U.S. grand jury indicts alleged Tumbler Ridge conspirator James Bryant
A grand jury in Washington state has indicted an alleged co-conspirator in the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooting.
The indictment of 30-year-old James Bryant for conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country means there is probable cause for prosecutors to pursue the case.
Emily Langlie, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said last week that an indictment would mean a preliminary hearing in the case scheduled for Oct. 20 would be eliminated.
Bryant, whose lawyer says she goes by "Melody" and uses female pronouns, was denied bail a day ahead of Wednesday's indictment.
A statement issued by the U.S. Department of Justice says the indictment "details several overt acts that Bryant took to further the school shooting conspiracy."
Eight victims were shot dead in Tumbler Ridge by 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar in February, including five pupils and a teacher at a secondary school.
Among the alleged acts the indictment of Bryant, who's a resident of Bellingham, Wash., lists are that she agreed to record the shooting and broadcast it over the internet, offered the shooter advice on where to attack and what weapons to use, and sent Van Rootselaar money to buy a lighter for use in an improvised explosive device.
The Justice Department's statement says conspiracy to murder in a foreign country is punishable by up to life in prison.
It cautions that the accusations against Bryant remain unproven, and says the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg with help from the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Van Rootselaar shot herself dead at the school on Feb. 10 as police closed in.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Chiefs of Ontario, NAN demand withdrawal of Bill C-39
The Chiefs of Ontario, Nishnawbe Aski Nation and several regional Indigenous leaders want Ottawa to withdraw its major projects bill, saying faster approvals could leave communities without enough time to examine what development would mean for their lands and waters.
COO and NAN are being joined by the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador and the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations in rejecting Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, as outlined in an Oct. 8 joint statement.
“This government is writing legislation about our lands and our future without us at the table,” NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said.
Introduced Sept. 21, the bill would set a one-year deadline for certain federal project decisions once proponents provide the required information and studies. It would also let Ottawa designate regions of national interest, giving certain projects in those areas access to a streamlined approval framework.
The federal government says the legislation would reduce duplication, speed up reviews and give investors more certainty. Ottawa also says it would continue to meet its duty to consult, treaty obligations and commitments under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP).
The First Nations organizations say communities need time to study potential impacts, hear from their citizens and obtain technical and legal advice. They argue federal deadlines must allow that work to happen.
Their concerns also extend to environmental safeguards and designating entire regions for development. They say a regional designation cannot be treated as consent from every First Nation whose territory could be affected.
The bill would shift responsibility for some assessments to federal energy and nuclear regulators. It also proposes changes to laws governing fisheries, species at risk and navigable waters, alongside transportation and labour provisions.
MPs voted 296 to 26 on Oct. 8 to send the bill to a legislative committee after second reading. It has not become law. The Senate also authorized a study of the bill’s subject matter before receiving it from the Commons.
The organizations criticized the pace of parliamentary review. They said they support jobs and sustainable development but warned that proceeding without meaningful First Nations involvement could lead to conflict and litigation rather than the certainty Ottawa is seeking.
Copyright 2026, Kenora Miner & News. All rights reserved.
Pam Fedack, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Kenora Miner & News.
Quebec Court of Appeal hears case on granting tenants the right to have pets
The Quebec Court of Appeal is hearing arguments on whether the right to have pets should be protected by law.
Last March, housing tribunal Judge Suzanne Guèvremont ruled that lease clauses banning pets violate Charter rights to liberty and privacy.
Guèvremont also argued in her decision that the evolution of animal protection laws, which recognize the bond between humans and their pets, required case law to evolve as well.
Amilis, the company that owns the building in which the complainant lives, appealed the decision.
The company's lawyer, Damarys Pineda, argued Wednesday morning that the judge had gone beyond her authority by acting as a substitute for the legislature, which is responsible for pet clauses.
Arguments presented by the attorneys for M Desjardins, the complainant, and the Montreal SPCA, which is supporting the case, were scheduled to be heard Wednesday afternoon.
By Pierre Saint-Arnaud | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.