Provincial and Territorial Update – February 6, 2026
An overview on Provincial and Territorial updates for the week of February 6, 2026. Written by Wes McLean.
New Brunswick
- A New Brunswick youth arrested in connection with facilitating terrorist activity has been released in the province’s first ever terrorism-related peace bond. RCMP said the Eastern Region’s National Security Enforcement Section arrested the minor toward the end of 2025, under s. 83.19 of the Criminal Code. The accused has not been charged but instead released on conditions they must follow for a one-year period.
- After a report highlighting concerns about sexual exploitation on X, the New Brunswick government will stop using the social media platform. New Brunswick Child and Youth Advocate Kelly Lamrock said in a letter Thursday to Premier Susan Holt that the platform’s artificial intelligence model, Grok, had refused “to rein in the use of its platform for the sexualization and exploitation of children.”
- A five-day hearing into a proposed natural gas and diesel power plant in rural Tantramar will proceed on Monday, despite last-minute evidence submitted by N.B. Power. In documents now available on the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board website, the utility revealed changes to its plan for the controversial gas plant. The utility has reached a deal with Nova Scotia’s Independent Energy System Operator to sell 100 megawatts of capacity from the proposed plant over the next 10 years, providing the utility with some cost-sharing opportunities.
- New Brunswick’s Natural Resources Minister John Herron says his government’s effort to protect more of the province’s landmass will not include proposals to log in existing conservation areas on Crown land. In a statement released Thursday, Herron said the commitment to increase protected lands by 15 per cent will be done “the right way.” “The target will be achieved by adding new lands, not by revisiting or weakening existing protections,” he said.
Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia’s private power utility says its automatic billing system that was disrupted by a cyberattack almost a year ago should be back to normal next month. Nova Scotia Power says it has been forced to estimate the electricity bills of some of its customers because its meters were not able to transmit usage data to the company. The Emera Inc.-owned utility says a Russia-based actor launched a ransomware attack in March 2025 that compromised the personal and financial data of 280,000 ratepayers.
- An RCMP manager in Nova Scotia says he takes issue with officers being called white supremacists and Nazis during a recent police raid of a Mi’kmaw-run cannabis dispensary, calling such statements “racist commentary.” In response, a Mi’kmaw lawyer accused police of painting themselves as victims and heightening tensions for Mi’kmaw communities that have been rocked by unproven allegations from provincial politicians about unlicensed cannabis dispensaries and human trafficking.
- Nova Scotia farmers are applauding a new program aimed at making it easier for producers to establish or scale up by offering various financing and leasing options for agricultural land. The three-year pilot is being delivered by the Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board — a Crown lending agency under the Department of Agriculture. One idea behind the program is to help keep agricultural land within the industry when it goes up for sale, said Alicia King, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture.
- A councillor for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality says, following the sentencing of a Halifax hospital’s former CEO for credit card fraud, some constituents are seeking an update on the one-year-old RCMP investigation into a former CBRM mayor’s expenses. In 2024, former mayor Amanda McDougall was found to have charged $76,000 in undocumented items on CBRM’s credit card. Coun. Kim Sheppard-Campbell said it’s time the public was told the status of that investigation.
Prince Edward Island
- The two men running for the leadership of the PC party faced off in their final debate Feb. 3. During the debate, Rob Lantz and Mark Ledwell outlined legislation they plan to bring forward in this spring’s sitting of the legislature, a sign that a spring election may not follow the end of the Progressive Conservative leadership race this week. The two traded policy ideas and a few jabs in the debate held at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown.
- Pharmacists on Prince Edward Island can now test and treat Islanders for strep throat — something for which patients previously had to be referred to a doctor or nurse practitioner. That change is part of an expansion of the province’s Pharmacy Plus program, which broadens the scope of care pharmacists can provide.
- Artificial intelligence is providing participating health-care providers in Prince Edward Island with some relief from administrative burdens. Health P.E.I. is participating in a Canada-wide pilot program that makes use of AI scribe within primary care. The pilot runs until January 2027. The technology creates a temporary audio recording during appointments, the transcript of which is then reviewed and edited by the health provider before it’s added to the patient’s electronic medical record.
- Doctors in Prince Edward Island are continuing to voice their concerns about recent changes to their workloads. About 100 family physicians recently signed a letter saying they’re concerned about the number of patients they see under a new agreement between the Medical Society of P.E.I., the Department of Health and Wellness and Health P.E.I. Dr. Trina Stewart, a family doctor in Summerside and president of the P.E.I. The College of Family Physicians said most of their concern centres on how doctors will collect the data for the work they do.
Newfoundland and Labrador
- An American energy expert who’s monitored Hydro-Québec’s dealings for decades says he’s wary of promises made by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and the former Liberal provincial government regarding the Churchill Falls memorandum of understanding (MOU). Robert McCullough, a principal at Oregon-based McCullough Research, said key details of the deal remain uncertain — most notably the formula allowing the price of power at the existing Churchill Falls plant to rise over the course of the 50-year agreement.
- Premier Tony Wakeham has reached the 100-day milestone as premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and promises lower taxes in his government’s first budget. But the opposition parties are quick to say the only thing to happen under Wakeham’s watch — so far — are cuts, delays and excuses. “I think Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are disappointed as a province with the lack of progress,” Opposition Leader John Hogan told reporters on Thursday.
- Dennis Browne has been replaced as consumer advocate, but the usually soft-spoken and tactful St. John’s lawyer is not going away quietly. Browne was a guest on CBC Radio’s The Signal on Thursday and was heavily critical of Premier Tony Wakeham and the new PC government’s handling of the Churchill Falls MOU, which was announced in late 2024 by a former Liberal government led by Andrew Furey.
- The City of Mount Pearl has unveiled a new five-year plan aimed at improving public safety 14 months after a series of violent attacks rocked the community. Mayor Dave Aker said he believes Mount Pearl is a safe place to live, but it could be safer. “We’ve been hard at work. I can assure you this is not something that we took lightly. This is something we’ve been very engaged on,” Aker said during a news conference on Tuesday. According to the city, consultation included focus groups, in-depth interviews and over 500 survey responses. A steering committee will lead the implementation of the plan, which promises action in areas like public infrastructure, enforcement, communication and youth engagement.
Quebec
- The Quebec government defended its decision to expand the province’s controversial secularism law as consultations on Bill 9 at the National Assembly got underway on Tuesday. As the legislature resumed, some groups spoke out on the ways the new secularism bill could infringe on fundamental rights, while others called it crucial in protecting the education system and public services.
- Quebec Health Minister Sonia Bélanger introduces Bill 19 to significantly amend the previous Bill 2, which was passed in October 2025 without meaningful debate. The bill’s text reflects the agreement reached with the FMOQ (Quebec Federation of General Practitioners), notably, it removes coercive powers over physicians’ pay and favours financial incentives. The Quebec government aims to have 500,000 patients voluntarily sign up by June 2026. The bill must be passed before February 28.
- Legal proceedings have begun against the Quebec government denouncing changes to its now-defunct Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ). A lawyer representing more than five hundred clients says the government’s decision to change the rules is forcing many people to leave the province, even if they already have jobs, speak French and pay taxes.
- A Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean childcare centre and a striking union have become the first parties subject to a government decree under a new law that allows minimum services to be maintained during a strike or lockout in certain cases. The provisions are included in the Act to better consider the needs of the population in the event of a strike or lockout, tabled by Labour Minister Jean Boulet and in force since Nov. 30. The law allows the government, under certain conditions, to refer a case to the Administrative Labour Tribunal to determine whether minimum services should be provided to prevent the public from being disproportionately affected by a strike or lockout.
Ontario
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford ruled out a public inquiry into the delays on the Eglinton Crosstown on Friday as officials from all levels of government lauded the imminent opening of the long-delayed transit line. “No, we aren’t going to do that,” Ford said when asked about an inquiry at a news conference to unveil a plaque for the Crosstown. “We’re going to move on and continue building the subways. We all know the mistakes, and we’ve acknowledged them, and we’ve learned.” He added, “We’re moving forward,” and said an inquiry would be a waste of time.
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the news that seven Toronto police officers were arrested in a corruption probe is “disturbing” — but he doesn’t want the public to lose trust in the police because of “a few bad apples.” York Regional Police (YRP) announced on Thursday morning that seven Toronto police officers and one retired officer are facing charges relating to organized crime and corruption. The charges relate to a broader investigation of alleged crimes that include conspiracy to commit murder, shootings, extortion and drug trafficking.
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he doesn’t know when he will call a byelection in Scarborough Southwest to replace former NDP MPP Doly Begum, who is stepping down to run for a seat with the federal Liberals. Begum triggered a wave of political activity Tuesday when she made the shock announcement that she would resign from the Ontario NDP to run in an upcoming byelection for the federal Liberals. She has been an NDP member of provincial parliament since 2018, winning three elections for the party and serving as deputy leader.
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced he will be seeking a fourth term at the Progressive Conservatives convention held in Toronto over the weekend. Members of the media were initially banned from attending the convention, but after significant backlash, the party partially softened their stance, allowing journalists into the room for Ford’s speech. However, much of the event was still behind closed doors, including strategy sessions and fireside chats.
Manitoba
- Former Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz is scheduled to testify under oath this coming week as the first hearings are held in the public inquiry into the procurement and construction of Winnipeg’s police headquarters. Katz, who served as Winnipeg’s mayor from 2006 to 2014, is slated to serve as a witness on Thursday and may speak on Friday as well, said Heather Leonoff, the legal counsel for the provincial public inquiry.
- As nurses at a Winnipeg hospital weigh whether to vote to designate the facility as unsafe, one nurse says he’s already made up his mind not to support that designation. René Piché, who has been working as a nurse at St. Boniface Hospital for over two years and now works in the hospital’s cardiac intensive care unit, said he’s never had concerns about safety while working at the hospital, but acknowledged that his experience may differ from those working in the emergency room or other medical units.
- Safe, affordable housing for women and gender diverse people can be hard to find, advocates say, calling for funding in the next provincial budget. “Seeing first-hand that the need for housing five years ago is still severe has been disheartening,” Janis Ducharme, the housing team leader at Winnipeg’s West Central Women’s Resource Centre, said at a news conference on Thursday. “The systems above us often ignored housing as a human right.”
- The capacity to double the population in 13 southeastern Manitoba communities is a step closer after they signed a contract to build a $205-million wastewater treatment plant. The plant will be just north of Niverville, where it’s desperately needed, says Mayor Myron Dyck. Currently, the six municipalities — comprising 13 communities — that are part of the project rely on lagoons to treat wastewater. With the area’s population growing rapidly, those lagoons are reaching capacity.
Saskatchewan
- A lawyer for the truck driver who caused the deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash says his client is one step closer to being deported to India. Lawyer Michael Greene says the Immigration and Refugee Board has rejected a request for Jaskirat Singh Sidhu to stay in Canada as a refugee. Greene says that the decision means the Canada Border Services Agency is now under a legal obligation to remove Sidhu from Canada as soon as possible. He says he’s not sure when that might be, but he plans to ask for a deferral. The board is still considering a previous application to restore Sidhu’s permanent resident status.
- The volunteer fire chief in Davidson, Sask., says a lack of consistent services and doctors at the local hospital is forcing his team into a dangerous game of “Russian roulette,” as they try to fill gaps in the health-care system along one of the busiest stretches of Highway 11. Standing outside the town’s firehall during a Friday news conference, Cory Dean and Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck called for urgent provincial investment in rural emergency care, warning the current situation leaves significant gaps. When an emergency such as a heart attack, fire or car accident arises, “we’re the ones that get called to it,” Dean said in a news release issued Friday by the NDP.
- A group of Saskatchewan environmentalists has filed an appeal after losing a legal challenge in January. The Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES), Citizens for Public Justice and three residents previously asked for a judicial review of the province’s decision to refurbish and extend the life of the coal-fired plants 20 years past the federal phase-out deadline for coal-generated power. Saskatchewan is the only province in Canada that extends the use of coal to generate electricity. Every other province has already either phased out coal — like Ontario and Alberta — or committed to doing so by 2030.
- The province says upcoming changes to the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program will simplify the benefits and reduce duplication. But advocates say the changes amount to cuts, and the Opposition NDP calls them “cruel,” “short-sighted,” and “callous.” “Our main concern is that really, this looks like a move towards cost savings and cuts towards some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the province,” Peter Gilmer, an advocate with the Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry, said in an interview Tuesday. The changes were made in an order in council from the government cabinet, dated Jan. 23, and will take effect on April 1. One of the changes removes benefits that the government says clients weren’t using, such as access to respite care to give caregivers breaks.
Alberta
- A former Calgary judge is joining Canadian legal experts in criticizing Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s threats to withhold funding if the province is not given more input in federal judicial appointments as a risk to judicial independence. In a letter addressed to the premier’s office on Thursday, the Canadian Bar Association and its Alberta branch expressed its “grave concerns” over Smith’s proposal. “We are particularly concerned by your stated intention to ‘withhold funding to support any new judicial positions in the province’ until your demands are met,” the bar association’s letter said.
- The former federal cabinet minister responsible for the law dictating what happens after a provincial separation vote says Premier Danielle Smith must answer questions before a referendum. Stéphane Dion, a former Liberal leader, tabled the Clarity Act in 1999, following the unsuccessful Quebec referendum four years earlier. The act says a vote with a clear majority in favour of separation creates an obligation for provincial and federal governments to enter negotiations that could, one day, lead to secession. Dion says, unlike Quebec, Alberta seems poised to vote on the province quitting Canada without a provincial government committed to the cause.
- Premier Danielle Smith said she is focused on building a new relationship with the rest of Canada, even as Alberta separatists continue to gather signatures for a citizen-led referendum — and despite remarks from a U.S. government official indicating support for the province joining its southern neighbour. In her first public remarks since the start of the month, Smith told the Saturday audience of her Corus call-in radio show that Canada has been and will continue to be a “great partner” for the United States on all fronts.
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith flexed her star power amongst Conservative Party faithful on Saturday, advocating for policies popular with conservatives while not directly addressing the separatist issue that has made headlines this week. The Alberta provincial leader was warmly received by delegates of the federal party, reflecting both her standing within conservative circles and the convention’s home field advantage in Calgary. “It is a true pleasure to welcome Conservatives from across the country to Calgary, into the heartland of conservatism in Canada,” Smith said in her remarks after taking the stage to a standing ovation.
British Columbia
- The B.C. Conservatives are looking for a new leader after ousting John Rustad in December. But now, he wants back in. Maybe. Two sources confirmed with CBC News that Rustad requested a leadership nomination package. Rustad wouldn’t confirm that. He told CBC News he’d have more to say next week in Victoria when the legislative session resumes. “I’m actually quite annoyed that the party seems to have leaked stuff out, but I’m still sticking to no comment,” he said.
- Leaders in the Cowichan Valley region of Vancouver Island have released a statement against anti-Indigenous racism, saying they’ve seen a spike in the region. “Our citizens are increasingly concerned for their safety due to the rise in hate they are experiencing,” said Chief Cindy Daniels of Cowichan Tribes in the statement. “From posts and comments on social media, to remarks made by fellow shoppers in local stores, to being shouted at from passing vehicles, the negativity directed at our citizens is unfounded and wrong.”
- Vancouver’s auditor general said the city engaged in “serious wrongdoing” when it failed to track whether $6 million in promised community amenities for a much-publicized downtown tower ever happened. “The deficiencies in the City’s management … for Vancouver House represent an unacceptable level of risk to the City and do not meet the high standard expected at the City of management of public funds,” wrote Mike Macdonell, the City of Vancouver’s independent auditor general, in his report.
- The chair of Surrey’s police board says the province’s plan to shake up the board and possibly replace it entirely is poorly timed, given the state of policing and safety in the city. On Tuesday, B.C. Premier David Eby said the province is “making changes” to the Surrey Police Board. The police board is composed of community volunteers who provide independent oversight of the Surrey Police Service.
Northwest Territories
- Thursday night’s power outage in the N.W.T. capital wasn’t caused by wildlife, the power corporation says. A fault on the lines connecting Yellowknife’s diesel generators and the Jackfish Lake substation knocked out power to the N.W.T. capital, as well as Dettah and Ndilǫ, for around four hours Thursday evening. Belinda Whitford, the chief operating officer of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC), said crews initially thought the outage was caused by an animal making contact with power lines, a fairly common occurrence.
Yukon
- Fast-tracking project permits came up in just about every session last month at Roundup, the Vancouver international mining conference, including in the latest promises from the new Yukon government. Addressing a crowd at Yukon Night, a celebration of the territory’s industry, Yukon Mines Minister Ted Laking said change is on the way. “You said the length of time it takes for government to turn decisions around is taking too long,” he said. “In response […] we will now be developing new regulatory timelines that will respect our obligation to consult with affected First Nations as well as industry’s need for increased regulatory certainty.”
Nunavut
- Nunavut MP Lori Idlout is a calling on the federal government to make a firm commitment to address the housing shortage in Nunavut. “Will the minister keep working with Nunavut to address the worst housing crisis in Canada?” the NDP politician asked Liberal Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson in the House of Commons on Thursday. Idlout pressed the government on the issue two days after posting a message on Facebook asking Nunavummiut whether they had ever been on a housing waiting list.