Provincial Legislative Update – August 23, 2025
Provincial and Territorial Update: An overview of the Provincial Legislative and Territories Legislative Updates for the week of August 23, 2025. Written by Wes McLean.
New Brunswick
- New Brunswick is seeing more reports of cyanobacteria blooms in provincial waterways, researchers say. Meghann Bruce, a biologist at the University of New Brunswick’s Canadian River Institute, said there has been a rise in reports of cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as blue-green algae. So far this year, there have been 15 reports of cyanobacteria, a photosynthetic bacterium that is not necessarily harmful, although certain types can be toxic to humans and animals. According to Bruce, this is a significant increase from the previous three reports in 2024.
- The number of active wildfires in New Brunswick continues to decrease. Eighteen fires continue to burn, down from 19 on Thursday, according to Friday updates from the provincial government. Friday’s update comes after an intense month for wildfires in New Brunswick, with the largest blaze, straddling the northern border of the city of Miramichi, surpassing 1,000 hectares. Another fire near Moncton threatened homes and prompted evacuation advisories.
- The New Brunswick government has applied for a judicial review and a stay of a labour board decision ordering the province to reinstate library workers in three school districts. The application was filed on Thursday after the Court of King’s Bench stepped in this week and issued a court order to the province that it follow last month’s ruling by the Labour Board and Employment Board.
- A review into New Brunswick Power operations will evaluate whether the utility has the capacity to deliver on its projects — but won’t wade into the debate about a proposed Tantramar gas plant. The comments were made in an online public meeting on Wednesday evening, part of the larger consultation process for the ongoing review into N.B. Power’s operations. The three-member panel faced several questions about N.B. Power’s proposed natural gas plant, to be built by Missouri-based ProEnergy, from several of the nearly 60 people who joined the meeting.
Nova Scotia
- The Long Lake wildfire in Annapolis County, N.S., remains out of control, but the Department of Natural Resources says conditions look promising to make progress before strong winds from Hurricane Erin hit the province. In a series of social media posts Saturday morning, the department estimated the size of the fire remains at 3,210 hectares — or 32 square kilometres. It added that crews are planning to do a more precise measurement later today.
- Eleven Nova Scotia municipalities are among 70 across the country that will share $5.2 million in funding announced Friday by the federal government for climate adaptation initiatives. Julie Dabrusin, minister of environment and climate change, said Friday morning at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth that the funding will help municipalities prepare themselves for the effects of climate change.
- The opening bid for Northern Pulp’s timberlands and some other assets is $104 million, a figure that appears unlikely to leave enough money for the cleanup costs of the former mill site in Nova Scotia’s Pictou County. The details are included in the latest court filings from the company as officials prepare to ask a B.C. Supreme Court justice for an extension of their creditor protection proceeding and approval of an initial bid for key company assets.
- Members of the Dalhousie Faculty Association who were locked out earlier this week have voted strongly to reject a contract offer from the university’s board of governors, less than two weeks before the start of the school’s fall term. In a news release on Friday, the union said that 82.7 per cent of voters voted to reject the Aug. 11 offer from the school, which offered two per cent increases in salary for each of the next three years. Ninety-three per cent of the union’s 981 members participated in the vote, which concluded at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Prince Edward Island
- Gail Shea, who spent seven years as the Conservative MP for the Prince Edward Island riding of Egmont during the Stephen Harper years, has died at the age of 66. The P.E.I. Premier’s Office confirmed the news Thursday afternoon. A death notice said she died at the O’Leary Community Hospital with her family by her side. Her funeral will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 2:30 p.m. at St. Simon and St. Jude Church in Tignish, P.E.I.
- A power outage that left nearly 7,000 Islanders in western P.E.I. without power Saturday morning has been resolved. Outages ranged from the North Cape to south of Inverness. Communities south and east of Ellerslie were unaffected. In a Facebook post, Maritime Electric said the cause of the outage was a motor vehicle accident. CBC News has contacted the RCMP for details about the crash, but did not receive an immediate response.
- Fire officials on Prince Edward Island are reminding people that conditions are still too dry for taking chances, after putting out three fires across the Island on Wednesday. A thrown-away cigarette likely caused a blaze in the woods in the Beach Grove area of Charlottetown, said the city’s deputy fire chief, Kent Mitchell. About 1,000 square feet of wooded area burned before it was subdued. “We want to encourage people to honour the fire ban… that the province issued two weeks ago. Please do not discard cigarettes unnecessarily in the woods,” he said.
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland and Labrador is hoping some new surveillance measures will make students on school buses safer this coming school year. A new pilot project will see the Education Department install cameras on the outside of six school buses — one each in Corner Brook, Gander, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador West, Marystown and Paradise. The hope is the cameras will stop drivers from illegally passing a school bus with its stop arm extended — a violation that comes with a fine ranging from $500 to $1,200.
- As Newfoundland and Labrador’s deficit balloons, the organization that spends a hefty chunk of the province’s budget — the health authority — says it’s aiming to cut waste. On Wednesday, the province announced it would be conducting a review of Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services now that the organization is two years old. It’s a move CEO Pat Parfrey said he welcomed. In fact, he said the health authority had already decided it wanted a comprehensive review.
- The provincial fire duty officer says now that the Kingston wildfire is the only one burning out of control in Newfoundland, it frees up resources to fully focus on getting it under control. On Thursday, the province downgraded the Paddy’s Pond fire from being held to under control, and the Martin Lake fire is now being held. Jeff Motty said the Kingston fire is 10,095 hectares. “We’re just going to continue to dig in until we can change the fire status on Kingston,” he told CBC Radio’s Newfoundland Morning.
- Finance Minister Siobhan Coady says Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy is strong, as she delivered an economic update on Monday that showed the province was spending more money and bringing in less. The update for the period from April to July was required by provincial legislation, which says the government must give a financial update no less than 15 days before the fixed general election date. The provincial election must happen on or before Oct. 14. Coady said several economic indicators are expected to be better this year than what was forecast in the 2025 budget tabled in April, including real gross domestic product (GDP) growth, which is anticipated to be 6.3 per cent instead of the forecast 4.4 per cent.
Quebec
- While Premier François Legault hopes to give his government a new lease on life by reshuffling his cabinet, less than one in four Quebecers believes this game of musical chairs will have any real impact. According to a new Léger poll conducted for Quebecor Media, only 23 per cent of Quebecers believe that the cabinet reshuffle promised by Legault will give new momentum to the CAQ government. Conversely, 58 per cent of those polled said they do not expect Legault to succeed in reviving his government with this exercise. Legault has already begun meeting with some of his ministers in anticipation of the reshuffle, which is expected in the coming weeks.
- Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante says she and Prime Minister Mark Carney are aligned on priorities, including public transportation and housing. Plante and Carney met at Montreal City Hall for the first time since Carney was elected in April. Montreal’s mayor told reporters after the meeting that the two had productive discussions and formed a strong rapport. The federal government is confirming that Quebec will receive $557.5 million this year for infrastructure projects through the Canada community-building fund, with nearly $84 million allocated to Montreal.
- Former Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard is advising the leader of the Parti Québécois to reconsider his promise to hold a sovereignty referendum in his first mandate if he becomes premier. The former Bloc Québécois leader and Parti Québécois premier made the comments in a pair of interviews on Radio-Canada on Wednesday. Bouchard says PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon should “think seriously” before maintaining his commitment to hold a referendum by 2030 if he wins next year’s election.
- The Arthabaska byelection win has further solidified support for the Parti Québécois, with party leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon seen as the person who best incarnates Quebecers’ desire for change, a new poll shows. And two-thirds of Quebecers want a change of government, it says. Already leading in the polls for the last 20 months, the PQ’s support has grown by five percentage points since June, according to a Léger poll conducted for Le Journal de Montréal and published Wednesday.
Ontario
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he spoke with Prime Minister Mark Carney following an announcement Friday that Canada will ease tariffs on U.S. goods and told him that any agreement with the United States should include support for Canadian industries impacted by tariffs. “I spoke with Prime Minister Carney following his announcement to stress the need for an agreement with the United States that provides relief to our tariff-impacted sectors, including steel, auto, forestry and copper,” Ford wrote in a post on X Friday afternoon.
- Premier Doug Ford is speaking out after a Lindsay, Ont., homeowner was charged with assault following a violent encounter with an alleged intruder over the weekend. “This criminal that’s wanted by the police breaks into this guy’s house, this guy gives him a beating, and this guy gets charged. Something is broken,” Ford said at a press conference on Wednesday. “I know if someone breaks into my house or someone else’s, you’re gonna fight for your life. You’re going to use whatever force you can to protect your family. I know everyone would.”
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford slammed the American owner of Hamilton steelmaker Stelco, saying Wednesday he’s ready to “blast” the company’s CEO for his support of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. Ford was joined by union leaders in the city to announce $70 million for training and employment services for workers laid off due to U.S. tariffs and policies. Cleveland-Cliffs bought Stelco last year for $3.4 billion Cdn. Since President Donald Trump has taken office and introduced high tariffs, Cleveland-Cliffs and President-CEO Lourenco Goncalves have pushed for more.
- Premier Doug Ford’s government has formally filed a notice of appeal challenging a court ruling deeming its plan to tear out dedicated bike lanes in Toronto unconstitutional. Environmental law charity EcoJustice and advocacy organization Cycle Toronto said Friday that the Ford government had filed a notice of appeal on Thursday; the government said in July that it would appeal the decision. In his July 30 ruling, Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas said the province’s move to take out bike lanes would be “inconsistent” with the constitutional protection of life, liberty and security.
Manitoba
- Manitoba’s premier is questioning the federal government’s decision to drop most counter-tariffs against the United States, saying he doesn’t want the prime minister to start taking an “elbows down” approach. Premier Wab Kinew told CBC News in a phone interview Friday that it’s not the right time for Canada to lift the tariffs. “I’m not a fan of this move. Is this ‘elbows down?’ Think Canadians want to see a stronger response to Donald Trump,” Kinew said.
- Manitoba’s Opposition Progressive Conservatives are accusing Premier Wab Kinew of breaking a law that bans government advertising during election campaigns. PC Leader Obby Khan points to a recent social media post in which Kinew talks about next week’s byelection in the Spruce Woods constituency and touts a promise to improve a section of Highway 2, between the towns of Souris and Deleau. Ray Berthelette, the NDP’s candidate in the byelection, issued a news release on Monday, promising to fix this stretch of road. He repeated that pledge during a debate on Wednesday evening at the Sprucewoods Community Hall north of Shilo.
- Talks to explore a sustainable year-round shipping season at one of Canada’s northernmost deepwater ports are set to get underway, following an agreement between the port’s ownership group and a Montreal-based dry bulk shipping company. The Port of Churchill in northern Manitoba, which has a brief operational window each summer, is owned and operated by Arctic Gateway Group, a partnership of dozens of First Nations and Hudson Bay communities. It’s the only deepwater port with Arctic Ocean access in North America that’s also accessible by rail.
- A Manitoba grand chief says he has no intention of leaving his leadership, despite calls from a group of chiefs for his ouster. Earlier this week, the Southeast Resource Development Council, which represents eight southern Manitoba First Nation communities, publicly released a motion calling for a non-confidence vote to remove Southern Chiefs’ Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels from his role. The group accused him of acting outside of the organization’s constitution by signing an agreement without proper consultation.
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan is forecasting a $349-million deficit in the first quarter of 2025-2026. The figure is a significant drop from the slim, $12.1-million surplus the province projected as part of the 2025-2026 budget. On Friday, Finance Minister Jim Reiter was unconcerned about the new figures as he spoke with the media. “It’s a $21-billion budget. So percentage-wise, it’s not huge, but it’s still a significant amount of money. We’re always concerned [but] our fundamentals are still strong,” Reiter said. The Official Opposition slammed the update in a news conference of their own.
- Some members of the Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation are looking to change the community’s name to Cheekuk Anishinaabe Nation after the community’s signatory to Treaty 4, Chief Cheekuk. “As a community, we’ve been discussing proper ways to honour our ancestors,” said Myke Agecoutay, chief operating officer of the Muscowpetung Saulteaux Business Development, who is an advocate for the name change. Agecoutay said the proposed change is about “really recognizing our Anishinaabe identity.”
- Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he leaves for China in two weeks to talk trade as his province grapples with punishing tariffs on canola. Moe’s office says the six-day trip, starting Sept. 6, will be the first time in six years that a Canadian premier has led a trade mission to China. Moe has invited Prime Minister Mark Carney and other federal ministers to join him on the trip, which also includes a stop in Japan. The stakes are high. China imposed a nearly 76 per cent tariff on canola seed last week, slashing by millions of dollars the value of one of Canada’s — and Saskatchewan’s — most valuable crops.
- Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe met federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald and industry officials in Saskatoon on Thursday to discuss China’s steep new tariffs on Canadian canola seed. China imposed a nearly 76 per cent tariff on canola seed last week. That’s on top of the 100 per cent duties already applied to canola oil and meal since March. This is happening just as harvest gets underway. Moe said producers are already feeling the blow amidst all the economic and industry uncertainty circulating in Canada. He said Saskatchewan’s largest market for canola oilseed and meal is the United States of America, and its second largest market is China.
Alberta
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she was unaware of her government’s changes that resulted in the removal of publicly disclosed expense receipts earlier this month. On Aug. 1, the province quietly published new rules axing a requirement for Smith, her ministers, deputy ministers and political staff to post receipts for expenses over $100 publicly. Her government is reverting to its previous rules after critics from across the political spectrum accused it of dodging responsibility.
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is echoing Ontario counterpart Doug Ford’s bafflement after learning that a Lindsay, Ont. man is facing criminal charges for injuring a home intruder. Smith was quick to dispense some folk wisdom to the wounded trespasser when asked by the National Post about the incident on Thursday. “Well, if you don’t want to get shot or beaten up, don’t break into people’s houses. It’s pretty straightforward,” quipped Smith, drawing a smattering of laughter and applause from the room.
- As Canada’s agriculture minister is set to talk Thursday with canola industry leaders and Saskatchewan’s premier about tariffs from China, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says farmers sideswiped by the growing trade dispute will need federal help. Smith also thinks the root cause of China’s anti-dumping duties imposed on Canadian canola seed last week — Ottawa placing a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles last year — needs to be reassessed.
- The Alberta government says most people in the province will now have to pay $100 if they want a COVID-19 vaccine dose this fall. In a news release on Friday, the province said Albertans who are ineligible for a free COVID-19 vaccine will now be charged an administration fee for each dose, whereas it was previously provided free of charge. In an email to CBC News, the province stated that this $100 administration fee covers the total cost of the vaccine, including aspects such as storage, handling and shipping.
British Columbia
- Communities in northeast B.C. say the province and B.C. Hydro need to deliver more benefits from the Site C dam now that the $16-billion megaproject is able to produce more electricity than first projected. The newly commissioned dam will be able to generate up to 1,230 megawatts at peak capacity, about 130 megawatts more than the 1,100 originally approved in 2014. That’s enough to power roughly 52,000 more homes than initial estimates, or more than half the expected energy needs of the proposed Cedar LNG project in Kitimat.
- B.C.’s jobs minister says he’s surprised at Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement that Canada will remove the retaliatory tariffs Canada has imposed against the United States in an effort to find a truce in the trade war. “It was a bit of a surprise to us,” said Ravi Kahlon, the minister of jobs and economic growth. “It’s a little too soon to tell — to use an ice hockey analogy — whether this is about regrouping at our own end with the puck, or pulling the goalie.” Kahlon says the province has no plans to reverse its own retaliatory measures, including the ban on all U.S. alcohol at government liquor stores.
- A B.C. ostrich farm has lost its case to save its birds from a cull order issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in January. But the farm’s owners say they will not be giving up, and have called on supporters to gather with them this weekend to “stand against destruction and shine a light of love.” They also say they are reaching out to high-profile supporters in the United States for help, stating “everything is on the table.”
- Citing what she called “inaction” on the part of B.C.’s attorney general, Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie announced plans Wednesday to bring a private prosecution against a woman caught on video at a public rally last year praising the Hamas attack on Israel. Charlotte Kates, international co-ordinator of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, was the subject of a police hate investigation after she gave a speech in favour of Hamas at a rally outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on April 26, 2024. In a widely circulated clip, Kates leads the crowd in a “Long live Oct. 7” chant, referring to the 2023 date Hamas attacked Israel.
Northwest Territories
- An N.W.T. MLA says it’s time for the territory to create a plan that addresses the constant need to provide government subsidies for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC). “We have been caught up year after year in really short-term thinking, really stopgap measures, and we have been continually kicking the can down the road,” said Shauna Morgan, MLA for Yellowknife North. Last week, NTPC said the territory would be giving it $18 million to pay down some significant costs, in lieu of a fund that was supposed to help it cap a proposed power rate increase at 15 per cent.
Yukon
- The federal government has expanded the Yukon Nominee Program by 67 spots. In a news release on Thursday, the territory announced it can now accept 282 nominees. It attributed the change to the Yukon government’s “ongoing advocacy … on behalf of Yukon employers.” The program allows employers to hire long-term employees. Foreign workers, called nominees, nominated to work under the Yukon Nominee Program are accepted with the expectation that they’ll live in Yukon over the long term. The territory’s allotment — similar to other regions across Canada — was slashed in half at the start of the year.
Nunavut
- Nunavut’s Family Services department is using “a number” of contractors to fill key positions in the department, a practice former workers say is problematic. The department says the number of filled positions has gone down from 67 percent to 61 percent since the start of 2023, even with new hires considered. Because of that, the department is using contractors to plug those gaps, though it didn’t state how many in written responses to CBC.