongdoing.
Alberta
- Alberta’s premier is on her way across the Pacific for a week of meetings in Japan and South Korea. Danielle Smith’s office issued a news release saying she will depart Friday, adding the purpose of the trip is to “grow Alberta’s energy, agriculture and other markets in Asia.” Meanwhile, in Japan, the release says Smith will meet with government officials, importers, and energy and agricultural sector leaders. It says she’ll promote Alberta as the “partner of choice” to meet Japan’s growing demand for energy and food security. Later, it says Smith will head to Gangwon State, South Korea, which has a longstanding sister province relationship with Alberta.
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is touring Japan and South Korea on Monday as part of a week-long trip to Asia. Smith says she took the Hayabusa high-speed train from Tokyo to Sapporo, which reaches speeds of 320 km/h, during the trip. The premier posted photos from the trip, saying if Alberta had a similar train, passengers could travel between Edmonton and Calgary in less than an hour. The Alberta government is working on a passenger rail master plan that’s expected to be released in the summer.
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government is pausing the procurement policy it announced more than a month ago to fight U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said since the province’s retaliatory measures were first announced in early March, Trump’s administration has put a hold on further tariffs. “In the spirit of diplomacy, Alberta has decided to also pause any further escalations,” he said in a statement.
- An outspoken member of the Alberta legislature, booted from the United Conservative Party caucus, is airing more detailed allegations of what he calls government deception over a health-care contract scandal. MLA Peter Guthrie resigned as infrastructure minister in February and is accusing Premier Danielle Smith and Health Minister Adriana LaGrange of deliberately misleading a Jan. 30 cabinet committee meeting over procurement issues. “I didn’t step down because nothing happened,” he said.
British Columbia
- British Columbia Premier David Eby is mincing no words when it comes to the importance of the upcoming federal election at the end of the month. Speaking to media on Thursday morning, Eby says the April 28 election is “the most consequential” one in Canadian history. Eby believes it’s because of the trade war kicked off by United States President Donald Trump. He adds that whoever wins, they need to address two things immediately.
- The premier made a stop at a beloved Victoria brewery, urging B.C. residents to buy local ahead of the long weekend. “Easter weekend is coming up, it’s treats for kids, but we also wanted to underline the opportunity for treats for moms and dads for the long weekend as well, a good chance to buy B.C.,” said Premier David Eby at Phillips Brewing in downtown Victoria. In response to threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, in March the government ordered the removal of all American beer, wine, spirits and refreshment beverages from the shelves at BC Liquor stores, and the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch will not be purchasing U.S. alcohol.
- B.C. Premier David Eby has spent months bashing the federal government for shortchanging his province, but he says he doesn’t want to stoke sentiments of alienation in the West. He called on Canada’s next prime minister to focus on equity in federal spending across the country, saying that will smother the “awful” rhetoric that is feeding talk of Western separatism at a time when the U.S. President is looking for weak links in Canadian unity.
- Provincial politicians will have to wait another year to get a salary boost after the legislative assembly management committee voted to forgo the usual cost-of-living increase given to MLAs each year. Attorney General Niki Sharma officially put forward the pay freeze on Monday. This is the third time MLAs have voted to forgo salary boosts in recent years, with increases paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 2023 due to soaring inflation.
Northwest Territories
- An N.W.T Supreme Court judge has dismissed an attempt to stop the Gwich’in Tribal Council grand chief from exercising his powers. The Nihtat Gwich’in Council in Inuvik and the Ehdiitat Gwich’in Council in Aklavik were challenging Grand Chief Frederick Blake Jr. and other board members over decisions made at a controversial board meeting in February. Justice Annie Piché said she wasn’t convinced the injunction should be granted, and the decisions made at that meeting still stand. She said reversing those and preventing Blake from acting as grand chief could cause uncertainty to the Gwich’in participants.
Yukon
- Some Yukoners say there’s a lot the territorial and federal governments have done right with a recent decision of theirs on the Whitehorse dam. Earlier this month, the governments waved the project through and onto the licensing phase — which is in the purview of the Yukon Water Board — but subject to a raft of new provisions, many of which deal with salmon, First Nations’ land use and, connected to those, vested rights. The board is responsible for issuing water licences. And it’s those changes that some take as a sign of progress — correcting what the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board either missed or fell short of in its evaluation of the project.
Nunavut
- The premiers of Manitoba and Nunavut are hopeful a proposed hydroelectric and fibre optic project is moving closer to fruition, and are seeking federal money. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok have signed a memorandum to work together on the project and ask Ottawa for capital funding. The proposed Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link would see a 1,200-kilometre line built through northern Manitoba to several Nunavut communities west of Hudson Bay that currently use diesel to generate electricity.