Poilievre’s office silent on leader’s Pride plans, other party chiefs look to attend

THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Police say a woman is dead after her vehicle crashed with a school bus in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Investigators say no students on the bus were hurt.

Police say the crash took place just after 8 a.m. on Thursday.

They say the woman driving the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.

She has not been identified.

A section of the road where the crash took place was closed for much of the day but was expected to reopen later on Thursday afternoon.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – A tribal council representing 14 First Nations along the west coast of Vancouver Island is declaring a state of emergency over the opioid crisis, which is killing their members and leaving others with mental health struggles.

Judith Sayers, president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, says not enough is being done and the nations need help from governments and health authorities to devise their own solutions for fight what she calls a “war on trauma” in dealing with the colonial past.

Figures from the First Nations Health Authority show Indigenous people died from drug poisonings at more than six times the rate of other B.C. residents last year.

Sayers says First Nations need funding to support overwhelmed workers in their communities and to build detox and rehabilitation centres.

Chief Councillor Ken Watts of the Tseshaht First Nation says not enough is being done, and British Columbians should ask candidates running in this October’s provincial election, what they plan to do to help.

Sayers says a meeting was held with government and health officials to discuss the concerns and another meeting is being planned with the federal government.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

FREDERICTON – A look at Susan Holt, leader of the Liberal Party of New Brunswick.

Born: April 22, 1977.

Early years: Raised in Fredericton, she attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., and then spent a year in Toronto before moving abroad for three years, spending time in Australia and India.

Education: Bachelor of arts in economics and a bachelor of science in chemistry from Queen’s University.

Family: Lives in Fredericton with her husband Jon Holt and three young daughters.

Before politics: CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, CEO of the New Brunswick Business Council, civil servant, business lobbyist, advocate, consultant and executive with an IT service company that trains and employs Indigenous people.

Politics: Worked as an adviser to former Liberal premier Brian Gallant. Won the leadership of the New provincial Liberal party in August 2022 and was elected to the legislature in April 2023.

Quote: “It’s daunting when you think about the challenges that we’re facing in health, and we’ve brought together a team that can tackle those challenges.” — Susan Holt on Sept. 8, 2024, introducing her party’s platform on health care.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.